Arsenal Women's Player Ratings vs West Ham: Alessia Russo & Olivia Smith Shine in Gunners Comeback
The Gunners showcased a remarkable comeback against West Ham United, with Alessia Russo and Olivia Smith leading the charge to secure a convincing 5-1 victory. Read on for a breakdown of the standout performances and key moments from the match.
The Gunners suffered an early scare at the hands of the Hammers, but a dominant second-half performance and some inspired substitutions meant they walked away with all three pointsArsenal Women continued a stunning start to the new WSL season with a 5-1 comeback victory at West Ham United, Alessia Russo finding the net twice late on to put the gloss on an emphatic victory.West Ham had taken an early lead after Daphne van Domselaar took her eye off Shekiera Martinez's cross from the right, dropping the ball and allowing it to bounce off her and into the net. But the Gunners would not be deterred as Frida Maanum equalised before substitute Stina Blackstenius turned the game around off the bench.Caitlin Foord added a third on her 100th WSL appearance, before Russo scored twice late on, both assisted by £1million record signing Olivia Smith, to send out a statement to Chelsea and the rest of the the Gunners' title rivals.Following their opening-day 4-1 victory over London City Lionesses, Arsenal undoubtedly approached this encounter with a spring in their step but were dealt an early blow after just five minutes. Goalkeeper Van Domselaar's early error gave West Ham a shock lead and left the Gunners with an early deficit to come back from.Arsenal rallied to build their way into the game though, equalising through Maanum just beyond the 20-minute mark. After some smart hold-up play by Russo, Beth Mead played the killer through-ball and Maanum struck the ball early to deceive Megan Walsh and equalise for the visitors.Remaining level at the break, Arsenal manager Renee Slegers took off goalscorer Maanum and replaced her with Champions League final match-winner Blackstenius. The 29-year-old made a telling impact just seven minutes after her introduction, curling home left-footed from the edge of the box with Russo involved once again with a clever back-heel into her path.Russo would eventually get her deserved goals late on, firing home from range before rounding off the result from the spot after Smith was felled by Ines Belloumou.GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Chigwell Construction Stadium...
Daphne van Domselaar - 5/10
The Arsenal goalkeeper endured a shaky start with an early howler that gifted West Ham the lead. Despite the setback, van Domselaar showed resilience and made some crucial saves to prevent further damage.
Alessia Russo - 9/10
Russo was the standout performer for Arsenal, scoring two crucial goals late in the game to seal the victory. Her composure in front of goal and link-up play with teammates were instrumental in the Gunners' comeback.
Olivia Smith - 8/10
Smith, the £1 million record signing, made a significant impact off the bench, providing two assists for Russo's goals. Her creativity and vision added a new dimension to Arsenal's attack, showcasing her potential in the team.
Stina Blackstenius - 7/10
Blackstenius changed the game after coming on as a substitute, scoring a crucial goal with a well-placed finish. Her experience and goal-scoring instincts proved vital in turning the tide in Arsenal's favor.
Caitlin Foord - 7.5/10
Foord marked her 100th WSL appearance with a goal, displaying her clinical finishing and attacking threat throughout the match. Her contribution added further depth to Arsenal's attacking options.
