Arsenal stormed their way into the 5th Round of the FA Cup with a comprehensive 9-0 battering of Leeds United. Goals for Foord, Møller Kühl, Little, Hurtig, Beattie, Agyemang, Pelova and a brace from Blackstenius completed a torrid afternoon for Leeds United, and gave plenty for a bouncing Meadow Park to celebrate.
The tie was in fact a replay of FA Cup Finals past. Before the Euros success, before the WSL, when the FA Cup Final was the sole coverage available of this hidden sport, Leeds United faced off against Arsenal in 2 FA Cup Finals, in 2006 and 2008. And like today, they were battered in both finals. 15 years later, the reunion showcased the changes in fate the two sides had undergone since those glory years. Arsenal have had to deal with the bloody nose of another team elbowing their way to the spot at the top of the tree. This pales in comparison to tragedy of Leeds United, who have sunk to the bottom of the footballing ladder, at one point ceasing to exist altogether. Thankfully, they are back, in the National League Division One North, and one hopes that their star will rise again once more.
However, this was not a day for indulging future aspirations, but rather, a day for Arsenal to showcase their latest January additions. The Gunners have not been idle in the transfer market, signing Pelova, Møller Kühl and D’Angelo to improve their side for the second half of the season. D’Angelo was given her debut start in Arsenal’s midweek Conti Cup triumph over Aston Villa. For this match, Jonas elected to switch to Marckese in goal, and give first starts to Pelova, Møller Kühl and the recently re-called Gio. But there was one other recent addition to Meadow Park that, until now, had gone under the radar. One that plied its trade not on the pitch, but in the North Bank. A recent addition that I spent an amazing afternoon with.
At the end of that glorious day out at Wembley, Leah Williamson issued a rallying cry in front of the TV cameras, to the entire nation, asking for fans to start coming to their games and supporting their teams. Much fanfare has been made about the record high attendances at the Men’s Stadiums (Arsenal have achieved an impressive 40,000+ at all 3 of their WSL matches played at Emirates Stadium). But these are special occasions, and don’t represent the normal day-to-day matches. Anyone can be tempted for a one-off match against a big name at Emirates Stadium for a rock-bottom price. But will fans still be tempted to come to Meadow Park, on a freezing Wednesday night, to watch a Conti Cup tie, or spend a weekend catching a cup tie against lower league opposition? On this evidence, yes. Last season’s Conti Cup defeat drew in a mere 825 fans. 1 year later, 2,959 watched Arsenal triumph 3-0 over Aston Villa. And the same is true of today’s match with Leeds, with another 2000+ attendance, double what they achieved in the dour 1-0 win over London City Lionesses last season. This is the true impact of the Euros success.
Of course, it is one thing to draw in bigger crowds. It is another to utilise them to good effect. This was why I chose to spend my afternoon in Meadow Park’s North Bank stand, to observe the attempt by fans to improve the atmosphere at Meadow Park. Too often, the ground can be a silent soundscape, the crowd only engaged whenever a goal is scored, or if the ref makes a blunder. The occasional chant can usually be heard once ever 20 minutes, which will either be one of ‘We’ve got McCabe’, ‘Kimmy Kimmy Kimmy’, ‘Arsenal’ or ‘Red Army’, which after a while, can wear thin. Arsenal, quiet stadiums, and poor atmospheres have gone hand in hand for decades. ‘Highbury Library’ was a term once used to describe the Arsenal Men’s former residence. The Emirates Stadium was a source of mockery for its lack of noise. Yet these norms are now being overturned. The Ashburton Army have been the change needed and now Emirates Stadium is a cauldron of noise. At Meadow Park, The Red and White AWFC have worked hard to form a singing section in the North Bank and sing continuously for the 90+ minutes. And the results have been incredible.
As I took my place in the North Bank, the singing had already started, despite being drowned out by the pre-match playlist. But that didn’t matter, as it simply allowed the crowd to get their vocal cords warmed up for what was to follow. A rendition by the Stadium DJ of ‘Tequila’ by The Tramps gave everyone a chance to give Sabrina D’Angelo’s new chant (a rework of the Men’s Saliba chant) an airing. Then the music subsided, the players took their positions on the pitch, and the real fun could then begin.
