LIVE updates: Arsenal on top early, force All Stars to defend in clash at Marvel

Is there really such a thing as a friendly to Irish captain and Arsenal star Katie McCabe?

We have one ear on the Arsenal app, where the commentators are attempting to explain the A-League’s playoff system to their English listeners.

The explanation ended with “I hope that doesn’t take off here…”

We’re 27 minutes in and yet to see a goal, as the Arsenal player chants ring out around Marvel Stadium. You’d think if a team is to score soon, it’d probably be the Gunners.

The All Stars have been pinned in defence and unable to get much possession. For them, this game’s mostly been getting the ball out of dangerous areas. To their credit, so far, they’ve been successful.

All Stars 0 Arsenal 0, 27 minutes

Lydia Williams has already seen a decent amount of action, with the ball spending almost all its time in Arsenal’s forward third.

The All Stars are defending in numbers and, so far, the Gunners haven’t been able to break through. But the pressure is very much there for the A-League side early doors. Kyah Simon has dropped back into almost a left-back position when Arsenal are on the attack to help.

All Stars 0 Arsenal 0, 18 minutes

The A-League side have been made to defend early with Arsenal controlling much of the ball. The All Stars can’t find a way through the visiting side, as they absorb pressure.

Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord have both seen a good amount of the ball and made exciting runs to very loud cheers from the crowd.

Also a PSA, the official Arsenal app is streaming this game for free if you’re outside Australia.

All Stars 0 Arsenal 0, 8 minutes in

Well, just a minute into the match and we’ve had a delay.

The whistle has gone, play has stopped and we’re waiting for a second ball to be brought out.

An interesting start.

We’re away at Marvel Stadium as Arsenal Women face an A-League All Stars Women side.

In the first match of the evening, the A-League All Stars Men beat Newcastle 8-0.

How do you see this one playing out?

There will be a few keen eyes on this match in the northern hemisphere – namely the managers of a handful of European countries hoping that some of their top names make it through this clash unscathed.

Alessia Russo (England), Katie McCabe (Ireland), Victoria Pelova (The Netherlands), Frida Maanum (Norway) and Dane Kathrine Kühl, who has returned to Arsenal after a loan spell at Everton, have all been selected for their countries ahead of the next round of Euro 2025 qualifiers from May 31.

Ireland confirmed earlier this week that they had hired a sleep expert to help ensure McCabe recovered in time for their qualifier against Sweden in Dublin next Friday.