Report: Arsenal 5-0 Bristol City (inc. goals)

Arsenal: D’Angelo; Fox (Wienroither 81′), Williamson (Reid 87′), Wubben-Moy, Catley; Pelova, Little; Mead (McCabe 63′), Russo, Foord (Lacasse 63′); Blackstenius
Subs: Zinsberger, Goldie, Lia,

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Beth Mead and Alessia Russo both scored twice as Arsenal beat Bristol City 5-0 to extend the lead over Manchester United in 4th to 9 points.

Jonas Eidevall made four changes to the team that started against Chelsea in the Conti Cup final. Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley, and Alessia Russo were re-installed to the starting lineup, while Sabrina D’Angelo started in goal, with Manu Zinsberger dropping to the bench.

First Half

Arsenal started strongly, and the Gunners went 1-0 up (US) inside 7 minutes. Good pressure from Foord saw her win the ball ahead of Amy Rogers. She beat Rogers, drove into the box and then shot. Her shot went off the near post but rebounded to Beth Mead, who finished the chance off.

Arsenal continued to dominate. After a period of possession, Little slipped Catley in, who had her shot blocked by Megan Connolly. From the corner, Catley passed to Mead, who drove inside then passed to Pelova from the edge of the box, whose curled effort hit the bar.

Bristol City have scored more goals than the other two teams in the bottom three of the league, and they briefly looked to threaten on the break when Morgan got behind Catley. Morgan looked to play in Lisa Evans, but Wubben-Moy intercepted the pass to snuff out the danger.

Arsenal should’ve made it 2-0 on 20 minutes. A lovely passing move that saw combination between Catley and Foord led to Little playing Russo in. Russo’s shot was straight at Bentley, but Aspen cleared straight to Mead. Mead drove the ball across the box, but a stretching Russo couldn’t get a telling touch.

Little was next to have a shot from range. Foord’s cross was cleared to the edge of the box to Little, with her shot just going over the bar.

Another good move involving Little created another good chance. Little took Wubben Moy’s pass and then passed sharply to Mead, who laid the ball off for Pelova. From the edge of the box, Pelova’s left footed shot went just wide of Bentley’s far post.

Mead made it 2-0 (US) on 33 minutes. Again, the move started down Arsenal’s left. Russo spun the ball out to Pelova, who had drifted to the left. Pelova then slipped Foord in, who cutback to the middle of the box. Mead ran onto the ball and shot, but her shot was blocked on the line before rebounding to Mead, who fired home at the second time of asking.

Arsenal then made it 3-0 a minute later. Pelova played wide to Foord, who held the ball before finding Catley on the overlap. Catley crossed, and her cross deflected off the heel of Ella Powell and looped into the net. 3-0 (US).

On the stroke of half time an underhit backpass saw Evans run onto the ball. She got past an advanced D’Angelo and looked to cut the ball back to Ffion Morgan, but Wubben-Moy intercepted and cleared to preserve Arsenal’s clean-sheet.

Second Half

Arsenal started the second half as they ended the first, with complete control. Arsenal were continually working the left hand side before looking for the finishing switch on the right. Foord’s cutback for Russo led to Emily Fox, popping up in a central area, taking a shot that was straight at Bentley, who saved.

Mead, chasing her hat trick, had a decent half-chance. After a period of possession play, Fox, again playing centrally, passed sharply to Mead, who spun her defender but then fired over the crossbar.

On 55 minutes, Bristol City threatened Arsenal’s goal. A ball over the top from Napier lead to Syme breaking through on goal. Catley’s challenge prevented her from shooting, but the ball came to Amalie Thestrup. Sabrina D’Angelo, though, came out and parried the shot behind for a corner.

Alessia Russo made it 4-0 (US) on 59 minutes. Kim Little played into Russo, sitting in the space behind Bristol City’s midfield. Russo drove with the ball, and from the inside right of the penalty box fired a rasping shot that went through the hands of Fran Bentley.

Three minutes later, Mead had a good chance for her hat trick. Little advanced, and slipped Mead into the edge of the 6 yard box. Mead’s shot was too central, though, and parried behind by Bentley. It would be Mead’s last involvement, as Arsenal made a double change, with Cloé Lacasse and Katie McCabe replacing Foord and Mead.

From the corner, Wubben-Moy shot from the center of the box, but her shot was blocked by Aspen on the goal line, with replays showing it may have come off the defender’s arm.

The shots were raining on Bristol’s goal now. Little drove through midfield, and then shot from the edge of the area, with Bentley getting down to save Little’s bouncing shot. Bentley would then make another stop. McCabe played Blackstenius in behind, and the ball was cleared to Fox. Fox drove inside, and her left footed curling effort was heading towards goal, but Bentley got up and parried over.

Fox, again central, played the ball to McCabe on the right. McCabe looked up, and passed to Russo in the middle of the box, and Russo duly finished off the move, firing into the far corner of the goal to make it 5-0 (US) on 74 minutes.

Russo, now on a hat trick, then had a shot blocked as Arsenal continued to pile on the attacking play. The England striker would then create another chance for herself. She collected Catley’s sharp cross with a neat touch, brought the ball down and then looked to loop her shot over Bentley, with the ball going just wide.

On 81 minutes, Laura Wienroither came on for Emily Fox, with Wienroither making her return after last May’s ACL injury.

Wienroither’s first attacking involvement saw her nearly create a goal. She overlapped on the right, and then played a dangerous cutback. The ball was deflected to Pelova, who shot with her left foot into the side netting.

On 86 minutes, Arsenal made their final change. Katie Reid came on to make her debut, replacing Leah Williamson. Reid’s first impact on the game would be to stop Threstrup advancing as Bristol made a rare foray into the Arsenal half. Reid would then show a neat piece of skill as she evaded the sliding challenge of Thestrup.

The Arsenal fans, again in fine voice, called for a hat trick for Russo, but there wouldn’t be another goal coming, as the referee called time on Arsenal’s biggest league win of the season.