Match report: Arsenal Women 4-0 Coventry United

4 - 0

WHAT HAPPENED

We booked our place in the semi-finals of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup on Friday as we defeated Coventry United 4-0 at Meadow Park.

With two massive fixtures coming up at Emirates Stadium next week, Jonas Eidevall named a rotated side with nine changes to the starting XI that ran out 3-0 winners over Brighton on Sunday.

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Most notably, Tobin Heath completed her return from injury, while Frida Maanum and Jordan Nobbs started in midfield, leaving Leah Williamson out of the matchday squad to gain some extra rest.

With the visitors lining up in a 5-3-2 formation and conceding little space in behind, we had to work hard for our opener with chances arriving few and far between in the opening half hour.

We remained patient, though, and with a moment of quality from Nikita Parris to beat her marker and deliver a cross, Stina Blackstenius was well-positioned to head home from close range.

Our head coach then went on to make a triple substitution following the restart and this provided a welcome injection of energy and intensity to the game.

With an almost instant impact off the bench, Beth Mead reacted first to a loose ball inside the penalty area and fired a powerful effort into the far corner for her 10th goal of the season.

Shortly after, Parris made it three with a simple finish from close range, latching onto Katie McCabe’s inviting delivery across the face of goal.

We controlled the tie from start to finish and late on substitute Vivianne Miedema got in on the act, shooting from 20 yards and finding the bottom corner via the near post.