Arsenal: Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Wälti; Kelly, Maanum, Mariona; Russo
Substitutes: Williams (GK), Ilestedt, Nighswonger, Cooney-Cross, Pelova, Foord, Mead, Hurtig, Blackstenius
Arsenal have beaten Everton 3-1 at Walton Hall Park the strengthen their hold on a Champions League place. A brace from Alessia Russo and an own goal was enough for the Gunners, who struggled for large periods of the first half to break down a resolute Everton.
Renée Slegers made four changes to the team that went out of the FA Women’s Cup last week. Daphne van Domselaar sustained a concussion in last week’s loss, so Manu Zinsberger made a rare start in goal. Chloe Kelly, cup tied last week, replaced Beth Mead, while Frida Maanum replaced Caitlin Foord, and Lia Wälti replaced Kyra Cooney-Cross.
Everton tested Zinsberger early. After McCabe let a pass run, Everton broke. Holmgaard crossed, and the rebound came to Hayashi, whose fierce shot was pushed behind by Zinsberger.
On 20 minutes, Fox and Wälti combined on the right hand side, with the latter slipping Frida Maanum in. Maanum’s shot was blocked, but came to Kelly in the middle. She, though, badly mishit the shot, with it spinning out to the right.
Arsenal took the lead on 24 minutes. Mariona found Little in the right hand channel and her pull back was put away by Russo. 0-1.
On 32 minutes, Everton broke dangerously after getting behind Arsenal’s press, and Snoeijs looked to play Payne in, but Williamson came across to block Payne’s progress, and Arsenal were able to clear.
Arsenal then broke down the other end. McCabe was played down the left, and she passed to Maanum. Inside the box, Maanum played the ball across to Kelly, whose left-footed shot went just over the bar.
Little then flashed a dangerous cross across the 6 yard box, but the ball was just ahead of Russo, who couldn’t convert.
Everton equalised on 36 minutes. Gago was too strong for Wälti, and drove into the box. She pulled the ball back for Snoeijs, whose shot was blocked, but Payne was first to the rebound and put it away. 1-1.
Mariona shot over the bar from the middle of the box in the first minute of stoppage time after some neat close control.
On 47 minutes, Kelly’s scooped pass set up Russo to strike on the half turn, but she couldn’t get the necessary power on the strike.
At the other end, Holmgaard’s deep dangerous cross just evaded an unmarked Payne at the back post.
After a corner, Kelly shot, and her shot was deflected by an Everton head, forcing Brosnan to parry away. Maanum then just missed with a left footed shot after Williamson found Mariona in the box, and the latter set the Norwegian up.
Little drove through the center and found Russo, who shot just over. Williamson then blazed over after a good Kelly corner came to her off an Everton head.
Arsenal made a quadruple change on the hour mark. Caitlin Foord, Beth Mead, Kyra Cooney-Cross, and Stina Blackstenius replaced Frida Maanum, Chloe Kelly, Kim Little, and Lia Wälti.
Foord made instant impact, as Arsenal retook the lead on 63 minutes. Mead and Russo combined on the edge of the box, and the latter fed Fox who crossed across the box. Blackstenius missed the box but Foord got a touch and the ball went in off of Maren Mjelde. 1-2.
Arsenal won a corner and went short, with Cooney-Cross passing to McCabe who crossed. Catley rose highest and headed against the bar. Catley then hit the post seconds later, after she was fed by Williamson, and then shot across Brosnan.
On 77 minutes, Arsenal should’ve extended the lead. McCabe shot from distance, and her bouncing shot was pushed away by Brosnan. The rebound came to Mead, who couldn’t convert, with Brosnan saving her shot.
Brosnan saved again, from Blackstenius after she was played in by Fox, as Arsenal couldn’t find the telling third goal.
On 86 minutes, Lina Hurtig replaced Emily Fox, who spent some time being treated for injury before coming off.
Russo sealed the points on 89 minutes with her second. Mead intercepted as Everton tried to play out from the back. She found Russo, who went around Brosnan and slotted home. 1-3.
Blackstenius missed an excellent chance to add gloss on the scoreline in the 6th minute of stoppage time. Hurtig and Mead combined, and then Hurtig found Russo. She played out to Mead, whose cross found Blackstenius, who shot wide of the near post.
Blackstenius, played in by Mead again, then had her first time shot saved by Brosnan before the full time whistle blew.