‘Professional performance’ pleases Arsenal boss Montemurro
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zBktEm42NahMXCNb4YP6HH.jpg)
Arsenal manager Joe Montemurro was relieved his side came through their first game of the new year unscathed as the reigning Women’s Super League champions beat Birmingham 2-0.
First-half goals from captain Kim Little and Jordan Nobbs secured the leaders a 10th win of the campaign.
Montemurro admitted his side were not at their best but is happy to move on and focus on next week’s trip to Brighton.
Our first goal of 2020! 🤩#CaptainLittle 🏴 pic.twitter.com/sES68YEJ00— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) January 5, 2020
“It was probably to be expected we were going to be a little bit out of rhythm, a little bit slow,” he said.
“When you don’t play for two-and-a-half weeks you expect that but all in all a professional performance, job done.”
Nobbs’ goal was her third of the campaign and the striker is happy to have made a positive start to the new year after her 2019 was blighted by a knee injury that saw her miss the World Cup.
“I’m glad to just get back on the scoresheet and hopefully start the year on a high for me personally,” she said.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Route one football with an Arsenal twist 😉@LeahcWilliamson and @JordanNobbs8 👏 pic.twitter.com/u16ErmLhhM— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) January 5, 2020
“We needed to keep the ball a little bit better. But we didn’t concede and we scored goals and I think we just need to take the positives from that.”
Birmingham striker Rachel Williams felt her side had been “too nice” in the first half before improving after the break.
She added: “Arsenal are a good team so you are going to come here and respect them, but if you do that you’ll get hammered.”
FourFourTwo was launched in 1994 on the back of a World Cup that England hadn’t even qualified for. It was an act of madness… but it somehow worked out. Our mission is to offer our intelligent, international audience access to the game’s biggest names, insightful analysis... and a bit of a giggle. We unashamedly love this game and we hope that our coverage reflects that.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack