By Joanna Pendleton
Natalia Pablos Sanchon scored twice as Arsenal overcame Sunderland in their first ever WSL match against the newly promoted side.
Her first was a curling effort from out wide before she doubled her tally from the spot after Abby Holmes earned herself a red card for hacking down Kelly Smith.
Beth Mead scored in between the Arsenal forward’s goals, only the third goal the hosts have conceded all season.
With the visitors down to ten, Carla Humphrey tapped in a close-range shot before Dan Carter fired home from long range to wrap up all three points.
Natalia opened the scoring after five minutes, cutting into the box and delicately whipping the ball in just inside the far post.
Arsenal looked comfortable but things deteriorated when their captain Alex Scott had an uncharacteristic lapse in concentration allowing Mead to sneak in and equalise.
The hosts came out strongly in the second half and took the lead when Smith opened up the defence with some clever one-twos before being brought down by Holmes after 72 minutes.
Natalia sent Rachael Laws the wrong way from the resulting kick before Carter’s cross found Humphrey in space who tapped in soon after.
Carter fired in a powerful from 20 yards out late on to punctuate Arsenal’s impressive second-half display.
Referee:
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