Arsenal were left frustrated by former boss Joe Montemurro’s Juventus, as they were held to a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Stadium on Thursday evening.
Vivianne Miedema’s header cancelled out Lineth Beerensteyn’s opener as a spirited Juventus maintained their unbeaten start to the group stages. Arsenal remain in the driving seat to qualify for the Champions League quarter finals as group winners despite the dropped points.
With a swathe of injuries to key first team players, the Gunners set up in a new-look 4-2-3-1 formation, with two sitting midfielders and Jordan Nobbs deployed on the right wing.
Despite the new system, Arsenal dominated for large periods of the first half and were unfortunate to not be ahead at the break, Stina Backstenius coming oh so close to breaking the deadlock on three occasions.
Having enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, the Arsenal forward saw her side’s first clear sighting of goal midway through the first period, but clipped the bar after being superbly picked out by Frida Maanum.
Blackstenius was again sent scurrying through on goal by an excellent Maanum pass, but this time the Arsenal forward was denied by Pauline Peyraud Magnin, who was off her goal line quickly to block with her legs.
A stretching Blackstenius was then a whisker away from giving the Gunners the lead, but couldn’t quite make contact as Caitlin Foord’s wicked delivery flashed across the face of goal.
Juventus had shown flashes of quality on the counter attack, and had their clearest sighting of goal on the stroke of half time, as Barbara Bonansea crossed for Arianna Caruso, who headed just wide.
Peyraud Magnin was busy again in the second half, palming away a Foord effort at the near post after the Arsenal winger had been picked out by Jordan Nobbs.
The Gunners continued to push for the opener, Lotte Wubben-Moy seeing a header cleared off the line by Lisa Boattin. It proved to be a crucial intervention as, moments later, Juventus took the lead. Beerensteyn latched onto a superb pass from Cristiana Girelli, burst past the Arsenal backline and finished coolly.
Arsenal levelled on the hour mark, Miedema ending her uncharacteristic run of six games without a goal by rising highest to head home Maanum’s corner.
The forward almost netted a second after creating an opening for herself with some trademark quick feet, but fired narrowly over.
Peyraud Magnin popped up with a crucial stop with her feet in stoppage time to keep out Foord as Juventus dug in to hold on to a…
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