Arsenal thrash north London rivals Spurs 5-1 to reach FA Cup semi-final

By Football Reporter

Caitlin Foord bagged a brace as Arsenal sailed into the Vitality Women’s FA Cup semi-finals with a 5-1 victory over arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Rachel Williams struck on three minutes as Spurs drew first blood in the North London derby, soon cancelled out by Mana Iwabuchi’s superb strike from the top of the box. The Gunners took control with Foord’s double, Nikita Parris and an own goal confirming their place in the final four, where they will face Brighton. Williams gave Spurs their dream start from a corner, Williams rifling home her left foot from 20 yards after Ashleigh Neville cleverly kept the ball alive. Making her full debut on the left wing, Arsenal’s Tobin Heath started the move that led to Iwabuchi’s fine leveller, the Japanese curling into the top right corner. The hosts took a deserved lead 17 minutes later through Ale’s own goal, before Foord converted the ball in from close range to extend Jonas Eidvall’s side’s advantage. Katie McCabe’s free-kick found Anna Patten, who set up Parris to head in the fourth just before the interval. Foord settled the tie with her second of the match in the 73rd minute when she slotted the ball into the bottom left corner after an exquisite delivery in from substitute Beth Mead. Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall said: “I think we can be a lot better, still. From a results perspective and the way we look in attack sometimes, it’s excellent, but I still think there are some areas we can improve on. “I think it (the squad changes) were important tonight because you can talk all you want about having squad depth but it doesn’t mean anything if the players can’t play.” Tottenham manager Rehanne Skinner said: “It was a dream start really, but unfortunately we couldn’t quite hold on to that. The first couple of goals, we didn’t get pressure on the ball quick enough. Being the score line that it was at half time, it made it very difficult second half but I thought we were much more positive in possession and created chances that we should’ve got a couple of goals from but ultimately it wasn’t to be.”

To follow the action and sign up for The FA Player’s live Barclays FA Women’s Super League coverage visit womenscompetitions.thefa.com Arsenal (4-3-3): Lydia Williams, Anna Patten, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Katie McCabe, Mana Iwabuchi, Jordan Nobbs ©, Lia Walti, Nikita Parris, Caitlin Foord, Tobin Heath. Substitutes: Frida Maanum for Walti 45, Kim Little for Nobbs 60, Beth Mead for Heath, Viktoria Schnaderbeck for Williamson 77, Steph Catley for Foord 77 Substitutes not used: Manuela Zinsberger, Vivianne Miedema, Noelle Maritz, Teyah Goldie. Goals: Iwabuchi 15, Ale (og) 32, Foord 35, 73, Parris 44 Spurs (4-3-3): Becky Spencer, Asmita Ale, Molly Bartrip, Shelina Zadorsky ©, Ashleigh Neville, Tang Jiali, Ria Percival, Josie Green, Maeva Clemaron, Rachel Williams, Chi Ubogagu. Substitutes:  Kerys Harrop for Neville 45, Kit Graham for Green 45, Angela Addison for Williams 59, Rosella Ayane for Ubogagu 59, Esther Morgan for Ale 80. Substitutes not used: Tinja Korpela, Jessica Naz, Silvana Flores. Goals: Williams 3 Referee:  Kirsty Dowie Attendance: 1,563