Losa - It was vital to bounce back

Pedro Martinez Losa has praised Arsenal Ladies’ response since Sunday’s defeat to Chelsea.

The Gunners’ 2-0 loss left them five points behind the Women’s Super League leaders with three games left of the season.

However, Losa’s side responded well just four days later to beat Reading 2-1 and become one of the first teams to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Continental Cup.

“We played really well,” Losa told Arsenal Player. “It was important for us to come back with a victory for the fans and for the team. We wanted to play better as well and we did both of those things.

“We probably deserved a better result and it’s a bit of a shame to have conceded a goal in the last minute, but we definitely have a better feeling after this game than we did after the Chelsea result.”

Losa named an experienced team against Reading, with Netherlands international Sari van Veenendaal in goal and Jordan Nobbs returning from injury, and the manager was pleased with his inclusions.

“Jordan was fantastic,” he said. “She influenced the game with the character and the effort that she put into it. She was helping our combination in the final third, keeping the ball and the energy that she brings to the team is very positive.

“We are in a lucky position where we have two fantastic goalkeepers as well, who are great characters and that is very important. The players have come into the group and are creating a very positive and committed environment every day when they are working with Jason.

“We can decide that one player can play one game and the other is available to play the next, as both players are giving us fantastic performances in training and on the pitch.”