Arsenal ran away with a 5-0 win against Barclays Women’s Championship side Bristol City to confirm their place in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup fifth round. They were 4-0 up after 25 minutes as they looked to improve spirits after a disappointing loss to Chelsea at the weekend, but braces from Beth Mead and Stina Blackstenius – plus a Frida Maanum goal – sees them set to host London City Lionesses in the next round.
As it happened
Considering the quality gap between the two sides, and the last meeting between them ending in a 5-0 win for Arsenal, the Gunners were expected to win fairly comfortably. They proved from kick-off that they would not be complacent.
They gave Bristol City no time to breathe as their first attack led to the first goal of a hectic first half. Beth Mead looked to create down the right, putting Chloe Mustaki on the back foot, and then with a precise drilled cross found the feet of Stina Blackstenius who bundled the first of the night into the net.
Embed from Getty ImagesNot wanting to give the visitors an inch, Arsenal quickly doubled their lead. A typical Kyra Cooney-Cross long range effort was too powerful for Jackie Burns to keep hold of, and Frida Maanum was there to capitalise, slotting home another close range effort and giving Bristol City a mountain to climb.
As the half continued, the gap between the two teams became increasingly obvious. The Championship side couldn’t lay a finger on an intense Arsenal team, struggling to maintain possession or create anything of significance. Their first real chance came through Jamie-Lee Napier, whose pace caused Laia Codina problems all half, but her shot failed to find either corner and was collected easily by Daphne aan Domselaar.
In the 16th minute Blackstenius made them pay once again, bagging her brace with some quick thinking to dispossess Harley Bennett on the edge of the area, then curling a beautiful effort into the top right corner. A fourth followed in the 25th minute when Mead got on the end of a lovely floated cross to the back post, and from there the game was beyond any doubt.
A second half with Arsenal shooting in front of a bouncing Meadow Park North Bank would always be lively, and Beth Mead rewarded them with an outrageous finish nine minutes into the half. Looking to put a cross in from the touchline, she hit it perfectly and saw it fly above Burns’ head and into the net; ensuring if nothing else, it would be a party atmosphere in the second half.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe crowd is where much of the second-half entertainment came from as Renée Slegers predictably sent her side out to protect their lead, with the fifth goal allowing them to take their foot off the gas.
Blackstenius and Mead were competing to see who could complete their hat trick first. Mead came closest with a free kick in the exact same spot she scored fromat the start of the half, but both had to settle for a brace.
While the intensity may have slipped, Arsenal’s attacking intent didn’t. They had a bevy of chances to close out the game. Maanum saw another stinging shot crash off the crossbar, while Rosa Kafaji’s tricky feet caused the Bristol City defence nightmares.
The highlight of the second half however was the return of Amanda Ilestedt after almost a year out to give birth to her daughter, and she received a rapturous ovation as she entered the pitch.
The game ended 5-0 as Bristol City battled to ensure it didn’t get any worse. It was an unfortunate night for the Championship side, but they will now switch their focus to regaining their WSL status, while for Arsenal a fifth-round tie against London City Lionesses awaits.
Line-ups
ARS: Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy (C), Codina, Catley, Reid, Mariona, Mead, Maanum, Kafaji, Cooney-Cross, Blackstenius
BRI: Burns, Powell, Mustaki, Struck, Rodgers, Lloyd-Smith, Napier (C), Bance, Syme, Morgan, Bennett
