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Arsenal climbed to second in the Women’s Super League table as magnificent half-volleys from Katie McCabe and Olivia Smith helped them on their way to a valuable victory.
It will have felt all the more satisfying for Arsenal after Chelsea dropped points against Everton last week. The north Londoners were momentarily given a scare when Honoka Hayashi’s levelled the scores in a frenetic first-half spell, but that proved to be a rare Everton attack in a contest that was otherwise managed well by Arsenal’s midfield.
After McCabe’s opener and Hayashi’s equaliser, Alessia Russo quickly restored Arsenal’s lead with a scrappy effort and Everton were fortunate not to be further behind. Arsenal’s display of inventive movement led to some fairly relentless first-half pressure. Although Everton stemmed the tide a little in the second half, a shock result rarely looked on the cards and Smith’s instinctive strike into the far corner made it 3-1 and secured the victory.
The result lifted Arsenal up from fourth to second, five points behind the leaders, Manchester City, a point above Chelsea and two points above Manchester United, who all play on Sunday, and perhaps the only disappointment for Arsenal will be that they did not score more.
Further cause for the visitors’ joy came when there was a late substitute appearance for Leah Williamson, who received a rapturous reception from the away fans. It was the England captain’s first appearance since July’s European Championship final in Basel, after a knee injury.
Are Arsenal back? Mid-November had a loss away against Bayern Munich, sandwiched in between draws with Chelsea and Tottenham, which had added some pressure after October’s losses to Manchester City and OL Lyonnes, but that blip now appears to be behind them. This was their fourth victory in a row in all competitions and they will be confident of extending that run to six before Christmas, with trips to face the Belgian side Leuven and the WSL2 club Crystal Palace, in the League Cup quarter-finals, next week.
This win will be remembered most prominently, though, for two spectacular goals that were remarkably similar. McCabe’s delightful strike in the 11th minute, which she celebrated by running behind the goal Everton to stand, with her arms aloft, in front of the travelling army of around 1,200 Arsenal supporters, came as a half-cleared ball reached her outside the Everton box and she lined up a terrific, dipping half-volley that flew diagonally into the corner.
Smith’s effort, three minutes from time, was equally impressive, struck with a lethal bounce and beating Courtney Brosnan at a similar angle. It was her second stunning goal in two league games after her low hit from range against Liverpool.
Earlier, Beth Mead had a far-post headed saved, Mariona Caldentey’s low shot was blocked, a Kyra Cooney-Cross strike was deflected inches wide of the post by Hikaru Kitagawa and Russo’s header hit the side netting, as Everton had to hold on. They stay ninth.
