Adam Mitten

Arsenal beat Everton 2-1 in the Women’s Super League on Saturday afternoon.  Caitlin Foord and Beth Mead scored the Gunners goals whilst Katja Snoeijs got the Toffees consolation one.

The Meadow Park pitch had passed a morning inspection but it was still a cold day.

Arsenal’s first chance came in the 6th minute when Mead’s shot from 12 yards hit the top of the crossbar.

The Gunners did take the lead three minutes later when Foord finished Victoria Pelova’s cutback from close range.

The home sides next chance came in the 14th minute but Amanda Ilestedt headed over.  A few minutes later, Alessia Russo put an effort narrowly wide as Arsenal continued to dominate the early stages.

Everton equalised in the 24th minute with their first opportunity when Karoline Oleson played in Snoeijs who finished low into the net past Manuela Zinsberger.

At the other end, Courtney Brosnan made a good save to deny Mead as the hosts looked to quickly go back in front.  Good defending from Clare Wheeler stopped Foord getting a shot at goal five minutes before half time.  In first half stoppage time, Brosnan made another save to stop an effort from Vivianne Miedema.

Arsenal did go back in front before the break when Mead headed in Lia Walti’s lovely cross.

Foord put an effort wide with the final chance of the half as the Gunners went in deservedly ahead at half time.

Three minutes into the second half, Emily Fox, who was making her WSL debut for Arsenal, saw her cross curl just wide.  Foord also unable to get on the end of Russo’s low dangerous cross shortly after.

Miedema sent a shot wide from the edge of the area in the 64th minute, then Russo saw an effort blocked seconds after Brosnan looked like she took out Katie McCabe in the area. 

Russo shot wide from 25-yards as the Gunners went close to scoring their third.

Everton’s chances were few and far between but second half substitute Toni Duggan headed wide in the 88th minute.

Foord saw her shot easily claimed by Brosnan as six additional minutes at the end of the half were signalled. 

A long-range Wheeler shot which headed over by Stina Blackstenius for a corner which was the closest the visitors came to scoring an equaliser.  Zinsberger claimed a few crosses during stoppage time as Arsenal held out fairly comfortably to win.

When speaking to the media after the match, Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall commented that “for the first 70 minutes, he was really happy with the performance” but during the last 15/20 minutes “we were thinking way too much about the scoreline and less about how we want to play”.

Everton manager Brian Sorensen said he was “a little disappointed they didn’t get something at the end” and his side had “put in a good shift and overall happy with how it turned out but would have liked to have a point.”

Arsenal remain in third place in the WSL after the weekend’s results whilst Everton drop to ninth. 

Both sides are playing in the Conti Cup action on Wednesday evening when the Gunners travel to Reading and Everton visit Leicester.  Next Sunday in the WSL, the Toffees play Leicester again, this time at home, whilst Arsenal visit Liverpool.

Line ups

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Zinsberger, Fox, Ilestedt, Wubben-Moy, McCabe (c) (Catley 83’), Pelova, Walti, Mead (Lacasse 90’+6), Miedema (Maanum 71’), Foord, Russo (Blackstenius 83’)

Unused substitutes: D’Angelo, Beattie, Cooney-Cross, Williams

Goals – Foord 9’, Mead 45’+3

Booked - Walti

Everton (3-4-3): Brosnan, Stenevik, Finnigan (c), Holmgaard, Payne (Madsen 61’), Wheeler, Galli (Duggan 76’), Bissell (Campbell 61’), Bennison, Snoeijs (Piemonte 76’), Oleson (Hope 61’)

Unused substitutes: Hart, Wilding

Goal – Snoeijs 24’

Booked – Galli, Bennison, Campbell

Referee – Melissa Burgin

Attendance – 3,713