Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Fox, Codina, McCabe, Hinds; Little, Pelova; Holmberg, Maanum, Smith; Blackstenius
Substitutes: Borbe, Votikova, Wubben-Moy, Williamson, Mariona, Foord, Russo, Harwood, Dixon
Arsenal have strengthened their hold on a Champions League place, and retain an outside shot of taking the WSL title race to the end of the season after beating a hapless Leicester City 7-0.
Renée Slegers made 5 changes from the weekend. Laia Codina and Taylor Hinds came into defense, Victoria Pelova replaced Mariona in midfield, while Smila Holmberg and Frida Maanum replaced Caitlin Foord and Alessia Russo.
There was early concern for Arsenal as Olivia Smith picked up a knock inside the opening 10 minutes.
Smith and Holmberg both played dangerous crosses but Leicester were able to clear. Blackstenius was then played in behind by Maanum, but under pressure she shot off balance and wide.
Arsenal went 1-0 up in the 25th minute. The move looked non-threatening, as Arsenal kept the ball after a previous attack. Hinds played a cross from deep, Maanum leapt and her header went in via the far post. 1-0.
Smila Holmberg made it 2-0 with her first Arsenal goal two minutes later. Arsenal broke quickly, as the ball came through midfield to Maanum, who turned and played a fabulous through ball for Holmberg. She held off Ashleigh Neville and fired into the far corner. 2-0.
Fox then struck the bar on 31 minutes after driving infield before unleashing a fierce left-footed strike that beat Clark.
There was a long delay due to an injury suffered by Clark, but Arsenal made it 3-0 on 41 minutes. Arsenal again kept possession well with Smith on the outside before she and Pelova combined. Pelova then passed to Little, who squared to McCabe. Her ball found Maanum at the corner of the box. Maanum shaped to cross, and Blackstenius nodded the cross on into the far corner. 3-0.
Leicester had an effort from Van Egmond that flew well over the bar.
Seven minutes were added on to the end of the first half.
Smith won the ball back in the penalty box, drove to the byline and crossed, but Blackstenius headed over.
Arsenal would add a 4th in the 50th minute. A simple long ball from McCabe sent Pelova in behind the Leicester defence. Pelova made weak connection, but as Clark had come out, the ball came to Blackstenius who slotted past the defenders on the goal line. 4-0.
Arsenal made two changes at the break, as Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey replaced Stina Blackstenius and Kim Little. Leicester also made a change, with Katie Keane replacing Olivia Clark in goal.
Arsenal started the second half much like they ended the first, and made it 5-0 on 48 minutes. Holmberg drove to the byline and crossed. The ball came to Pelova, who slipped in Smith down the left. She crossed to the far post, where Holmberg tapped home. 5-0.
When crossing, Smith slipped awkwardly, and received treatment on her knee. She was subbed off at 52 minutes, with Caitlin Foord replacing her. Leah Williamson also came on for Emily Fox, with Hinds going to right back and McCabe to left back.
Mariona made it 6-0 on 55 minutes. Williamson played into Pelova in the box. She passed back to Codina. who slipped the ball to Mariona, who took a touch and then curled her shot into the corner. 6-0.
On 63 minutes, Foord’s cross found Russo, but her shot was deflected behind for a corner.
From the corner, Williamson met Holmberg’s in-swinging delivery to head home Arsenal’s 7th goal. 7-0.
Holmberg, looking for the hattrick, had a left-footed shot from outside the box saved by Keane.
Arsenal made their final change on 80 minutes, as Sophie Harwood replaced Katie McCabe, with Hinds returning to left back.
On 81 minutes, Foord’s cutback from the left found Russo in the middle, but her effort was blocked.
Mouchon broke down the right, and from the edge of the box struck a curling effort that flashed just wide of Van Domselaar’s far post.
Maanum’s effort was pushed behind by Keane, and from the corner, Russo’s shot was saved by Keane and gathered at the second attempt as Maanum looked to pounce on the rebound.
Six minutes were added on at the end of the second half.
Hinds intercepted a threatening pass as Leicester looked to break from a 94th minute Arsenal corner. Mariona then played a brilliant through ball to Pelova, but as she looked to put the ball onto her right it was tackled behind for a corner.
There was time for one final Arsenal attack as Harwood drove into the box, but Maanum miscontrolled the pass, and Leicester cleared.