Arsenal brushed aside Women’s Super League strugglers Bristol City to continue their push for Champions League qualification.
The Gunners moved nine points clear of fourth-placed Manchester United with Sunday’s dominant victory as bottom club City endured a 13th successive game without a win.
The visitors sat deep in a back five but only managed to keep Arsenal at bay for seven minutes before Beth Mead opened the scoring when she reacted quickly to tap home from close range after Caitlin Foord hit the post.
Arsenal took control after that and would have been frustrated to have not converted more chances before Mead fired home her second in the 32nd minute.
Any hopes of Bristol City finding a path back into the game were dashed just two minutes later when a Steph Catley cross took an unfortunate deflection off visiting defender Ella Powell and curled past her own keeper Fran Bentley.
Alessia Russo then stepped up with two second-half goals, rifling one from the edge of the area and curling another past Bentley from inside the box.
With four games remaining third-placed Arsenal’s advantage over United should be enough to seal a spot in Europe, while Bristol City have a seven-point gap to West Ham in the fight to avoid relegation.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Arsenal Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 14D’Angelo
- 2FoxSubstituted forWienroitherat 81′minutes
- 6WilliamsonSubstituted forReidat 87′minutes
- 3Wubben-Moy
- 7Catley
- 21Pelova
- 10Little
- 9MeadSubstituted forMcCabeat 63′minutes
- 23Russo
- 19FoordSubstituted forLacasseat 63′minutes
- 25Blackstenius
Substitutes
- 1Zinsberger
- 15McCabe
- 24Lacasse
- 26Wienroither
- 29Goldie
- 53Lia
- 62Reid
Bristol City Women
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Bentley
- 2PowellSubstituted forBullat 69′minutes
- 8Rodgers
- 5Aspin
- 6Connolly
- 11Napier
- 24Morgan
- 16SymeSubstituted forFurnessat 69′minutes
- 18StratigakisSubstituted forLayzellat 69′minutes
- 17Thestrup
- 22EvansSubstituted forWardat 79′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Struck
- 4Layzell
- 10Furness
- 13Clark
- 15Bull
- 23Jones
- 29Ward
- 30Yañez
- 36Slocombe
- Referee:
- Lisa Benn
- Attendance:
- 3,565
Live Text
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Match ends, Arsenal Women 5, Bristol City Women 0.
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Second Half ends, Arsenal Women 5, Bristol City Women 0.
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Offside, Bristol City Women. Jamie-Lee Napier is caught offside.
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Attempt saved. Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Katie Reid.
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Substitution, Arsenal Women. Katie Reid replaces Leah Williamson.
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Attempt missed. Victoria Pelova (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
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Attempt blocked. Laura Wienroither (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Substitution, Arsenal Women. Laura Wienroither replaces Emily Fox.
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Attempt missed. Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Katie McCabe with a cross.
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Substitution, Bristol City Women. Mari Ward replaces Lisa Evans.
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Attempt blocked. Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Brooke Aspin.
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Attempt missed. Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Leah Williamson with a cross.
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Goal! Arsenal Women 5, Bristol City Women 0. Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Katie McCabe.
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Offside, Arsenal Women. Cloé Lacasse is caught offside.
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Attempt blocked. Amy Rodgers (Bristol City Women) left footed shot from very close range is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Naomi Layzell (Bristol City Women) left footed shot from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Ffion Morgan with a cross.
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Corner, Bristol City Women. Conceded by Emily Fox.
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Substitution, Bristol City Women. Jasmine Bull replaces Ella Powell.
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Substitution, Bristol City Women. Naomi Layzell replaces Sarah Stratigakis.
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