A well-balanced encounter ended with Arsenal being held by their Italian hosts. The influential Lineth Beerensteyn had put Juventus ahead in the second half before Vivianne Miedema hit back to ensure her side returned home with a valuable point.
Jonas Eidevall was satisfied after his Arsenal side came from behind to maintain their unbeaten European record this season. “I think we could have won given the chances that we created,” the manager said. “But I am happy with the performance. I think we came from a tough game against Manchester United, we have a tough situation with the squad and injuries. I am extremely proud of the players – the way that we can come here and get back to our way of playing against a very tough team.”
As soon as these two sides were drawn together in October, there was an extra weight added to this fixture. Fondly dubbed the “Joe Montemurro derby” by fans, this was the first time the former Arsenal manager had come up against his old side. After spending almost four years at the helm in north London, the Australian departed for a new challenge in 2021, having previously led the Gunners to a first WSL title in seven years.
Football, as always, moves on, and Montemurro and Eidevall are building with their new clubs. Arsenal have impressed in this Champions League campaign but arrived in Turin after falling to their first loss of the season and with their injury worries mounting. Beth Mead was the latest to be added to the list, having suffered a significant ACL injury at the weekend. Her absence brought Miedema into the starting line up in her now customary role in the pocket behind Stina Blackstenius.
Juventus, meanwhile, went into the game two points behind their opponents in Group C and knowing that a victory would massively bolster their chances of progression. However, things are not going entirely the Italian champions’ way this season – they are second in Serie A behind high-flying Roma.
Arsenal enjoyed a bright start with the expansive pitch affording the midfield plenty of space to break through the lines. Blackstenius was the beneficiary, running on to multiple through balls. She clipped the top of the woodwork with one effort before firing straight at Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.
Juventus offered their own threat with the pace of Beerensteyn causing problems. The hosts should have gone in ahead at the break when Arianna Caruso found herself unmarked in the box but she directed her header agonisingly wide.
The temperature may have dropped as the teams re-emerged after the break but Juventus were determined to turn up the heat. They bided their time, remaining compact in the face of Arsenal possession before taking the lead. The electric Beerensteyn had provided the backline with enough warnings and finally made them pay when she broke on to Cristiana Girelli’s defence-splitting pass and fired clinically past Manuela Zinsberger.
Juventus had the wind in their sails but Eidevall’s Arsenal can never be discounted. They have shown plenty of grit this season and they battled hard to draw level. Miedema, always one for the big occasions, rose highest in the box to meet a pinpoint Frida Maanum corner. Towering over Julia Grosso, she glanced a header home.
The final quarter of the game, however, was a bitty encounter with niggling fouls and substitutions disrupting the flow. Neither goalkeeper was really troubled as the game drew to a close. The Gunners will travel home perhaps the happier side: a draw away from home is no mean feat and they maintain their cushion at the top of the group.
Eidevall was impressed with the resilience his side displayed. “It gives me [a lot of pride],” he said. “It should give all our supporters pride as well. It’s one of the fundamentals we have – that no matter the result or the situation, we have an obligation to always play 100% and always compete in every second of the game. We’re doing that and I’m proud of that.”
Arsenal will host the same opposition in a fortnight at the Emirates, a stage that they will feel gives them the advantage as they look to secure progression to the next round.