Ohh-oh, she walks on water, ohh-oh! Laura Wienroither! Take her on, she’s already passed you! Ohh-oh! Laura Wienroither!
From the off, the North Bank were in full flow. Every player had its own chant, some taken from the Arsenal Women Supporters Club Songbook, some recent inventions from the North Bank. It was a welcome relief for those tired of the same songs about the same players being recycled at every game, and not giving recognition to the rest of the team for their efforts. At the same time, Arsenal were doing their singing on the pitch. They were the ones leading the tune, Leeds United reduced to being the kid at the back of the orchestra with the triangle.
Let me hear you say Gio! Gio! Let me hear you say Gio! Gio!
Deep, low block, compact try and keep the score down. They were doomed from the off, offering no more resistance than a feather in a tornado. Last season, Arsenal struggled badly against LCL’s low block, only winning after Miedema profited on a defensive mistake just before half time. One year on, Jonas are better and wiser, both in recruitment and in tactics. Leeds shape gifted Arsenal the wings, allowing the likes of Catley, Wienroither, McCabe and Gio to have the freedom to cross, cut inside, or target the by-line with very little resistance. It soon became a case of when, rather than if Arsenal would score. The magic number would prove to be 10.
She’s Red! She’s White! She loves the Vegemite! Caitlin Foord! Caitlin Foord!
10 minutes in, and one of Arsenal’s corners finally bore fruit. Leeds missed the first contact, and a combination of Møller Kühl and Foord forced the loose ball over the line, the final touch coming of the Australian. The floodgates were now open, and Arsenal made it 2-0 minutes later. Another corner, Leeds failed to clear, and Pelova set up Møller Kühl for her first Arsenal goal, via some straw wrist action from Simpson, who practically palmed the ball into her own net.
Kathrine! Kathrine Kühl! Kathrine! Kathrine Küüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüühl!
And so, the onslaught continued. Pass forward. Use width. Cross. Block. Clear. Regain. Rinse. Repeat. For 30 minutes, Arsenal kept Leeds hemmed in. Every player bar the Arsenal keeper was inside the Leeds United half. At the heart of the midfield were Little and Møller Kühl, dictating the play, winning the ball back high up, sustaining the Arsenal attacks. 4 minutes before the bell, the pressure finally told. Foord attempted to roll past her defender in the box and got her legs swept away from her.
Kimmy Kimmy Kimmy! Oi Oi Oi! Kimmy Kimmy Kimmy! Oi Oi Oi!
The ever reliable Kim Little sent Simpson the wrong way from the spot, and ensured Arsenal went into the break 3 goals to the good. 3-0 flattered Leeds United, and highlighted the gulf in quality that still needs to be bridged. On a day where non-League Wrexham held Championship Sheffield United to a thrilling 3-3 draw in the Men’s FA Cup, such magic was absent here. David vs Goliath upsets simply do not happen in the Women’s FA Cup. Man City and Brighton were able to rack up 7-0 victories in their FA Cup ties, whilst Spurs had thumped LCL 5-0 earlier that day. These were games not for the underdog, but for the big sides to flex their muscle. As much as we focus on improvement in the WSL, the flagship Women’s Football league in this country, even greater improvements and investments are required further down the pyramid, to help get clubs like Leeds United to a level when they can have an actual football match with Arsenal, instead of the bloodbath we witnessed here. And it was about to get worse for Leeds United. For the second half, Jonas ran the changes, bringing on Hurtig, Blackstenius, Leonhardsen Maanum and Wubben-Moy, to rotate out some of the first team players, and give players short on goals a chance to add to their tally.
Oh Steph Catley! Is wonderful! Oh Steph Caltey is wonderful! She’s got a left foot like Messi! Oh Steph Catley is wonderful!
The changes didn’t hamper Arsenal’s side at all. It was a case of as you were straight from the kick-off. And to the joy of those in the North Bank, the Gunners were attacking their end in the second half. All that was needed was another goal. Pelova headed an open goal wide, and blazed a volley open though was flagged offside regardless.
