Arsenal will be relieved to have hit the international break after their sluggish form continued on Thursday, albeit in a 2-0 victory at Benfica that got their Champions League title defence up and running. The Gunners have found things tough as of late, winning just one of their last five games coming into this fixture, and those struggles continued in a rather toothless performance in Portugal despite goals from Beth Mead and Alessia Russo.
Mead's effort was a fitting way to open the scoring in a game that featured very few chances for either team. Returning to the city where they lifted the Champions League trophy back in May, Arsenal controlled proceedings in Lisbon, though in a very patient manner that rarely threatened to trouble Benfica. The closest the Gunners came to an opening in the first half was from set pieces, as Mead's free-kick flew just a yard or so over the bar before Lotte Wubben-Moy's header later grazed the sidenetting. It was actually the hosts who had the best opening of an uneventful encounter, when Diana Gomes forced Daphne van Domselaar into a terrific save just before the break.
But just as Arsenal's luck seemed to be in on Sunday, when they ended a four-game winless run with a 1-0 win over Brighton, it was again here. At the Emirates Stadium, it was a cross from Olivia Smith that deflected in off a defender to secure three points. At the Estadio da Luz, it was a series of fortunate ricochets that eventually allowed Mead, stranded on the floor in the six-yard box, to stretch out a leg and score one of the strangest goals of her storied career.
While rarely looking like they were going to score, Arsenal also rarely looked like they were going to concede and so, once the net rippled, the Gunners were able to calmly and confidently see the game out, with Russo's clinical finish from a clever Chloe Kelly free-kick able to seal a valuable Champions League win after their title defence had started with a worrying defeat to Lyon. The hope now will be that this team can come back from the international break feeling refreshed and start to look more like the side that conquered Europe last term. They will also be crossing their fingers on an injury front, after both Fox and Steph Catley were forced off late on in a defence already missing Leah Williamson.
GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the Estadio da Luz…
Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence
Daphne van Domselaar (7/10):
Distribution was a little bit iffy but made a terrific save in the first half that would prove vital in a tight game.
Emily Fox (7/10):
Good in possession and a positive contributor on both sides of the ball before limping off in real pain late on.
Lotte Wubben-Moy (6/10):
Did a lot of good defensive work and was fine in possession, though struggled in her duels.
Steph Catley (7/10):
Did a lot of good work both in and out of possession. Arsenal will hope her injury is nothing serious.
Taylor Hinds (6/10):
Didn't do much wrong but couldn't offer much in attack to get the Gunners going, despite spending a lot of time high up the pitch.
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Kim Little (5/10):
Needed to speed the tempo up in order to move Benfica's defence around and break them down.
Kyra Cooney-Cross (7/10):
Brought more energy to the midfield than anyone else, even if the bar wasn't particularly high.
Mariona Caldentey (6/10):
Played a more advanced role than usual but didn't quite make it count in terms of picking up pockets of space where she could really hurt Benfica. Her press was good, though, and significant in the opening goal.
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Olivia Smith (5/10):
Another game in which she was lively and caused problems but lacked an accurate end product.
Alessia Russo (7/10):
Struggled for service all game, but put away the one big chance that came her way.
Beth Mead (6/10):
Suffered from playing on her less favoured side, though showed great determination to get her goal.
Subs & Manager
Stina Blackstenius (6/10):
Brought the sort of energy and movement that Arsenal were lacking throughout the game, as she also did on Sunday against Brighton.
Chloe Kelly (6/10):
Showed excellent awareness to deliver the free-kick that Russo netted from.
Caitlin Foord (5/10):
Was positive when she got on the ball, it just wasn't often enough in her 20-minute cameo.
Laia Codina (N/A):
Made her first appearance since March when she replaced Catley late on.
Katie McCabe (N/A):
Another late sub, as Fox hobbled off.
Renee Slegers (6/10):
She will be delighted that her team managed to get a win here despite not being anywhere near their best. Her subs brought energy and made an impact on the result, but the starting XI needs to have more energy and creativity about it.