Report: Arsenal 1-1 Everton (inc goals)

Arsenal: Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson (Codina 46′), Catley, McCabe; Pelova (Cooney-Cross 74′), Little; Mead, Russo, Foord (Lacasse 64′); Blackstenius (Maanum 64′)
Substitutes: Williams (GK), Miedema, Wienroither, Goldie, Cooney-Cross, Reid

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Arsenal’s three match winning run in the WSL is over, after a late Izzy Hobson header cancelled out Alessia Russo’s 10th goal of the season. Jonas Eidevall named the same lineup as last week’s win over Leicester City, and Kyra Cooney-Cross returned to the squad as a substitute.

First Half

Arsenal started well, with Emily Fox flashing a cross across goal in the opening seconds. Stina Blackstenius also had a shot saved by Courtney Brosnan in the opening exchanges. Everton, on the other hand, kept trying to bait Arsenal by playing out from the back.

Everton struggled to go over the halfway line, but from their first corner, Everton hit the crossbar, with Karen Holmgaard twin heading against the crossbar from her twin Sara Holmgaard’s delivery. From the follow up, Justine Vanhaevermaet couldn’t scramble the ball over the line.

Arsenal would finally create a clear chance in the 23rd minute. Blackstenius had a shot blocked, but Mead won the ball back with good pressure. Blackstenius found Foord unmarked in the middle, who swung and missed instead of making contact.

In stoppage time, Arsenal went close again. Pelova used her body to create space, and from the corner of the penalty box fired her shot toward goal. Brosnan stood helplessly but the ball went just wide of the far post.

Second Half

Arsenal made a substitution at half time, with Laia Codina replacing Leah Williamston at halftime. An Emily Fox slip let Everton in but the Toffees couldn’t take advantage, while at the other end, Catley’s header from Mead’s corner looped into Brosnan arms.

Arsenal then broke quickly down the left, and McCabe’s cutback across the box was perfectly placed. Pelova ran onto it but dragged her shot wide.

On the hour mark, interplay between Russo and Foord set up Emily Fox in the middle of the penalty box. Fox looked to place the shot but lacked power and Brosnan saved. Vanhaevermaet then looked to put Everton ahead from a corner, but her header was straight at Zinsberger.

Arsenal made a double change on 64 minutes, with Cloé Lacasse and Frida Maanum replacing Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius.

Arsenal went close again. Russo combined with Fox at the edge of the box, who then played into Mead on the right. Her cross was inch perfect, but Lacasse couldn’t meet it.

On 74 minutes, Kyra Cooney-Cross replaced Pelova.

Mead would then create another chance. As she got down the right, she cutback for Russo, who fired over from close range.

Arsenal finally made the breakthrough on 80 minutes. Katie McCabe and Lacasse combined down the left, and then Lacasse drove into the Everton box. She crossed for Mead, who ran onto the cross and shot straight at Brosnan. The rebound, though, came to Russo, who made no mistake. 1-0. (US)

Arsenal, though, nearly contrived to give the lead back. A loose pass by Codina was seized upon in the box but the shot was weak and Zinsberger saved. Russo then created a chance for Little. She collected a throw, drove into the box and then laid the ball off to Little at the edge of the box, but the captain’s shot was wide of the near post.

Russo then fired over in the 3rd minute of stoppage time, after Mead and Maanum won the ball.

That miss would come back to haunt Arsenal, as Everton would level the score a minute later. From a corner, Mead headed the ball up, and Izzy Hobson, unmarked, was first to the second ball and looped her header beyond Zinsberger. 1-1. (US)

At the other end, Mead had a chance to win it, but fired well over from the edge of the box. Russo would then go close from the edge of the area, with her shot hitting the roof of the net. Despite the chances, though, Arsenal wouldn’t fashion a winner