Arsenal: Borbe, Fox, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe; Little, Cooney-Cross; Mead, Mariona, Foord; Russo
Substitutes: Liddiard, Codina, Williamson, Smith, Pelova, Hinds, Blackstenius, Harwood
Arsenal have made it back to back wins in the WSL, with the Gunners beating Everton 3-1, behind goals from Katie McCabe, Alessia Russo, and Olivia Smith. The result sees Arsenal temporarily into second place, albeit with Chelsea, Manchester United and leaders Manchester City to play tomorrow.
Renée Slegers restored Kim Little to Arsenal’s starting lineup, while Caitlin Foord replaced Olivia Smith.
Arsenal had a good chance on 9 minutes. After patient play, Little swung a cross from the inside left channel just outside the penalty box. Mead won the header but her header went straight at Brosnan.
Arsenal had another good chance on 11 minutes. Arsenal broke quickly. Wubben-Moy played down the channel for Russo, who cutback to Mariona on the edge of the box. Her shot was blocked on the line, but the rebound came to McCabe outside the box. She shot, and with Brosnan initially going the other way, the shot flew into the bottom right corner, past Brosnan’s outstretched arm. 0-1.
Everton hit back immediately with their first attack. McCabe passed to Mariona who looked to find Little but Everton won the ball back from Wheeler’s pressure. The ball came to Hayashi, and her shot flew past Borbe into the right hind side of the net. 1-1.
Arsenal re-took the lead on 15 minutes. Fox crossed and Little tried to shoot. Russo tried to re-direct the shot, with Brosnan clawing the ball out, but the rebound came to Foord who made no mistake. The goal would later be awarded to Russo, as Brosnan couldn’t claw her shot out before it went over the line. 1-2.
Arsenal looked to add more: first Russo was tackled before she shot, and then Cooney-Cross saw a shot deflected behind by Ruby Mace.
On half an hour, Foord flicked into Russo, who turned her defender. She looked to pass her shot past Brosnan, but the keeper pushed the shot around the post.
On 42 minutes Mariona and Little combined before finding Foord on the left. She curled a cross for Russo who headed wide with the angle against her.
7 minutes were added at the end of the first half, which passed uneventfully.
On 60 minutes, Arsenal went short on a corner, Mariona shot from within the penalty box but was straight at Brosnan.
On 63 minutes, Stina Blackstenius replaced Kim Little and Olivia Smith replaced Beth Mead. Mariona dropped into central midfield and Russo dropped into the #10 position.
Russo looked to get a shot away and was hauled down in the process but the referee played on.
Payne won a soft free kick on the left wing. The ball came into the box and Borbe claimed.
On 81 minutes, Arsenal made another double change. Pelova replaced Mariona and Leah Williamson replaced Steph Catley, with Williamson making her first appearance of the season.
Russo burst to the byline but her cutback went out for a corner.
Olivia Smith made it 3-1 on 87 minutes. McCabe hit a volley forward. Smith took it down with one touch and from the inside left edge of the box she struck on the half-volley, hitting a looping shot that went into the bottom right corner. 1-3.
On 90 minutes, Taylor Hinds replaced Katie McCabe, as the match entered 5 minutes of added time.
Russo nearly added a second goal in the 94th minute. From a free kick in midfield the ball was played into the box and came to Russo, who turned and hit a hard shot on the half-volley that clanged off the crossbar.