Match report: Arsenal Women 6-1 Reading

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This game will played behind closed doors

WHAT HAPPENED

We kicked off the new Women’s League season in style on Sunday with a thrilling 6-1 win over Reading.

Jill Roord scored a hat-trick, and Kim Little and Vivianne Miedema (2) were also on the scoresheet, but we were also treated to four WSL debuts from Steph Catley, Noelle Maritz, Malin Gut and Caitlin Foord.

Eager to bounce back from defeat in the Women’s Champions League, we wasted no time in asserting our dominance and opened the scoring in some style.

With an inch-perfect pass into the penalty area from Leah Williamson, Little fizzed a stunning volley into the bottom corner for our first goal of 2020/21.

It didn’t take long for us to make it two, when a probing pass from Catley sentt Jordan Nobbs racing down the left, who then squared the ball to Miedema to open her account.

Roord went on to make it three before the break, firing past Grace Moloney following some fine wing play from Beth Mead.

The onslaught continued in the second half, as Little and Roord combined to finish off an outstanding team move, with the latter providing the finishing touch.

Our fifth of the afternoon was the best of the bunch, though. After missing a sitter by her own lofty standards, Miedema responded in the best way possible - by taking aim from distance and firing a fierce effort off the bar and into the top corner.

Roord then went on to complete her hat-trick from close range following a wonderful team move on the edge of the area.

Former Gunner Danielle Carter pulled one back for the visitors late on, but it could take nothing away from an outstanding team performance to kick off our campaign.