We began our Barclays Women’s Super League campaign with a comprehensive 4-1 win over London City Lionesses at Emirates Stadium.
After falling behind early, a fantastic strike from debutant Olivia Smith kick-started our comeback, before Chloe Kelly, Stina Blackstenius and Frida Maanum put our Gunners fully in command.
WHAT HAPPENED
38,000 supporters took in the sunshine at Emirates Stadium for the start of the Barclays Women’s Super League season, as our European Champions took on the newly-promoted London City Lionesses.
Renée Slegers handed a debut to summer signing Olivia Smith, who sprang into action early with some nice interplay with Emily Fox down the wing.
Our right-back had the first definitive chance of the match after ten minutes, receiving the ball at the edge of the area and dragging her shot just wide of the post.
The visitors were handed an early lead, however, after Katie Reid mistimed a tackle against Kosovare Asllani in the box, forcing the referee to point to the spot. The London City captain converted the penalty comfortably into the bottom corner, giving our Gunners an early test in the first half.
Smith continued to cause problems down the right flank with her speed and footwork, weaving her way into the visitors’ box but just missing the finishing touch to trouble the keeper.
But it didn’t take long for that magic to strike. Our number 15 ducked and dodged through the midfield, shouldering a challenge with ease, before letting rip from 30 yards out. The second the ball left her foot, there was zero doubt where it was ending up. We were back on level terms.
Our Canadian wasn’t done either, nearly bagging a second before half-time. Alessia Russo floated a cross into the box that Smith connected with on the volley, but it flew just shy of the net.
Our squad continued to turn the heat up as half-time approached, with a Chloe Kelly volley momentarily fooling the crowd, before landing in the side netting.
After 20 minutes of pressure, that all-important goal came in injury time, with Kelly swooping into the six-yard box to hit home from Russo’s cutback.
We brought the same energy and control into the second half, as we looked to consolidate our lead.
After a sparkling debut in the red and white, Olivia Smith was replaced after an hour by Caitlin Foord, with Victoria Pelova also making way for Frida Maanum.
Daphne van Domselaar was hardly tested by the visitors in the second 45, with the majority of the action reserved for the North Bank end. The likes of Kelly, Russo and substitute, Stina Blackstenius, were thwarted by London City’s backline at the right moment.
The wall did eventually fall, with Blackstenius picking up where she left off in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final with a goal to give us daylight.
The crowd had barely found their seats again before we were back on the scoresheet through Frida Maanum, who headed home after Beth Mead’s shot looped goalwards.
What’s next
Next up in the WSL, a trip across the capital to face West Ham United next Friday evening. We have already faced the Hammers in pre-season, bagging a 2-0 win at Meadow Park.
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