By Cameron Sheath

After securing their first win in over a month, and just their third of the season, against Spurs on Saturday, Arsenal’s women are back at Boreham Wood tonight to face Benfica. The Portuguese champions are flying high in their domestic league and are visiting North London on the back of a derby win over Lisbon in which they they conceded the only domestic goal they’ve allowed all season, before fighting back for a 4-1 victory.

Arsenal have been as tame in the Champions League as they have in the WSL and need to build on their own local derby win with winnable games against Aston Villa and Liverpool in the next two weekends. If they can find their feet and get back to somewhere near their best in those games, they’ll then have a chance to rock the boat against Barcelona, Lyon and, most importantly, London City Lionesses.

Team News

The only player returning for Arsenal for this one is Kim Little, with Katie Reid and Michelle Agyemang getting closer each week.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any team news for Benfica online, including the team’s website (why have a website if you’re not going to put things like team news on there?).

Ones to Watch

Alessia Russo stands out to me heading into this one. Benfica are a defensively disciplined team, but the timing of the goals they’ve conceded in the Champions League this season could be telling. In their two games against Bayern and Juventus, Benfica have conceded four goals, coming in the 74th, 80th, 86th, and 88th minutes. Russo is a player that doesn’t wilt at the end of games, and her relentlessness could pay off tonight.

The other area of vulnerability that Benfica have is in their ability to play out from the back. The Portuguese side were caught out multiple times against Bayern, and if Russo doesn’t get on the scoresheet, she could still play a big part in the press.

For Benfica, left-back Marit Lund has a phenomenal left foot and will be a threat from set pieces. The Norwegian got an assist from a corner at the weekend and scored both of her team’s goals in the 2-1 away win at Juventus; first with a penalty into the top corner, before doubling that with a sumptuous curling free kick into the top right.

Beyond that, winger Nycole Raysla will be feeling confident after grabbing three goals and an assist over her last two games. The Brazilian will likely start on the right and possesses the ability to deliver with her right or cut in and finish with her left.

Final Thoughts

Arsenal need to find the balance between attacking this game early and playing the long game. In an ideal world, in which Renee Slegers’ side were more confident, patiently probing Benfica until they eventually cave would be the obvious way to approach the game.

Unfortunately, Arsenal are not very confident, especially in front of goal, which plays into Benfica’s hands. The longer the away side’s impressive defence can hold out, the more the nerves will start to build. I strongly believe the visitors will be there for the taking in the final 15 minutes, but it’s a lot harder to capitalise on that when you’re in the kind of form Arsenal are in.

I fully expect a strong press from Arsenal off the ball; if not a high press on the backline, then a mid-press once the ball is played into midfield. Either way, Arsenal need to keep the ball in Benfica’s half as much as possible in what could be a close game.

Last season, in Lisbon, Beth Mead opened the scoring after Arsenal won possession in a high press, before Russo added a second in the 89th minute. Something similar could be on the cards tonight, although I wouldn’t expect to see Mead on the scoresheet.

Prediction: Arsenal 1-0 Benfica