Paris FC v Arsenal Preview
THE LOWDOWN
Arsenal travel to Paris to take on Paris FC in matchday two of the UWCL Group Phase. The Gunners salvaged some blushes on match day one when Mariona’s stoppage time penalty gave them a 1-0 win over unfancied Danish side HB Koge. More importantly than spared blushes, it gave Arsenal three points.
Arsenal have previous with Paris FC, it was the French side that caused a shock and knocked Arsenal out in the preliminary round in Sweden in 2023. That result spelled the beginning of the end for Jonas Eidevall as Arsenal manager and a similar outcome on Wednesday will increase the pressure on Renee Slegers after a poor start to the season.
Arsenal also faced Paris FC in pre-season and perhaps in a portent for things to come, Slegers’ side struggled to break down the French side’s low block before Olivia Smith scored a stoppage time winner. With a trip to Manchester City on Sunday before the international break, it does feel like a make or break week for team and manager.
But on a more macro basis, Arsenal have tough games ahead in the group at home to Lyon and away at Barcelona, so they need to bank these points in the expectation that a six point return from the two Pot A teams is unlikely. Last season, losing a 2-0 lead away at Bayern to lose 3-2 proved pivotal in the group phase and forced Arsenal to participate in the Round of 16 rather than getting a bye to the quarter-finals.
TEAM NEWS
Chloe Kelly misses this game due to hamstring issues while Steph Catley has a lower back problem. They join Daphne van Domselaar (knee), Elisa de Almeida (muscle strain), Michelle Agyemang and Katie Reid (both ACL) on the treatment table.
Available squad
Goalkeepers: 16.Misa 28.Borbe 40.Damm
Defenders: 2.Fox 3.Wubben-Moy 6.Williamson 22.O.Batlle 24.Hinds 31.Holmberg
Midfielders: 4.Stanway 8.Mariona 10.Little(c) 12.L.Maanum 14.Reuteler 32.Cooney-Cross
Forwards: 9.Foord 11.Smith 23.Russo 25.Blackstenius 29.Cerci
A WORD FROM THE BOSS
‘It’s a short turnaround, we had a really sharp session on the pitch today which was really positive and I think having played them, of course, from a workload perspective and preparation perspective, it’s that game you look at but the opposition will do that as well. So I think that’s equal in that sense but we know what we’re facing tomorrow, we clearly know what we want to try to do against them tomorrow and also what they can expect and what they’ll do against us.
‘That was a pre-season game, both teams are trying out different things, there’s a lot of changes in the game. So yeah, I think the game will be different tomorrow, it will be highly competitive so I don’t think it will look similar and of course we’ve watched that game against Barcelona as well where they scored the first goal and they threatened with that directness which they’re really strong at so that’s something we’ll have to manage really well tomorrow.
‘I see what we’re doing every single day, I see what the players are doing, the quality that they have, the investment that they show, the closeness of where we are, it’s very close. I think just the daily things, the daily conversations with the players, the training sessions, the meetings, everything, they’ve been amazing. Of course we all saw it differently at the start of the season, but like I just said, the way they’ve managed it and everyone here has been really positive, so that’s what’s given me a lot of energy and belief.
LAST TIME OUT
When the teams met in pre-season, Olivia Smith’s stoppage time goal separated the sides. When they met in the preliminary rounds in September 2023, Arsenal came back from 2-0 down with goals from Russo and Beattie to force extra time. Russo scored again in extra time before Paris FC pulled it back to 3-3 and won on penalties.
THE OPPOSITION
Paris FC bought historic women’s club Juvisy in 2017, coached by Sandrine Soubeyrand who made over 200 appearances for Juvisy as a player. Paris FC are a club that punches above its weight and even if it’s a stretch to properly compete with the might of Lyon, they certainly compete with city rivals Paris Saint Germain and they finished 2nd in the Arkema Premier League last season.
After they knocked Arsenal out in the first preliminary round of the competition in September 2023, they eliminated Wolfsburg on penalties in the final preliminary round, giving them a reputation as disruptors. They also had current Brighton goalkeeper Chiadika Nnadozie and are captained by experienced French midfielder Clara Mateo.
On match day one, Paris took on Barcelona at the Johan Cruyff Stadium and were defeated 5-2. They caused Barca a lot of issues on the counter attack and took an early lead. Paris are very dangerous in transition but will likely look to play cautiously against Arsenal as they did when the teams met in August.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Taylor Hinds has been omitted from the last two WSL squads due to squad size restrictions. She has been unfortunate to miss out and with a World Cup next summer, she will be keen to force her way in in order to retain her place in the England squad. England have a shortage at left-back but Arsenal don’t. However, Hinds does have a very rare attribute in this Gunners squad in that she is left footed.
Batlle has largely been asked to invert heavily into midfield which, in my view, has worked pretty well and seen Batlle get into some really good underlapping positions. But Hinds offers something very different in her ability to provide an overlap on the left side. In a team that is currently struggling to stretch opponents and with an away game at Manchester City on Sunday, I suspect she will get her chance to impress.
Hinds can also invert into midfield and is very capable on her right foot too. But in an underperforming team, sometimes a good performance can boost your position in the hierarchy very quickly. Hinds’ first target is probably to get back into match day squads in the WSL but a good showing in a struggling team can change your fortunes very quickly.
MY PREDICTED LINE-UP
Subs: 2.Fox 8.Mariona 10.Little 12.L.Maanum 19.Baum 22.O.Batlle 25.Blackstenius 28.Borbe 29.Cerci 40.Damm
HOW TO CATCH THE GAME
The game takes place at Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris at 5.45pm UK time on Wednesday evening. It will be shown live on Disney + in the UK. Full global listings are available here.
COMING UP
We are on the ground in Paris and will have the line-ups posted around an hour before kickoff, full quotes from Renee Slegers and a player after the game, as well as an opinion piece on the match later in the evening. Don’t forget to subscribe to our free weekly Arsenal Women Newsletter.
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