We made it 11 wins from 12 games under Renee Slegers with a 5-0 victory against Crystal Palace in her first match as permanent head coach in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Sunday.
Leah Williamson gave us an early lead from a Katie McCabe corner at Mangata Pay UK Stadium, and goals from Alessia Russo, Beth Mead and a Mariona Caldentey brace increased our advantage to put the result beyond doubt in the second half.
What happened
We got off to the perfect start when McCabe’s sixth-minute corner was touched across the line by Williamson for her first goal in the WSL since March, 2023.
My Cato saw a cross from the right sail onto the roof of the net at the other end, before McCabe found Russo with a low cross. Her touch was just a bit too heavy and Shae Yanez was on hand to gather possession for the Eagles.
Kim Little then sent Russo through on goal, but the flag was raised for offside.
Palace had a better sight of goal moments later as Millie Geil was afforded time and space on the edge of the area before shooting straight at Daphne van Domselaar.
Williamson had another opportunity when she was found in the box by Mariona Caldentey, but on this occasion our number six headed over the bar.
Cato perhaps ought to have done better when Katie Stengel lifted the ball over the top of our defence to her in the 34th minute, but the former hooked it well wide with a first-time strike.
Frida Maanum volleyed just over the bar from an Emily Fox delivery with half-time approaching, and Caldentey was denied by Yanez late on.
The second half began with us continuing to look for a goal that would double our lead, Little working her way into the box and crossing for Fox. Her effort ricocheted around the penalty area but Palace cleared the danger, before Kyra Cooney-Cross shot over from long range and Russo headed wide from Williamson’s cross.
Caldentey picked out Russo on the counter-attack but her shot was too soft to trouble Yenez, before Caitlin Foord came on for Maanum with just over half an hour to go.
Foord made an instant impact, drifting in from the left and attempting to squeeze a shot in at the near post. Yanez made the save, but Russo showed typical centre-forward qualities to be in the right place at the right time and hit the rebound into the roof of the net for 2-0.
The floodgates began to open as goalscorer turned provider when Russo crossed for Mead, who cushioned it home for 3-0 in front of the red and white North Bank.
Lia Walti and Rosa Kafaji came on for Little and Mead respectively with 20 minutes left on the clock.
McCabe immediately found Foord on the left and her shot was parried into the path of Caldentey, whose effort hit Kafaji.
Foord was fouled in the penalty area moments later and we were awarded a spot-kick, which Caldentey calmly tucked into the bottom left corner for 4-0.
Katie Reid came on for Fox in the 81st minute and slotted in at right-back. Williamson volleyed the ball into the side netting as we relentlessly searched for even more goals and we got another one deep in stoppage time.
Russo cut in from the left and curled the ball onto the post, with Caldentey on hand to finish the rebound for five.
What it means
We jump up to second in the WSL, two points ahead of Manchester City, who host Manchester United at 6.45pm. Chelsea continue to lead the way following their win away to West Ham United.
What's next
We've got a busy week coming up as we head off to Crawley for a Subway Women's League Cup quarter-final against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday, before facing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the WSL on Sunday.
Line-ups
Arsenal XI: Van Domselaar, Fox (Reid 81), Williamson, Catley, Mariona, Mead (Kafaji 72), Little (C) (Walti 72), McCabe, Maanum (Foord 57), Russo, Cooney-Cross
Substitutes (not used): Zinsberger, Williams, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Wienroither
Crystal Palace XI: Yanez, Veje, Cato, Everett (C), Blanchard, Green (Sharpe 68), Nolan, Potter (Larkin 84), Gejl (Weerden 57), Woodham (Gibbons 84), Stengel
Substitutes (not used): Majasaari, Arthur
Facts and stats
- This is our fifth consecutive win in the WSL, as well as our fifth consecutive clean sheet.
- It's our ninth win in a row in all competitions, and we're unbeaten in the last 12.
- Alessia Russo has 11 goals in her last 12 games, seven in her last five. She has scored in her last six WSL games - her best record ever.
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