Arsenal women player ratings vs Everton: Alessia Russo and Beth Mead fall flat as Gunners’ WSL title hopes suffer early blow with dispiriting drawv

Arsenal’s remarkable run of 14 straight wins at home to Everton came to an end as they were held to a goalless draw by the dogged visitors on Sunday.

In front of just over 25,000 fans, Arsenal nearly took the lead in the ninth minute when Emily Fox’s cross-cum-shot bounced off Everton’s crossbar and away to safety. Frida Maanum then drew a fingertip save from Courtney Brosnan, but Everton were not just making up the numbers, as Gunners stopper Daphne van Domselaar tipped Veatriki Sarri’s long-range effort onto the woodwork shortly before the break.

The north London outfit looked a bit more lively in the final third of the game, as substitute Caitlin Foord rattled an effort off the crossbar. But in the end, an impressive rear-guard effort from the visitors secured them their first point of the season as Arsenal slipped to sixth in the table – behind the top two of Manchester City and Chelsea.

GOAL rates Arsenal’s players from the Emirates…

• Getty Images Sport

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Daphne van Domselaar (6/10):

  Looked a bit shaky in between the sticks on occasion but did enough to keep out Sarri’s 25-yard effort.

  Emily Fox (7/10):

  Nearly scored her first goal for the club, only for the woodwork to deny the hosts an early lead. Missed a big headed chance just before the interval, and although she didn’t score, she was a good attacking option for the hosts.

  Lotte Wubben-Moy (7/10):

  Never really looked troubled in defence and was composed on the ball. Was taken off for the returning Wiliamson.

  Laia Codina (7/10):

  Pinged a few nice long-range passes out from the back and had the beating of Everton’s attack.

  Katie McCabe (7/10):

  Was in the right place at the right time to clear an Everton effort from a corner off the line and was a willing runner in attack, too.

  Midfield

  Kyra Cooney-Cross (7/10):

  Linked up well with Maanum as both showed quick feet in the final third. Was lively throughout the contest.

  Kim Little (5/10):

  Was brought in for Lia Walti, who started in Arsenal’s win at Leicester City last weekend, but struggled to make much of an impact against the Toffees.

  Frida Maanum (7/10):

  Her mazy run and shot was well saved by keeper Brosnan in the first half. Looked one of the more likely players to break the deadlock.

  • Getty Images Sport

    Attack

    Beth Mead (6/10):

    Had a quiet game by her standards as the England international was starved of the ball. However, she didn’t do a great deal when she had it, bar the odd driving run.

    Alessia Russo (5/10):

    Seemed a little off the pace at times, her touch wasn’t as good as it needed to be, and she seemed on a different wavelength to some of her team-mates.

    Mariona Caldentey (6/10):

    The former Barcelona star showed glimpses of her quality with some neat interplay early on, but didn’t get any clear cut chances.

  • Getty Images Sport

    Subs & Manager

    Caitlin Foord (7/10):

    Showed good energy and attacking determination when introduced and was unlucky to be denied by the frame of the goal.

    Stina Blackstenius (6/10):

    Her hold up play was not as good as Arsenal would have hoped.

    Leah Williamson (7/10):

    Her drilled balls into the final third gave Everton a different look, one that they weren’t entirely comfortable with.

    Stephanie Catley (N/A):

    Had a quiet cameo.

    Lia Walti (N/A):

    Didn’t have enough time to make an impression on the game.

    Jonas Eidevall (5/10):

    After a fairly underwhelming win at Leicester last time out, his Arsenal side were somewhat flat again for the visit of the Toffees. There wasn’t a great deal of creativity from his players, and although his second-half substitutes lifted the hosts, it was a fairly uninspiring performance.