Matildas ace Caitlin Foord did her utmost to place a cease to Arsenal’s woes however even her good solo objective couldn’t cease them sinking to a different dispiriting 2-1 defeat at dwelling to champions Chelsea.
Foord proved Arsenal’s livewire down the left flank and her objective out of nothing simply earlier than half-time introduced the Gunners to life on the Emirates Stadium after Chelsea had moved right into a dominant 2-0 lead by way of good Colombian Mayra Ramirez and French worldwide Sandy Baltimore.
There was nothing on when Foord picked up the ball close to the left nook flag, however she shimmied previous star England defender Lucy Bronze alongside the objective line and, although the slender angle was towards her, then labored the ball again on to her proper foot to in some way unleash a pinpoint end through the far put up.
The brilliance, in entrance of a crowd of 45,860, was typical of the fare the 29-year-old has produced for Arsenal this time period in what has been a reasonably robust time for the Gunners.
Foord was voted the Arsenal followers’ participant of the month for September and continued her flying kind right here with one other wholehearted effort.
However Chelsea was nonetheless too good for the house aspect and now leads the desk with an ideal 9 factors after three video games.
Arsenal, in distinction, has 5 factors from 4 and sits sixth within the 12-team standings, a reasonably calamitous begin for a aspect with such excessive ambitions beneath more and more under-pressure boss Jonas Eidevall.
Foord’s response kickstarted a significantly better displaying from Arsenal after the break, however after substitute Stina Blackstenius hit the crossbar late, there was nothing left to cheer for the house followers after every week through which their Champions League hopes had additionally taken a significant dent with a 5-2 hammering by Bayern Munich.
Chelsea’s win, even with out nonetheless injured totem Sam Kerr, maintained new coach Sonia Bompastor’s 100 per cent league report, with predecessor Emma Hayes, now boss of the Olympic-winning USA ladies’s group, watching on from the stands.
Foord’s fellow Matilda Kyra Cooney-Cross got here on late as a second-half sub for Arsenal whereas Olympic captain Steph Catley remained on the bench.
AAP
