We closed out the Barclays Women's Super League season with a decisive win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
Goals from Alessia Russo, Frida Maanum, Laia Codina and one final strike in an Arsenal shirt for Vivianne Miedema made it 5-0 at Meadow Park.
What happened
Looking for our tenth straight home win of the season, we took on the Seagulls in the first outing of our new home kit on a bright Saturday afternoon.
Alessia Russo, leading the line as our striker, looked sharp from the outset. Her quick footwork and strength down the line caused immediate problems for the Brighton defence and our number 23 would be the one to open the scoring in the 17th minute.
Some neat interplay at the edge of the area between Kim Little and Victoria Pelova unlocked Emily Fox in the box. Russo then completed the move with a lightning first-time strike into the top left corner.
Brighton responded well to going behind and their top scorer Elizabeth Terland hit the crossbar soon after, after her shot was deflected past Sabrina D’Angelo.
But Russo was on hand to provide some breathing room less than ten minutes later, pouncing on a loose ball in the area and tapping home to make it 2-0.
Our Gunners continued to look strong for the remainder of the half, with Caitlin Foord and Beth Mead coming close to adding to the scoresheet.
The visitors continued their spirited attacks in the second half but our backline kept them contained.
Just before the hour mark, Steph Catley was taken out in the area by a high tackle and the referee pointed to the spot. Captain Kim Little stepped up to take the penalty and despite beating Baggaley in goal, her effort struck the woodwork and rebounded.
Frida Maanum and Laia Codina were subbed on in the 62nd minute and for the final time in red and white, Vivianne Miedema entered the field.
As though fated, our number 11 scored with her very first touch of the ball. As she has done countless times before, Beth Mead found Miedema’s run into the box and she slotted past the keeper for our third goal.
The momentum continued to build and as Codina headed goalwards from a corner, Brighton’s Carabali helped it along to make it 4-0.
Sabrina D’Angelo pulled off a series of impressive stops to keep her clean sheet in tact on her final appearance for Arsenal.
Michelle Agyemang then came off the bench for the final five minutes, making her first appearance since signing her senior contract with the club.
With 88 minutes on the clock, there was still one more opportunity for some Miedema magic. The Dutch forward picked the ball up in her own half, shifted her body and pitched the perfect through ball for an onrushing Frida Maanum. The Norwegian beat the keeper with ease to complete our 5-0 rout on the final day of the season.
Team news
Arsenal starting XI: D'Angelo (GK), Fox (Wienroither, 68), Williamson, Catley (Codina, 62), McCabe, Cooney-Cross (Maanum, 62), Pelova, Little, Mead, Foord (Agyemang, 85), Russo (Miedema, 62)
Subs: Zinsberger (GK), Williams (GK), Goldie, Reid
Brighton starting XI: Baggaley, Carabali, Bergsvand, Thorisdottir, Pattinson, Robinson (Symonds, 46), Losada, Olme (Kullberg, 69), Haley (Stefanovic, 80), Lee (Sarri, 69), Terland
Subs: Mengwen, Loeck, McEwen, Dent
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