Nah Nah Nana, Nah Nah Nana Nah! Lotte Wubben-Moy, Wubben-Moy! Lotte Wubben-Moy!
But the fourth goal did come, and when it did, it was from a familiar source. Leeds United’s approach to defending corners appeared to be to simply not defend them at all. Hurtig ran onto McCabe’s delivery uncontested and thumped home the ball with ease. It was Hurtig’s third goal for the club since her arrival in the summer. Her debut season has been blighted by injury, but with Beth Mead out for the season, a space has opened up for her now to showcase her talents, and this goal, albeit against lesser opposition, should give her confidence going into the rest of the season.
Someone change the scoreboard! Someone change the scoreboard! Na Nah Na Na! Na Nah Na Na!
The Leeds United defence weren’t the only ones having a nightmare. Such was the rate of goals, the scoreboard at Meadow Park was struggling to keep up, much to the amusement of the North Bank Crowd. Speaking of defensive nightmares, Arsenal won another corner on 70 minutes, and this time Jen Beattie, fresh from announcing her retirement from playing for Scotland, sent a looping header into the back of the net.
Super! Super Jen! Super! Super Jen! Super! Super Jen! Super Jennie Beattie!
Leeds were on their knees, they had nothing left to give. What meagre resistance they possessed had long since departed. Were it a boxing match, the towel would have been cast into the ring long ago. But Arsenal had 20 minutes left to entertain a crowd baying for more. As they twisted the knife further, the goals flowed even faster. Stina Blackstenius has struggled for consistency as Arsenal’s lead striker, an issue more problematic with Miedema, and all the goals she would normally provide, stripped from the side. There was an effort from the North Bank to encourage her to find her form here today. They chanted her name to Queen’s classic ‘Another One Bites The Dust’. And Stina answered their cry, bursting into the box to tuck home a loose ball and get on the scoresheet, leading to rapturous applause. Not content with just the one goal, she flicked home Leonhardsen Maanum’s low cross minutes later to complete a quickfire brace.
Michelle Agyemang! Say Michelle Agyemang!
What was billed initially as an FA Cup tie had now become a turkey shoot. Now everyone wanted to have a go and get their name on the scoresheet. One player the fans wanted to get on that sheet was academy star Michelle Agyemang. With 15 minutes left, Jonas introduced her into the fray, and she didn’t disappoint. Leeds once again failed to clear a corner, Catley’s cross crashed off the bar, Agyemang brought the ball under her spell with a delightful bit of close control, before sliding the ball home for her first Arsenal goal.
Pelova! Woah! Pelova! Woah! She came from Amsterdam! She is an Arsenal fan!
Møller Kühl and Agyemang had all managed to open their Arsenal accounts. All that was left was for Pelova to do the same, and that she did with the goal of the game. A Leeds clearance came to her on the D, and she needed only one touch to control before slamming a shot past Simpson.
We Want 10! We Want 10! We Want 10!
Meadow Park was in party mode, and with 8 minutes still to play, a double-figure mauling looked to be on the cards. But it was not to be. 9-0 it finished, a comprehensive win for the Arsenal in a contest that was a mismatch when drawn, and never in doubt the moment Foord opened the scoring. Leeds United would not leave empty handed however, as Amy Lea Woodruff went back to Yorkshire with Leah Williamson’s shirt in her kitbag as promised.
For Arsenal, it was an exhibition of the class we already knew they possessed. But the true heroes on the day were the North Bank Crew, the team behind The Red & White AWFC, who have created something truly beautiful and vastly improved the matchday experience. So many songs, so many great moments, so many laughs, whether it be making Simpsons refences at the Leeds United keeper, reminding Lotte Wubben-Moy of her bar tab last week, or telling the Leeds United players that they were only there for Arsenal shirts. It’s something that has been missing at the ground up until now, and with fan attendances continuing to increase, it will only get better and better. I left the stadium with my head spinning and my voice shot to pieces. Yet I also left it having had one of my best matchday experiences at Meadow Park. If Arsenal continue to improve like this, on the pitch, off the pitch, and in the terraces, then we could be onto something very, very special.
Written by Adam Salter
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