We secured a place in the Conti Cup quarter-finals in style by hitting six past Reading on the road.
In a game that also saw the long-awaited return of Leah Williamson and the 300th appearance of Kim Little, Stina Blackstenius bagged a hat trick and Laia Codina scored her first goal for the club.
What happened
In keeping with his approach in the competition so far, Jonas Eidevall named a much-changed starting XI to face the Royals on Wednesday evening.
One of the players who earned their first start of 2024 was Cloe Lacasse who started brightly down the right wing. Her aggressive pressing and directness in the final third created a number of early chances for our Gunners, with Frida Maanum coming close to opening the scoring.
Eve Annets in the Reading goal made several early saves to keep the deadlock in tact, but just as she had done on Saturday against Everton, Caitlin Foord bagged the opener. A great incisive ball from Maanum set up our Aussie winger at the edge of the area, and she slotted the ball in the back of the net.
We doubled our lead before long. Stina Blackstenius continued her electric form in front of goal with a magnificent finish at the near post, courtesy of Steph Catley’s whipped cross.
Our Swedish striker wasn’t finished for the half, however. She stung once again just before the break, shrugging off her marker in the box and firing off a shot that was deflected into the bottom corner.
With Eidevall’s side fully in control after the opening 45 minutes, eyes in the crowd turned to Leah Williamson warming up on the sidelines.
But before Leah made her triumphant return, it was fellow defender Laia Codina’s chance to shine with her very first goal for the club. Codina rose to meet Steph Catley’s corner and we were 4-0 up before the hour mark.
With 60 minutes on the clock, a deafening roar from the away supporters heralded our number 6’s return to the pitch after nine months away. Jen Beattie made way for a noticeably emotional Leah Williamson, armband in tow, and every pass of the ball earned her rapturous applause.
Ten minutes later, the travelling fans were given yet another treat with the return of skipper, Kim Little - out through injury since December. This also marked Little’s 300th appearance for the club, with the Scottish midfield maestro becoming only the sixth Arsenal player to ever reach such a milestone.
Williamson wasted no time at all in reminding the world just what she can do. A delicious ball over the top found fellow Lioness Beth Mead ready and waiting, and with a sumptuous volley, the scoreline was then 5-0.
Six minutes from time, Stina Blackstenius was there to round off a comprehensive victory with our sixth goal and her own hat-trick. Capitalising on a defensive error, our Swedish forward converted from close range and our unbeaten run in the Conti Cup was secure.
What it means
Tonight's win means we top Group D and progress to the knockout stages of the competition.
The draw for the Conti Cup quarter-finals will take place at 7pm on 26 January, with the fixture itself set for either February 7/8.
Team news
Arsenal starting XI: D’Angelo, McCabe (C) (Little, 71), Beattie (Williamson, 60), Codina, Catley, Cooney-Cross, Pelova (Ilestedt, 71), Maanum (Miedema, 79), Lacasse, Foord (Mead, 60), Blackstenius
Subs: Zinsberger (GK), Williams (GK), Fox, Russo
Reading starting XI: Annets (GK), Woodham (Roberts, 68), Hendrix, Smith, Kith, Wade (Jarvis, 85), Primmer (Hunt, 76), Estcourt (Elwood, 68), Houssein, Longhurst, Wellings (Perry, 75)
Subs: Wilson, Kennedy
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