Joe Montemurro picks out standout Vivianne Miedema quality as Arsenal beat West Ham in WSL clash



Arsenal Women head coach Joe Montemurro was waxing lyrical about Vivianne Miedema again after their 2-0 win over West Ham.

The Dutch star lights up the Barclays FA Women’s Super League with a penchant for the spectacular and her latest highlight reel moment was a superb drive to put her side 1-0 in front.

But it was Miedema’s tracking back and off-the-ball work that most impressed her manager as she proved exactly why she is a nominee for Super League player of the season.

“I think Viv’s qualities and her football and her accolades in what she does speak for themselves,” he said.

“I’ve said it from day one with Viv that she gets the rewards for what she does, but also look at the team work she did [against West Ham].

“She was backing off and finding good positioning when she needed to defend, she was positioning herself when we won the ball in transition, as we worked on during the week, and her selfless nature is important.”

The Gunners leapfrogged Manchester United to climb into third in the table, a decisive move in the race for the Champions League.

The 2-0 triumph over Olli Harder’s relegation-threatened Hammers was their seventh successive victory in the league.

Beth Mead and Katie McCabe were among those to come close as Arsenal pushed to wrap up the points.

The second goal eventually came with 12 minutes left as skipper Kim Little slid a composed finish into the far corner.

“I can only remember one opportunity that we gave them – one header in the second half where we were caught at the back post, which really was their best chance,” said Montemurro.

“Going back three, four or five games now, I can’t think of teams really opening us up, so as much as the back four and goalkeepers get all the credit, the work rate and balance of our midfielders, and positioning of our strikers, is very important too.”





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