Alessia Russo rounded off a fine win for Arsenal against Valerenga in the Women’s Champions League in the team’s first game since Jonas Eidevall resigned.
Pressure had been growing on Eidevall during a painful three-game winless run under the Swedish manager, with fans booing and holding up P45 signs – calling for his sacking – following their 2-1 defeat by Chelsea on Sunday.
But Arsenal looked reinvigorated under interim boss Renee Slegers and her reign as interim boss got off to a bright start when Emily Fox tapped home inside two minutes at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal’s upturn in fortunes continued with Caitlin Foord lashing the ball into the roof of the net from close range after Beth Mead’s initial effort was saved.
Despite countless attacks forward, there were the same signs of carelessness in defence and the Norwegian visitors clawed a goal back before the break through Olaug Tvedten as Laia Codina was caught trying to play out from the back.
However, summer signing Mariona Caldentey put the Gunners out of reach in the 85th minute with a powerful strike after being picked out with a clever pass from Russo.
Then England forward Russo, a bright spark throughout, completed victory when she slotted through the legs of Valerenga keeper Tove Enblom in stoppage time.
Arsenal, buoyed by with this result, will make the short journey to West Ham on Sunday in the Women’s Super League, with the Hammers sitting 11th in the table and without a win this season.
