A brace from Katie McCabe gave us our second win on the bounce in the Women’s Super League as we beat Bristol City on the road.
A club record attendance for the Robins of 12,008 watched on at Ashton Gate as our Gunners saw off a bright opposition to win 2-1.
Jonas Eidevall made two changes to the side that defeated Aston Villa last Sunday, with Laia Codina and Victoria Pelova stepping into the starting line-up.
Full of intent and composure from the off, our early dominance at Ashton Gate was rewarded with a trademark rocket from Katie McCabe in the 7th minute. Her second goal in as many games came from the second phase of a corner, picking the ball up outside the area and curling it into the top-right corner with aplomb.
On her 100th appearance for the club, Caitlin Foord also came close to scoring after some silky footwork in the Bristol penalty area.
Out of nowhere, the hosts equalised less than ten minutes later through a Rachel Furness’ header after Jamie-Lee Napier whipped a cross into the box and we were forced to reset.
The equaliser gave the Robins a spark of inspiration and they proceeded to grow into the half, bravely contesting every ball and keeping our frontline at bay.
We continued to build up patiently from the back in the hopes of regaining the lead but our efforts were fruitless and we headed down the tunnel at half-time with the score level.
Kicking off the second half with the same dominance we’d found at the start of the first, our Gunners found some much-needed rhythm going forward.
In one instance, Victoria Pelova stormed through the centre of the park and let fly, testing Olivia Clark in the Bristol City net. Despite the resulting rebound ricocheting around the six-yard box, we were unable to find that vital final touch to score.
Just before the hour mark, it was Katie McCabe who proved to be our hero once again. After Bristol scrambled to clear a corner kick, the ball fell to the Ireland captain and she struck sweetly to restore our lead.
Eidevall then introduced Beth Mead and Frida Maanum into the game to refresh our frontline and Mead was inches away from a comeback goal after she nearly got on the end of an excellent cross.
After almost a year on the sidelines, Vivianne Miedema made a stoppage time return to the side and came devastatingly close to setting up Mead for a third goal. Miedema’s no-look through ball picked out our number 9’s run but Bristol were able to clear the danger.
Our Gunners now head off to their respective national teams for the October international break.
When we return, we go straight into a huge clash against Manchester City. The game kicks off at Meadow Park at 12:30pm on November 5.
Team news
Bristol City starting XI: Clark (GK), Napier, Aspin (Murray, 64), Layzell, Powell, Rodgers (Syme, 79), Connolly (C), Morgan, Furness, Thestrup (Hayles, 79), Jones (Ward, 72)
Subs: Struck, Mustaki, Bull, Teisar, Davies
Arsenal starting XI: Zinsberger (GK), Wubben-Moy, Catley, Little (C), Walti, McCabe, Maritz, Foord, Pelova (Maanum, 67), Russo (Miedema, 95), Codina (Mead, 67)
Subs: D’Angelo (GK), Beattie, Kuhl, Cooney-Cross, Maanum, Lacasse, Blackstenius
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