Arsenal Women

Arsenal were convincing 5-0 winners over struggling Bristol City on Sunday evening at Meadow Park in the Women’s Super League.

Beth Mead and Alessia Russo scored two each whilst Ella Powell put the ball into her own net for the Gunners other goal.

The visitors played with a back five, and one of these, Amy Rodgers, made a good tackle to stop an early Arsenal attack.

Arsenal did take the lead in the 7th minute when Caitlin Foord cut in from the left and saw her effort hit the post but Mead was there to put the rebound into the net.

Brooke Aspin blocked a Steph Catley effort behind for a corner in the 11th minute. 

From the resulting corner, the ball found Victoria Pelova on the edge of the area, she took a touch and sent a shot crashing off the crossbar.

Lotte Wubben-Moy intercepted a through ball from Ffion Morgan before it could reach its target in the 18th minute as the Robins looked to attack.

Stina Blacksteinus was denied by a good save from Fran Bentley when she shot at goal a minute later.  Russo saw a shot saved shortly after, then Blackstenius was just unable to get her foot on a low cross as the home side looked to add a second. 

In the 25th minute, Arsenal captain Kim Little, who had a fantastic game, sent a thunderous shot from just outside the area narrowly over.  A few minutes later, Russo’s shot from 20-yards was easily claimed by Bentley.  Some nice build up from Arsenal finished with Pelova shooting wide on the half hour mark.

Mead made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute when after her initial shot had been blocked on the line, she fired in the rebound from close range.

Two minutes later, it was 3-0 when Catley’s cross from the left side deflected off Powell and looped over the goalkeeper into the back of her own net.

Bristol City’s Morgan saw an effort go well over in the 37th minute with what was their first attempt at goal of the match.

City’s defence was having difficulty clearing the ball at times as Arsenal put pressure on.

Sarah Stratigakas saw a header go just wide via a deflection, then Wubben-Moy was again there to stop a cross from the visitors as the end of the first half approached.

Emily Fox had the Gunners first shot of the second half in the 51st minute but this was easily gathered by Bentley, then Mead shot over.

At the other end, Catley made an important tackle as Emily Syme was threatening the Gunners goal before Sabrina D’Angelo kept out Amalie Thestrup’s effort.

In the 59th minute, Russo scored Arsenal’s fourth with a shot from the edge of the area that was too powerful for Bentley to keep out.

Both Mead and Little forced the visitors goalkeeper to make saves as the Gunners looked to extend their lead further.

In the 68th minute, Bentley made a brilliant save when she tipped over Fox’s effort from the edge of the area.

Northern Ireland’s record goalscorer Rachel Furness came on as a substitute for Bristol City after a spell out injured.

There was a scramble in the Arsenal penalty area following a Robins corner before the ball was cleared. 

Second half substitute, Katie McCabe, passed to Russo who shot into the back of the net from just inside the area to score her second of the night and Arsenal’s fifth in the 73rd minute.

Russo was looking to score a hat-trick but her powerful shot in the 77th minute was blocked by the foot of Aspin.  Russo then dinked the ball wide four minutes later as she went close again to scoring her third. 

Laura Wienroither came on in the 81st minute to a great reception for her first appearance since rupturing her ACL last May.  17-year-old Katie Reid came on a bit later to make her senior Arsenal debut.

The Gunners had the final chance of the match when Blackstenius was denied by Bentley, whose saves had helped keep the score down. 

Arsenal remain in third position in the WSL, six points off top spot but nine points clear of fourth with four games left so looking good to qualify for the UEFA Women’s Champions League next season.  Bristol City stay bottom, seven points from safety with the same amount of games left and not having won in 13 league games.

Line-ups

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): D’Angelo, Fox (Wienroither 81’), Williamson (Reid 87’), Wubben-Moy, Catley, Pelova, Little (c), Mead (McCabe 63’), Russo, Foord (Lacasse 63’), Blackstenius

Unused substitutes: Zinsberger, Goldie, Lia,

Goals – Mead 7’, 32’, Powell (o.g.) 34’, Russo 59’, 73’

Bristol City (5-4-1): Bentley, Powell (Bull 69’), Rodgers, Aspin, Connolly (c), Napier, Morgan, Syme (Furness 69’), Stratigakis (Layzell 69’), Thestrup, Evans (Ward 79’)

Unused substitutes: Yanez, Struck, Clark, Jones, Slocombe

Referee – Lisa Benn

Attendance – 3,565