Vivianne Miedema puts Arsenal Ladies back on glory trail

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Glenn Moore15 March 2018

The Players of Arsenal Women savoured silverware again at Wycombe last night and declared the Gunners were back. After a trophyless 2017, the club that once dominated the women’s game defeated last season’s treble winners Manchester City to win their fifth Continental Tyres Cup.

The competition is the female equivalent of the EFL Cup, in which the same teams met last month. Then City won comfortably, but at Adams Park Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema’s first-half goal gave Arsenal victory.

“People have been talking about Chelsea and Manchester City, for us as a team it meant so much to win that trophy and show we are still in the picture,” said midfielder Jordan Nobbs.

It was Arsenal’s first trophy under new Australian manager Joe Montemurro and Nobbs added: “Joe’s been phenomenal, he’s brought organisation and clarity. That allows players like me, Kim [Little], Viv [Miedema] to have some freedom off that.

Winner | Vivianne Miedema's first half strike turned out to be Arsenal's winning goal
Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“In the past we were conceding too many goals. We’ve now won our last five matches without conceding a goal.”

Arsenal’s defensive revival was epitomised by Leah Williamson, who played in midfield when Arsenal lost this final to City in 2014 but was at the heart of their rearguard action as City piled on second-half pressure.

The final act of the game was last-ditch tackle by Williamson on City striker Claire Emslie. Had she timed it wrong City would have had a spot-kick. “Having converted to a defender over the last couple of years it means a lot to me we can put in that sort of defensive performance,” she said. “I think that tackle was a bit of adrenaline, but I just wanted the ref to blow that whistle. I needed that ball away from goal.”

Just in time | Leah Williamson timed her challenge to perfection at the death
Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Montemurro added: “This was a benchmark as we were playing one of the best teams in Europe. We passed the test and it is a platform to go forward.”

Arsenal are back in knock-out action on Sunday when they take on Charlton Athletic in the Women’s FA Cup quarter-final at Boreham Wood FC.

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