14-time winners Arsenal progressed to the Adobe Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals with a win over second-tier London City Lionesses.
The Gunners have not won the title since 2015/16 and after Manchester City knocked them out of the league cup, the FA Cup could be their best chance of silverware this season. Goals from Laia Codina and Stina Blackstenius sealed their spot in the last eight.
As it happened
The Gunners enjoyed a bright start to the game with Mariona Caldentey shooting from the edge of the area, though it was deflected and gathered by London City’s keeper Emily Orman. Frida Maanum also had a shot blocked after a goalmouth scramble from Katie McCabe’s cross.
Laia Codina found Alessia Russo on the left wing with a long ball over the top and drifted inside to shoot powerfully. Emily Orman spilled it but there was no-one on hand to make use of the rebound. Despite the Barclays Women’s Championship side boasting talent like Kosovare Asllani and five-time Champions League winner Saki Kumagai, they struggled for attacking output and managed only one shot on target all game.
Embed from Getty ImagesArsenal’s breakthrough came in the 32nd minute when Kyra Cooney-Cross sent the ball over towards the far post, and Laia Codina was well positioned to loop her header home and put the hosts in front. The Lionesses came close to an equaliser just before the break when Asllani’s cross for Sofia Jakobsson was hooked wide from close range.
Arsenal debutant Jenna Nighswonger made way at half-time for Lia Wälti, while London City’s Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah replaced Isobel Goodwin.
To London City’s credit they held Arsenal to a narrow lead for much of the second half. Orman made a diving save to keep out a long-range effort from Cooney-Cross, and Arsenal loanee Teyah Goldie did well to block a shot from Frida Maanum.
Stina Blackstenius came on for Caitlin Foord with 20 minutes remaining and secured the win with her 50th Arsenal goal. The striker won the ball high up and passed it to Maanum; though Orman parried her effort, it fell straight back to Blackstenius to tap in. Caldentey could have added a third, but instead struck the crossbar from close range.
Embed from Getty ImagesArsenal will discover their quarter-final opponents in the draw on Tuesday 11th February from 18:30, live on the competition’s YouTube channel.
The lineups
ARS: Zinsberger; McCabe, Codina, Wubben-Moy, Reid; Caldentey, Maanum, Cooney-Cross; Nighswonger, Russo, Foord
LCL: Orman; Goldie, Brougham, Campbell; Kumagai, Roddar, Imuran, Neville; Jakobsson, Goodwin, Asllani
