Gunners thump Aston Villa 7-0 to add pressure on WSL leaders Chelsea

By Football Reporter

Arsenal kept the pressure on league leaders Chelsea after a comprehensive 7-0 win over Aston Villa at Meadow Park.

The Gunners recorded their sixth win in a row to narrow the gap to just one point with just two games to go.

Jonas Eidevall’s side was content to knock the ball around at the back in an attempt to draw Villa out, but the visitors stayed compact, refusing to offer any space.

However, Villa’s game plan rapidly unravelled quickly and within 12 minutes the Gunners were two up after long-range strikes from Arsenal top scorer Vivianne Miedema.

Villa, who were missing, Jill Scott and Remi Allen struggled to get any passes going throughout the half.

Arsenal were clearly in control and their lead could have been much greater at the break had it not been for the efforts of Sian Rogers in the Villa goal.

And Arsenal’s dominant afternoon continued after the break.

The Gunners third arrived after brilliant footwork from Miedema whose vicious left-foot strike crashed off the bar but the rebound went in off Rachel Corsie, who had little time to react, for an own goal.

Beth Mead, who had gone close multiple times in the first half, made it four just past the hour with a fantastic long-range strike from 25 yards which left Rogers with no chance.

Soon after it was five when Lotte Wubben-Moy tapped home from close range and two late goals from Stina Blackstenius and Nikita Parris rounded off a brilliant attacking display from the Gunners, who ensured the Barclays FA WSL season will go down to the wire.

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Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall said: “It is fundamental because it will help us get the highest possible league position from a goal difference perspective as you can see it is very tight between us and Chelsea.

Also from a mindset point of view, it is important in the long term as we are asking the question of how much are we doing with each game and Barcelona in the Spanish league has been a testament to doing that. I am pleased we are creating that culture here of maximising the 90mins and scoring as many goals as possible.

“I think [our pressing style] is a big part of us not conceding goals. Both the Everton game and today’s game have given us the balance of lighting fast counterattacks and positional possession-based play. This is what we will try and embody.

Most of the time a team is either a counter-attacking team or a possession-based team but I like to think that with the capabilities of our squad we can combine the two. The players work extremely hard on this and this is the foundation of our play.”

Arsenal: Lydia Williams, Noelle Maritz, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Steph Catley, Lia Walti, Kim Little, Vivianne Miedema, Beth Mead, Caitlin Foord, Katie McCabe

Substitutes: Stina Blackstenius for Katie McCabe 60’; Laura Wienroither for Noelle Maritz 72’, Jordan Nobbs for Vivianne Miedema 72’, Nikita Parris for Beth Mead 72’, Frida Maanum for Jordan Nobbs 85’

Substitutes not used: Manuela Zinsberger, Hermione Cull, Simone Boye, Jen Beattie

Goals: Miedema (9’, 13’), Corsie (OG) 52’, Mead 61’, Wubben-Moy 66’, Blackstenius 83’, Parris 90’

Bookings: Foord 90+1

Aston Villa: Sian Rogers, Sarah Mayling, Anita Asante, Rachel Corsie, Mayumi Pacheco, Olivia McLoughlin, Ramona Petzelberger, Alisha Lehmann, Laura Blindkilde, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, Emily Gielnik

Substitutes: Meaghan Sargeant for Boye-Hlorkah 66’, Shania Hayles for Alisha Lehmann 55’

Substitutes not used: Hannah Hampton, Jodie Hutton, Sophie Haywood, Evie Rabjohn

Bookings: Petzelberger 54’

Referee: Lisa Benn

Attendance: 2,305