Renée Slegers made two changes from the side that drew 0-0 against Manchester United at Emirates Stadium last Saturday, Lotte Wubben-Moy replacing Leah Williamson- who was suffering from a calf injury, and Frida Maanum was replaced by Stina Blackstenius.
Arsenal line-up: Anneke Borbe; Lotte Wubben-Moy, Steph Catley, Katie McCabe, Emily Fox (22); (C) Kim Little (84), Mariona (84), Alessia Russo (71); Olivia Smith (71), Beth Mead, Stina Blackstenius
Subs: Naomi Williams, Amy Liddiard; Lala Codina (84) , Sophie Harwood, Taylor Hinds, Smila Holmberg (22); Frida Maanum (71, Victoria Pelova (84); Caitlin Foord (71).
Two changes for Villa head coach Natalia Arroyo from the side that beat Brighton 2-1 in the WSL last weekend with Missy Bo Kearns coming into midfield to captain the side and replace Rachel Daly, who was missing from the squad entirely. Lucy Staniforth also replaced Lucia Kendall.
Aston Villa lineup: Ellie Roebuck; Noelle Maritz (71), Anna Pattern, Lucy Parker; Miri Taylor, (C) Missy Bo Kearns (63), Rachel Maltby (46), Lynn Wilms, Lucy Staniforth (63); Maya Hijikata, Kirsty Hanson.
Subs: Sabrina D’Angelo; Oceane Deslandes (46), Lydia Sallaway; Oriane Jean-Francois (63), Piper Lea; Ebony Salmon (71), Georgia Mullet.
Arsenal were looking to continue an eight game unbeaten run against a Villa side whom they had only suffered one defeat in the last five meetings between the sides (5-2 at Villa Park in April 2025).
The Gunners had the first chance of the afternoon, when Beth Mead was unable to direct her header into the bottom corner.
Emily Fox played a wonderful through ball to Alessia Russo, but the cutback was deflected out of a corner before anyone in red was able to get a touch.
Villa started to get a foot-hold on the game, and produced the first shot on target with a header from Anna Pattern.
The hosts were forced to make an early change at full-back with January signing, Smila Homberg coming on for the injured Emily Fox.
Holmberg nearly had an immediate impact when her brilliant cross was met by the head of Alessia Russo, but it was well saved by her England teammate, Ellie Roebuck.
Beth Mead came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 29th minute when cross attempt was sliced and rattled off the crossbar.
All the action was happening down the right hand side, and Holmberg put another wonderful cross in for Russo. It was heading into the bottom corner if not for another brilliant save by Roebuck.
Arsenal were getting closer to the opening goal, this time Beth Mead fired a powerful effort wide.
Having had to soak up all the pressure from the hosts, Aston Villa missed a golden chance in first half stoppage time when Rachel Maltby looked destined to score, but it was blocked at the last by Mead.
Straight after half time and Arsenal came close once more with Lotte Wubben-Moy having her header pushed over by Ellie Roebuck.
The Gunners finally made sure all the pressure paid off in the 50th minute when a brilliant run into the box was made by Kim Little, she was found and squared the ball to Stina Blackstenius who tapped home into an empty net. It was the Swede's eighth goal for Arsenal against Aston Villa.
They made it 2-0 eight minutes later, the ball bounced off the crossbar after a header by Blackstenius, and it fell to Kim Little, and the skipper placed the ball into the net from two yards out.
Renée Slegers was starting to think about Wednesday's League Cup semi-final against Manchester United when both Russo and Olivia Smith were subbed off for Caitlin Foord and Frida Maanum in the 71st minute.
15 minutes later, goalscorer Kim Little and Mariona Caldentey were also taken off for Victoria Pelova and Laia Codina.
Foord nearly made it 3-0 in stoppage time when she dragged a low effort wide of Roebuck's left post.
Blackstenius dragged a curling effort wide of the post a couple of minutes after.
Arsenal were dominant throughout and thoroughly deserved the win. A seventh victory in their last eight games will certainly help the belief within the group massively heading into the semi-final on Wednesday evening against Manchester United.