Arsenal continued their fine form as a convincing 3-0 win over Leicester City at the Emirates saw them close the gap to just three points at the top of the Women’s Super League on Sunday.
Jonas Eidevall’s side began the day needing a win to keep pace with joint leaders Manchester City and Chelsea, leaving no margin for error in the battle at the top.
Off the back of a 5-0 triumph over Bristol City at Meadow Park last week, the Gunners were full of confidence and found themselves in front just before the half-hour mark when Beth Mead finished well after excellent work from Alessia Russo and Caitlin Foord.
Shortly before the goal, Leicester had created a chance of their own when Yuka Momiki’s long range effort forced Gunners’ keeper Manuela Zinsberger into a fine save, but it was Eidevall’s side who took control of the first half from there on.
Stina Blackstenius had a shot blocked from close range, before Zinsberger was called into action again at the other end of the pitch with a good stop from Momiki’s close-range strike.
The dangerous movement of the Japanese international then saw her escape pressure from Leah Williamson as her chipped cross landed at the feet of forward Lena Petermann, whose curled effort was expertly palmed away from danger by the Arsenal stopper.
The second half kicked off proving to be similar to the first, as the Gunners came out looking to kill the game there and then.
Kop was immediately called into action when Caitlin Foord burst into the Leicester penalty area and fired a tame effort into the gloves of the Dutchwoman.
Katie McCabe then saw her volleyed effort sail over after good work down the right-hand side from Beth Mead.
The Emirates then rose to its feet at the joyous sight of Frida Maanum coming on to replace Stina Blackstenius, making her first appearance since collapsing at Molineux in the Continental Cup Final win over Chelsea just three weeks ago.
With the scoreline at an uncomfortable 1-0, the Gunners kept on pushing and extended their lead 15 minutes from time through the brilliant Russo.
The England forward collected Steph Catley’s defence-splitting pass and fired hard and low into the bottom corner, grabbing her sixth goal in seven WSL games at the Emirates Stadium.
Mead then grabbed her second of the afternoon with Russo involved again, as the Arsenal strike partners unorthodoxly combined in the Leicester City goalmouth for Mead to tap in and give Eidevall’s side a 3-0 advantage on the afternoon.
The away side nearly pulled one back in the final moments, but the outstanding Zinsberger was equal to it, preserving another clean sheet in the WSL.
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