Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Codina, McCabe; Pelova, Mariona; Kelly, Maanum, Foord; Smith
Substitutes: Voitkova (GK), Williams (GK), Wubben-Moy, Catley, Little, Russo, Holmberg, Cooney-Cross
Arsenal have a foot in the quarter-final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League after beating OH Leuven 4-0 in Belgium, Frida Maanum scored twice and there were goals from Olivia Smith and Alessia Russo.
Renée Slegers made 5 changes as Leah Williamson, Laia Codina, Victoria Pelova, Frida Maanum, and Chloe Kelly came into the lineup. Alessia Russo, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Steph Catley, and Kim Little dropped to the bench, while Beth Mead missed out through injury.
With a changed side, Arsenal took a long time to get going. Despite controlling possession, the first fifteen minutes had little to report.
On 18 minutes, Leuven broke quickly from an Arsenal turnover in midfield, as Bosteels found Conijnenberg on the right, but her floated shot went over the bar. Arsenal then had a chance, as Mariona’s cross found Foord’s outside to in run on the right, but Foord couldn’t make a sharp connection.
Fox was booked on 20 minutes for stopping a Leuven counter-attack.
Arsenal broke the deadlock on 22 minutes. Arsenal had Leuven penned in, and Williamson kept the attack alive by stepping out. She passed to Foord on the right, who cut into the box. She crossed with her left, with Maanum, on the 6-yard box, stooping low to head past Seynhaeve. 0-1.
On 32 minutes, Arsenal had a good chance for a second. The Gunners broke quickly, with Maanum and Mariona combining in midfield and Mariona setting Foord away. She had Smith ahead of her, and Foord did well to stay through the middle and slip Smith in on the left. She chopped back onto her right but the shot was weak and easily saved.
Maanum then missed a glorious chance after Foord’s cutback found her in the middle, but her left footed shot went well wide of goal.
Arsenal would get a second on 37 minutes. Maanum played a ball over the top for Kelly in on the left and she drove toward the byline before cutting back with her left for Smith, who slotted her finish first time into the corner. 0-2.
Kelly found Maanum who found Smith, who chopped and shot but the shot was parried just wide by Seynhaeve.
Smila Holmberg replaced Emily Fox at the beginning of the second half.
Arsenal started the second half strongly. Pelova let fly from 25 yards and saw her shot tipped over the bar.
On 52 minutes Arsenal would make it 3. Holmberg played inside to Pelova who combined with Smith, who dropped off from the 9 position, and she slipped Foord in behind. Foord was stronger, and crossed to the middle, where Maanum slammed past Seynhaeve to essentially settle the tie. 0-3.
On 61 minutes, Lotte Wubben-Moy replaced Leah Williamson and Alessia Russo replaced Chloe Kelly. Russo went upfront and Smith went wide.
Space opened up for Foord as she drove through the middle. She carried into the box and shot with her left but straight at Seynhaeve.
Russo would make it 4-0 on 72 minutes. Pelova played into Maanum in the box who played wide to Holmberg. Her cross was parried out by Seynhaeve but came to Russo, who volleyed home. 0-4.
After the goal, Kyra Cooney-Cross replaced Mariona.
Olivia Smith was booked in the 80th minute for time wasting and as a result will be suspended for the second leg–a fairly obvious tactical booking to clear suspension for the knockouts.
Kim Little, making her 400th appearance for Arsenal, replaced Smith on 82 minutes.
From a free kick, McCabe’s deep cross found Codina by the far post but she volleyed wide of goal.
On 90 minutes, Wubben-Moy played into Pelova who slipped in Maanum. Her shot was parried but came to Russo, whose follow-up was pushed wide at the neer post by Seynhaeve.
Leuven had a corner in the final minute of action, and the floated cross at the near post nearly got turned in but Arsenal cleared, and the final whistle blew.