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Beth Lindop

'We came back really strong' - Lia Walti gives Arsenal verdict after Juventus draw

Arsenal midfielder Lia Walti has praised her team's mentality after the Gunners came back against Juventus to secure a crucial point in the Champions League on Thursday.

Jonas Eidevall's side suffered their first loss of the season at the weekend after a late goal from Alessia Russo saw Manchester United triumph at the Emirates. It looked like Arsenal could be on course for a second straight defeat when Netherlands international Lineth Beerensteyn put Juventus ahead in Turin.

However, a superb header from Vivianne Miedema saw the Gunners level things up at the Allianz Stadium to extend their unbeaten European run. Reflecting on the result, Switzerland international Walti told club media: "I think in the end, the result is maybe fair.

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"It feels good because we knew that we just didn't want to lose that game. Ideally, we would have won it and I think we had enough chances.

"But it's football. They had one chance and they took it. I think the response after that was really good."

Reflecting on the moment Arsenal went behind, Walti said: "I felt like there were 10 minutes after half-time where we struggled a little bit, where it was a tough battle in midfield as well, but then I think we fought ourselves back and deserved the goal. And in the end, if we were a bit luckier in front of the goal, we could have maybe scored a winner."

She added: "In the end, it was a bit of a wild game. It was very transitional. So it was hard to stay calm, but it was good to sometimes step on the ball and just go back again. And I think our subs today really helped us to get the draw."

Thursday's draw sees Arsenal top their group, with three more games to go in the group stages. And Walti believes the result is particularly significant following the Gunner's bruising defeat to United in the WSL.

"We played against a really good side tonight," she said. "It was a big, big battle. I think we had a really small squad and based on the weekend's game against Man United, we came back really strong.

"I'm really proud of the team's performance. I think we move on and I'm looking forward to the game in two weeks and when we can play them at home."

Jonas Eidevall's side will return to WSL action when they welcome eighth-placed Everton to Meadow Park on December 3.

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