Arsenal have not been short of representation at this year’s Women’s World Cup. Fifteen players from nine countries were selected to travel to Australia and New Zealand, with a keen pair of eyes on them.
“I’m so happy for them,” head coach Jonas Eidevall told The Athletic ahead of the tournament. “I’m also very curious because it gives me insight to see them play in another environment. It’s a luxury because I can get some ideas for free seeing them in different contexts, so I’ll be watching with my notebook on the side taking down ideas. I hope they play the games of their lives because they’re all worth it and it will be exciting to watch.”
Five of his players started for three nations that reached the semi-finals. Alessia Russo helped England edge past Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley’s Australia, while Stina Blackstenius and Amanda Ilestedt’s Sweden could not thwart Spain. Lotte Wubben-Moy and Lina Hurtig were also on the English and Swedish benches respectively.
Eidevall was not the only person watching with his notebook in hand, as The Athletic looks at what he could have learned about his semi-final representatives…
Alessia Russo
Russo is the Arsenal summer signing most anticipated by fans — and she has not disappointed since the move was confirmed.
Asked why she was the club’s primary target, Eidevall told The Athletic: “It boils down to a feeling when you see her play that she will do absolutely everything to win.”
The 24-year-old has shown that on England’s route to the final and, importantly, the proof has not just been in her goals. At the beginning of the tournament, much of her work was selfless. As a lone striker in matches that lacked a huge number of chances, Russo was mostly tasked with regaining possession from opposition centre-backs and providing a platform for England to attack from.
Russo sealed England’s place in the final (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images )
Russo, along with the rest of the side, benefited from Sarina Wiegman’s change in emphasis by moving to a back three with two strikers (her and Lauren Hemp). Both could be used as outlets but still had the freedom to impact the game how they saw fit.
Most of England’s play was focused down their left flank early on against Australia. Russo was the right-sided striker and initially just helped keep the ball moving on her side. Within minutes, she found Hemp in behind after a lovely control with her thigh and then started a move with a header in midfield before ending it with a shot from an angle.
However, she began drifting to the left to get more involved after 20 minutes — and that is where her assist for Ella Toone’s opener came. Interestingly, Russo’s goal was almost identical to her quarter-final winner against Colombia: a stretching run into the box before finishing across the goalkeeper.
It is already well known how comfortable Russo is outside the box, but improving her presence in the penalty area with movement like that will be a focus of Eidevall’s. The advantage is that her ability to do so many different things will give the Swede the chance to be flexible with his attacking set-up.
Amanda Ilestedt
After Rafaelle Souza’s departure and Leah Williamson’s anterior cruciate ligament injury at the end of last season, signing a centre-back was essential this summer.
In Ilestedt, Arsenal found a replacement with experience at the highest level after her time with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich. On top of that, in possession, the 30-year-old is comfortable playing both short and long passes while being front-foot defensively, ready to make interceptions. In terms of style, she ticks a lot of boxes for the way Arsenal want to dominate matches.
Even so, it is her aerial ability that has stood out in the World Cup. The tournament’s second top scorer with four goals, three have been headed in from corners with the other a right-footed shot after a free kick. A permanent fixture at the near post when Sweden had left-footed inswinging corners from the right, Ilestedt was a problem even if her efforts did not find the mark.
Last-minute magic!
Amanda Ilestedt steps into the #SpotlightOfTheDay for her last-gasp winning goal for @svenskfotboll against South Africa 🇸🇪
Unlucky #13? Not today. pic.twitter.com/Isejucx9mS
— FIFA Women’s World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 23, 2023
Arsenal were aware of this benefit of recruiting the Swede, and it works on multiple levels as the north London club have put an emphasis on set pieces for years. They profited from short-corner routines in their 2018-19 title-winning season. In 2021, Katie McCabe outlined their switch to more driven, flat deliveries deep into the box. That work came from then assistant coach Leanne Hall and goalkeeper coach Sebastian Barton and helped them rank fourth in the Women’s Super League for set-piece goals (six) in 2020-21 and third (seven) in 2021-22.
Last season, they ranked third again for set-piece goals (10, excluding penalties) while Manchester United (14) and Chelsea (13) were first and second. Eidevall recruited a new set-piece coach in Patrick Winqvist, which helped as Rafaelle’s goals from corners were crucial in their Continental Cup and Champions League runs in the spring, but these signings could push them closer to their title rivals.
While Ilestedt has everyone’s attention, Russo has also proved herself in this regard with six (27.3 per cent) of her 22 WSL goals for Manchester United coming from corners.
Established players
Eidevall’s notebook may not have been etched with many new themes about his established players but he will be encouraged by what he saw.
Both Catley and Foord made their mark when Australia were without Sam Kerr early in the tournament. Neither found their rhythm in the semi-final against England, but Catley’s technique got (and kept) the ball rolling with her penalties against Ireland and Canada while her defensive awareness was essential to the Matildas getting past France in the quarter-finals. Foord provided the spark she often does for Arsenal ahead of the left-back and got to showcase that with Australia’s opener against Denmark.
Blackstenius was her accomplished self during the tournament, acting as Sweden’s main outlet. Those channel runs that have become so familiar in north London were on show and, similar to Foord, the striker scoring against Italy was a deserved reward for the work she does for the team. Lina Hurtig came into the World Cup after an injury-laden season at Arsenal; assisting Rebecka Blomqvist’s semi-final equaliser against Spain was a highlight.
Most WSL clubs have the benefit of a break before returning to action on October 1. Arsenal, however, have a Champions League semi-final qualifier away to Linkopings FC on September 6, with the third-place play-off and final both being played on September 9.
Typically players are given three-week breaks after participating in international tournaments, but it is yet to be seen how Arsenal handle their start to the 2023-24 season.
Whatever they decide, Eidevall would have put his notebook to good use as he readies himself to properly introduce his new signings to the club and challenge for more silverware.
(Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
