We put ourselves in a strong position in the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final play-offs with a convincing 4-0 win away to OH Leuven in Wednesday’s first leg.
Goals from Frida Maanum and Olivia Smith had us two up going into the break, before Maanum netted again early in the second half and Alessia Russo put the result beyond doubt.
### FIRST HALF
We had our first sight of goal when Chloe Kelly’s 16th-minute free-kick flew straight into the gloves of Lowiese Seynhaeve, before Alixe Bosteels played it out right to Jada Conijnenberg at the other end and her cross went over the bar.
Mariona Caldentey’s cross then hit Caitlin Foord and went towards the bottom left but the goalkeeper got to it, but we were able to make the breakthrough moments later.
Midway through the first half, Foord took the Leuven left-back on and put a cross in for Maanum to head into the bottom left for 1-0.
We produced a tidy passage of play just beyond the half-hour mark as we counter-attacked through Mariona, Foord and Smith, but the latter cut back inside before shooting straight at Seynhaeve.
Foord then crossed for Maanum to finish but her first-time effort flew wide of the post.
It didn’t take long for us to double our lead though, Kelly crossing low from the left for Smith to touch first-time into the bottom right for 2-0.
Seynhaeve made a good save to deny Smith a brace as she went for the bottom left after being found by Foord, and Aurelie Reynders had a shot deflected wide in a rare foray forward for Leuven.
### SECOND HALF
We made one change at half-time, Smilla Holmberg coming on for Emily Fox, who was on a yellow card.
Looking lively straight from the off, Victoria Pelova tried her luck from distance, shooting just wide of the top right, and a Kelly corner was headed back across goal by Laia Codina but the goalkeeper was able to catch.
It was 3-0 in the 52nd minute, Smith tucking the ball through to Foord who again saw her cross converted by Maanum.
Renée Slegers made another two changes with just under half an hour to go as Lotte Wubben-Moy came on for Leah Williamson and Russo replaced Kelly.
Bosteels then had a good effort from long range but Daphne van Domselaar did well to get up and tip it over the bar, reacting well after not being called into action for much of the match.
Foord had time and space on the edge of the area but her shot was too central to trouble Seynhaeve as we maintained our pursuit of even more goals.
We made it 4-0 in the 72nd minute by way of another cross as Holmberg’s delivery ended up at the feet of Russo to bury.
Kyra Cooney-Cross then made her return to the pitch, much to the delight of nearly 1,000 travelling supporters, replacing Mariona. Kim Little then came on in place of Smith for her 400th Arsenal appearance.
### WHAT'S NEXT
We head off to Crawley to take on Brighton & Hove Albion in the Barclays Women's Super League for Sunday's 2.30pm kick-off at Broadfield Stadium.
Then, the second leg of tonight's tie takes place at Meadow Park in Borehamwood on Wednesday, February 18. [Tickets are on general sale, so cheer us onto the quarter-finals!](https://embed.futureticketing.ie/c/arsenal-women/)
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