Harder’s 13-minute hat-trick seals Bayern comeback over Arsenal Women
Arsenal endured a crushing defeat in their Champions League Group C opener against Bayern Munich. Despite taking a first-half lead through Mariona Caldentey, Jonas Eidevall’s team were eventually beaten 5-2. Pernille Harder scored a 13-minute hat-trick for the German champions after the sides traded goals from Bayern’s Sydney Lohmann and Arsenal’s Laia Codina.
It may seem excessive at this early stage to think this week could be a defining one in Arsenal’s season. Once again, however, there is trouble afoot in north London and there was no doubt going into this fixture how significant it would be before Chelsea’s visit in the WSL on Saturday. The manner of this defeat, however, particularly the way Arsenal conceded the last two goals, will have been galling for Eidevall as pressure continues to mount.
An underwhelming draw against a struggling side Everton last Sunday has left the Gunners trailing early domestically and there is unquestionably high expectation on the team to progress in Europe this season after the ignominy of being absent last time.
It will not be an easy task, particularly after this result, with Arsenal drawn in a challenging Group C. A trip to Munich was the first hurdle against a familiar opponent. Eidevall’s team saw off the German champions at the quarter-final stage two years ago, memories of which may have boosted belief before kick-off.
Eidevall made five changes to his starting lineup. Manuela Zinsberger, Leah Williamson, Caitlin Foord, Lia Wälti and Stina Blackstenius returned with the intention of adding directness sometimes lacking from Arsenal’s attack, as well as much-needed experience.
In opposition, there were familiar faces in Alexander Straus’s side. Harder faced Arsenal many times during her Chelsea years, as did Georgia Stanway in her time at Manchester City. Bayern Munich came into this match in flying form - they have won their last seven in all competitions and have only been beaten once in their last 17 home Champions League games.
Eidevall will have been pleased, therefore, with the way his side started. The Arsenal manager had issued a rallying cry for his side to “go full throttle” and his players responded. They were the better team for the majority of the first half as they pressed with intensity. The reward for their efforts came after half an hour when Mariona deftly met Katie McCabe’s delivery to volley past Maria Luisa Grohs.
Their joy would be short-lived, however, as Straus’ team sensed that Arsenal were letting their foot off the gas. A sustained period of pressure in which the visitors failed to clear their lines ended in the equaliser – Viggosdottir, the captain, rose high in the box to head in just before the break.
The hosts returned to the field a different beast and they looked to stretch the creaking Arsenal back-line with their pace. It was a policy that paid off when Lohmann scampered into space down the right before squeezing a shot past Zinsberger at the near post.
after newsletter promotion
Quick GuideHow do I sign up for sport breaking news alerts?
Show
- Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for 'The Guardian'.
- If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.
- In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.
- Turn on sport notifications.
The Gunners rallied briefly with Codina heading them level once more but down the other end, everything fell apart. Harder, the trailblazing Danish midfielder, took responsibility as she so often has in her 50 Champions League appearances to date. She marked her 50th in style with a 12-minute hat-trick that left the Arsenal players and bench stunned. Three deliveries into the box, three instances of ineffectual defending that a player of Harder’s quality will almost certainly pounce on. She rose high to head in two corner deliveries before reacting quickest to her own parried shot to ensure Bayern’s comeback was complete.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for Arsenal. Eidevall now potentially has the two biggest days of his tenure to find a way to pick his side up ahead of a huge London derby. Defeat must be avoided if they are to get their season back on track.