Arsenal 0-1 Bayern Munich
by Kadeem Simmonds
at Ashburton Grove

MANY speculated following the end of the Women’s World Cup about whether the passion and interest  shown during the tournament would translate into the Women’s Super League.

Despite it being a pre-season friendly at Ashburton Grove, the signs look fairly promising.

Arsenal took on Bayern Munich in the Emirates Cup in what started out as a near-empty stadium but filled up as the game went on.

There has long been a belief that if more women’s games were played at “men’s” grounds, the game would grow quicker.

Yesterday’s friendly won’t be the defining moment in this argument but it will be a sign to many that getting fans through the turnstiles is a lot harder than initially anticipated, even with a high-profile men’s game played immediately after.

While there were more people inside the stadium than there would have been had the game been played at Boredom Wood, the spread-out fans made for an interesting atmosphere.

It was almost like this was the preview for what was to come later as opposed to two teams preparing for their season.

That being said, those present were fully supportive and the decibels rose considerably every time the Gunners pressed forward.

Playing in their new “bruised banana” yellow away shirt, Arsenal looked sharper in the opening period of the game.

New signing Manuela Zinsberger, who signed from opponents Bayern Munich in May, spent more time playing out from the back as a sweeper-keeper than as a traditional No 1, such was the “home” team’s dominance.

However, as is often in football, Bayern’s first shot on target saw Zinsberger pick the ball out from the back of the net.

A free-kick on the left-hand side found Melanie Leupolz free at the back post, and she made no mistake with her diving header to give the Germans the lead.

Arsenal continued to force the issue and as more fans entered the stadium, the atmosphere picked up — as did the intensity of the game.

The Gunners failed to find a way back before the break and started the second-half on the back foot, as Bayern increasingly carved out half-chances.

The German side found a lot of success down Arsenal’s right-hand side and substitute Emma Mitchell found little time to grow into the game as a combination of second-half introductions Jovana Damnjanovic and Nicole Rosler bombarded her flank.

Kim Little, fresh off her World Cup exploits with Scotland, dropped deeper and deeper in search of the ball as she attempted to get her side back into the game.

Try as she might, however, the Arsenal skipper was unable to break down a resolute Bayern back-four.

If Munich were to double their lead, it was going to down one of the many balls fizzed across the box down the right wing — Katrine Veje was found shirking her defensive duties, leaving Mitchell exposed over and over again.

Arsenal had a great chance of pulling level, Katie McCabe was through on goal with just the defender to beat and Little on the overlap. However, she dallied on the ball and her shot was blocked.

The chance came at a cost though.

Danielle Carter had won the ball in the build-up to the effort but landed awkwardly on her right knee and immediately screamed out in pain.

Medics brought on a stretcher and the England international was taken off with her leg in a brace and needing oxygen — she had only just returned from a serious ACL injury suffered last season, this being her first start.

As the game drew to a conclusion in front of a three-quarter full stadium, it was evident that the players who had graced the surface over the 90 minutes had put on a brilliant match and it was a shame that the game hadn’t been contested with all these people inside Ashburton Grove.

Arsenal had a chance in the dying embers of the game to give the fans something to celebrate but the free-kick came to nothing. 

Still, the result never mattered with the bigger picture being what this game could mean for the future of women’s football.