**Arsenal:** Borbe; Fox, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe; Little, Mariona; Mead, Russo, Smith; Blackstenius
Subs: Williams (GK), Liddiard (GK), Codina, Maanum, Foord, Pelova, Hinds, Holmberg, Harwood
Arsenal are through to the fifth round of the Women’s FA Cup after beating Aston Villa 2-0 at Meadow Park, with second half goals from Stina Blackstenius and Kim Little securing Arsenal’s progression.
Renée Slegers made two changes to the team that drew against Manchester United last weekend. With Leah Williamson suffering a calf problem, Lotte Wubben-Moy came into defence, while Stina Blackstenius replaced Frida Maanum, with Alessia Russo dropping into the #10 position.
Arsenal had two early half-chances. First, from a corner, Wubben-Moy had a clean run at a McCabe cross but couldn’t make clean contact, and then Blackstenius, from the right of the box, crossed for Russo but her shot was blocked.
On 21 minutes, Smila Holmberg replaced Emily Fox, who appeared to suffer a neck or head injury.
From a corner, Anna Patten met Missy Bo Kearns’ delivery, but headed wide of Borbe’s far post.
Holmberg’s first involvement was to drive to the byline and cross into the box. Russo met the cross but headed straight at Roebuck.
Villa then had a golden chance. Hanson, from wide, crossed for an unmarked Hijikata, who headed high from close range.
Russo played into Mead. She shaped to cross but her cross went towards goal and crashed off the crossbar.
Holmberg, again getting to the byline, played another dangerous cross. Russo headed down but Roebuck got a flailing hand to it.
Smith won a corner, and Arsenal went short. Mead crossed, the ball was cleared but came to McCabe, who volleyed wide.
Beth Mead should’ve put Arsenal ahead on 43 minutes. Smith won the ball back high up the pitch and found Little. She played wide to Mead, who was in. She took a touch and shot, but sliced her shot into the side netting.
7 minutes were added on to the end of the first half.
Hanson crossed from the left, and Villa had an overload, and the ball came to an unmarked Maltby in front of goal. Mead, though, got back and cleared the ball away before she could shoot, saving Arsenal from conceding.
From the corner, the ball bounced around in the box before Staniforth shot over the bar friom close range.
Holmberg started the second half by winning a corner. McCabe’s deep deliver found Wubben-Moy, whose header was palmed onto the bar and over by Roebuck.
Arsenal after the next corner was cleared, and Smith found Russo. Her cross was deep and found Wubben-Moy again, who headed wide of Roebuck’s far post.
Hanson shot from range with her left foot but it was straight at Borbe, who saved easily.
Arsenal took the lead on 52 minutes. Mead held the ball well and found Little marking a dart forward. She beat one defender and drove to the byline before cutting back for Blackstenius, who slammed her shot into the far corner. [1-0](https://streamin.link/v/7e2bb42a).
Blackstenius had a good chance to make it 2-0 on the hour mark. Arsenal had a free kick, and eventually the ball came to Wubben-Moy who crossed. The cross was cleared but to Blackstenius, whose shot was blocked, and then Russo on the follow-up saw her shot blocked.
Arsenal would make it 2-0 on 62 minutes. McCabe’s corner went deep and Wubben-Moy headed across goal. The ball was kept alive, bounced off the bar and Little, in front of goal, scored the rebound. [2-0](https://streamin.link/v/bd0beb35).
Arsenal, vastly improved from the first half, kept threatening. Smith and McCabe combined on the left and the latter’s cross found Mead, whose header was straight at Roebuck.
On 69 minutes, Villa should’ve pulled one back from a set piece. Deslandes’ delivery found a free Jean-François in front of goal but she headed wide.
On 71 minutes, Frida Maanum and Caitlin Foord replaced Alessia Russo and Olivia Smith.
On 84 minutes Arsenal made a further two changes. Laia Codina and Victoria Pelova replaced Mariona Caldentey and Kim Little.
6 minutes were added on to the end of the second half.
In stoppage time, Foord was found after Mead’s pass for Blackstenius was deflected into her path. McCabe created space by going on the overlap and Foord cut inside and shot just wide of the near post.
Later in stoppage time, Foord slipped Blackstenius away down the left. She drove into the box but curled her shot wide of goal, leaving Arsenal’s margin of victory at 2.