Arsenal Women drew 1-1 with Barcelona at Camp Nou on Thursday evening, and Frida Maanum's first-half goal was what earned them the point. It came on 22 minutes, when Caitlin Foord got a shot away that Cata Coll could only parry in the Barcelona goal. Maanum was first to the loose ball and put it in first time. "I always want to hunt those rebounds!" she said afterwards. She was the one change to the side, brought in to play as the number 10 behind Alessia Russo, and Renée Slegers explained that Maanum has been out injured but told her beforehand that she was ready to start. Slegers called her immense, saying she's very good without the ball and makes the players around her better.
The lead lasted until the 59th minute, when Caroline Graham Hansen was left unmarked, cut inside and shot into the corner. Slegers said Arsenal should have defended it better because Graham Hansen got too much space and her side became a little disorganised. On 60 minutes she made a double change that sent on Batlle for Taylor Hinds and Smith for Lisa Baum, before Cooney-Cross replaced Stanway on 77. Arsenal spent long spells of the night without the ball, which is why Slegers changed things in possession at half-time so they'd spend less time chasing. She said the players picked it up really well, but the equaliser still arrived before the hour.
Slegers said a draw was probably fair given how many chances Barcelona had, though Arsenal had corners late on and went for it. She thought one point was okay from a ground as hard to visit as this one, but she wanted three. That's the right reading of it, because Barcelona had won all three of their league-phase games before Thursday and this was the first time Arsenal Women had played at Camp Nou. Arsenal are fourth in the league phase with eight points from four games, level with Bayern Munich and Chelsea, while Barcelona are second on 10. Slegers said the way they played was very different from usual and a big boost to their process, and the words she chose for the performance included resilience, discipline and bravery. A side sixth in the WSL needed a night like that, so the task now is to play with the same discipline in the league.
Over to the men's team, where Zubimendi, Rice and Riccardo Calafiori were all on the winning side in big Nations League matches during the international break.
There is also an interview with Paul Davis, Arsenal's first established Black first-teamer, who has spoken about racism at the club in the 1980s. Davis says he confronted his own team-mates over "jokes", and I think that detail matters most because it puts the problem inside the dressing room. He also says the club and its support are now so diverse, and that he finds today's squad and fanbase inspiring. The contrast is his to draw.
In the academy, Jack Talbot has signed his first professional contract with Arsenal.
Arsenal Women have little time to recover, because London City Lionesses come to the Emirates on Sunday. Slegers called them a really good team who have similarities to Barcelona. OL Lyonnes then visit Meadow Park in the Champions League on Thursday.
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