We cruised to a comfortable 5-1 win against Leicester City on Tuesday night at Emirates Stadium, solidifying our second place in the Barclays Women's Super League table.
Goals from Caitlin Foord, Stina Blackstenius, Beth Mead and Victoria Pelova made it 50 WSL goals under Renée Slegers and the seventh straight home win where we've scored at least four goals.
What Happened
With Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly and Daphne van Domselaar all missing from the squad due to injury, Renée Slegers made five changes to the side that beat Crystal Palace 4-0 before the international break.
With most of the Leicester side packed into their own box from the off, our Gunners’ creativity was tested, yet it took us just eight minutes to find a breakthrough. Frida Maanum teased a cross to the back post with Caitlin Foord there to rifle home for her tenth goal this season.
Emily Fox and Beth Mead both had chances to double our lead a few minutes later, but our number 9 turned distributor in the 16th minute. Mead was unlocked down the right flank thanks to a great switch of play from Foord, before playing a perfectly weighted pass across the face of goal for Stina Blackstenius to tap in.
Our Australian winger solidified her dominance before half-time by finding the net once more after the half-hour mark. Foord was played in by Mariona Caldentey and hit a quick one-two with Blackstenius, before striking the ball from the top of the box. Her shot took a deflection off as a Leicester defender slid in to stop, but Janina Leitzig was unable to stop the ball hitting the back of the net.
Aside from a few half-chances on the counter, the Foxes barely threatened Manuela Zinsberger between the posts and our squad headed down the tunnel three goals to the good.
We continued our comfortable dominance into the second half and were denied a fourth goal with an incredible goal-line clearance from Janice Cayman, whose diving header prevented Mariona Caldentey from close range. Substitute Victoria Pelova looked lively from the outset, combining well with Kim Little in the middle of the park.
The fourth goal did come after an hour played, with captain Kim dribbling through the defence and playing a cross to Mead from the byline. Our number 9 jumped high and sent a surefire header past Leitzig in the Leicester net.
In cruise control, our Gunners were caught unaware at the other end and Yuka Momiki got a goal back for the visitors, but it didn't take long for us to reinstate our four goal cushion.
Pelova's performance was rewarded in the 69th minute with her very first goal since returning from ACL injury earlier this year. Our Dutch midfielder capitalised after Leicester failed to deal with Katie McCabe's free-kick delivery, striking cleanly to make it 5-1.
What's next
Next up for our Gunners is a huge clash against Olympique Lyonnais in the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-final.
We kick off at Arsenal Stadium at 12.30pm on Saturday, April 19. Tickets are selling fast so don't miss out!
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal starting XI: Zinsberger, Fox, Williamson (Ilestedt, 82), Catley (Reid, 67), Mariona, Mead, Little (C) (Cooney-Cross, 67), McCabe, Maanum (Pelova, 46), Foord (Walti, 46), Blackstenius
Subs: Williams, Nighswonger, Kafaji
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