Arsenal Women are set to face Norwegian side Vålerenga in the UEFA Women's Champions League on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at the Emirates Stadium. This match comes at a critical juncture for the Gunners, who are still reeling from the resignation of their long-time head coach, Jonas Eidevall. Eidevall stepped down following a poor start to the 2024/25 season, including a 5-2 thrashing by Bayern Munich in the Champions League and a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Women's Super League.
Renee Slegers, Eidevall’s assistant, will take charge of the team for this crucial encounter. Arsenal desperately need three points to get their campaign back on track. The team has been plagued by defensive issues, which were starkly evident in their recent defeat to Bayern Munich. However, Vålerenga, despite being a strong side in the Norwegian league, may not pose the same level of threat as Bayern Munich.
Vålerenga, two-time Toppserien champions, have had a dominant run in their league, winning 21 of their 23 games this season. They qualified for the Champions League group stage after victories over Farul Constanta and Anderlecht but suffered a 1-0 loss to Juventus on Matchday 1. The Norwegian outfit will be looking to capitalize on Arsenal’s current instability.
The predicted lineup for Arsenal includes changes due to the current volume of games and injuries. Kyra Cooney-Cross and Frida Maanum are expected to start, while Stina Blackstenius might be preferred over Alessia Russo up front. For Vålerenga, Thea Bjelde is a doubt after being forced off in their last game, and Mimmi Lofwenius remains out with a knee ligament injury.
This match marks the first competitive fixture between Arsenal and Vålerenga, and it promises to be an intense battle as both teams seek to secure vital points in the group stage of the UEFA Women’s Champions League).
