We secured our place in a second-successive Conti Cup final with a dominant performance against Aston Villa on Wednesday evening.
Four first-half goals, including a 40-minute hat-trick from Stina Blackstenius and a wonder goal from Frida Maanum, were enough to secure the victory and give us the chance to defend our Conti Cup title on 31 March.
What happened
Jonas Eidevall made four changes to the starting XI who defeated Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium, with Leah Williamson, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Frida Maanum and Stina Blackstenius coming in.
Buoyed by the weekend's victory in front of a sold-out crowd, our Gunners sprang out of the starting gate in a relentless high press and nearly found an opener after only a minute played.
Stina Blackstenius sped down the wing and played the ball across the face of goal, but Alessia Russo arrived a fraction too late to make a true connection at the far post.
It wasn't long before the press paid off. Frida Maanum and Beth Mead teamed up to poach the ball from Villa in their own half, before Maanum played a perfect through-ball for Blackstenius.
The Swedish striker burst through the lines and with her first touch, buried the ball into the roof of the net to give us a well-earned lead.
Villa barely had time to reset and refocus before we were on the break yet again - a long ball over the top allowing Blackstenius and Mead to combine.
Our winger from Whitby clipped a cross to the back post, Russo headed it back across the face of goal, and Blackstenius arrived in the six-yard box to bury another finish.
But we weren't satisfied with a two-goal cushion. Mead, instrumental once again in her role down the right flank, flew down the channel and cut back to an onrushing Maanum.
It was then time for a piece of characteristic brilliance from our Norwegian, who curled a first-time strike past Anna Leat in the Villa goal to make it 3-0 after only 18 minutes.
The rout continued, as we smelt blood every time we approached the area. Katie McCabe rattled the crossbar from a beautifully-struck free-kick but it would be an electric Blackstenius who would get our fourth before half-time.
This was her second hat-trick this season, previously netting three against Reading earlier on in the Conti Cup group stages.
Our side’s pure dominance did not extend to the second 45 minutes, however. Villa emerged from the half-time team talk with a point to prove, and Ebony Salmon was a particularly bright addition from the bench.
The visitors displayed the intent and fluidity they had been missing in the first half, but a few excellent blocks from Lotte Wubben-Moy ensured that Manu Zinsberger still had little to trouble her.
Kyra Cooney-Cross’ mazy runs in the middle of the park continued to cause problems for Villa and despite some good combinations in the final third, our Gunners didn’t add to the first-half goal tally.
A stoppage time cameo from academy starlet Vivienne Lia as she made her home debut was greeted with wild cheers by the Meadow Park faithful, who now have a trip to Molineux on the cards for the Conti Cup final.
What it means
The Conti Cup final takes place on 31 March at Molineux. We'll find out who'll join us tomorrow after the culmination of Chelsea and Man City's semi-final.
This means that our previously scheduled WSL clash against Bristol City will be rearranged in due course.
But first, our Gunners are back in action with a massive clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Friday, 15 March.
Team news
Arsenal starting XI: Zinsberger (GK), McCabe, Williamson (Codina, 64), Wubben-Moy, Catley, Walti (Pelova, 80), Cooney-Cross, Maanum (V. Lia, 90), Mead (Foord, 64), Russo (Little, 80), Blackstenius
Subs: Bouhaddi, Williams, Earl
Aston Villa starting XI: Leat (GK), Mayling, Patten, Corsie (C), Lehmann (Magill, 46), Nobbs, Daly, Dali (Mullett, 84), Turner, Hanson (Salmon, 44), Pacheco
Subs: Poor, MacPhail, Sallaway
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