Everton Women 0 Arsenal Women 3
Arsenal kept the pressure on Chelsea at the top of the table as England internationals Beth Mead and Jordan Nobbs both reached 50 Women’s Super League goals in a controlled victory at Everton.
Arsenal’s title hopes rely on their London rivals slipping up, while winning their own games. There was rarely any suggestion they might falter last night, when Jonas Eidevall’s side patiently broke down an unambitious Everton.
Arsenal kicked off four points behind the leaders but Eidevall played down the pressure of having to play after Chelsea’s victory earlier. “It’s like that every time you manage Arsenal. The expectation is that we’re going to win, so the pressure is on every game,” he said.
Arsenal host Aston Villa then Tottenham Hotspur before a final-day trip to West Ham United, and will surely need maximum points to have any hope of preventing Chelsea winning a third consecutive title. At Everton, they were rarely troubled, the home side failing to register any efforts on – or off – target until the 92nd minute.
Arsenal opened the scoring shortly before half-time when Caitlin Foord collected Leah Williamson’s diagonal ball and slotted in low, although replays appear to show Foord had been offside.
Mead reached her half-century of WSL goals when she finished off Vivianne Miedema’s cross. A sweet finish from substitute Nobbs also enabled the midfielder to reach the 50-goal mark. That is something only Kim Little, Fran Kirby, Beth England, Ellen White and the division’s record goalscorer Miedema had managed previously, since the WSL began in 2011.
“It’s a part of being at this club, to achieve things like that and not to be satisfied with it,” Eidevall added. “We need to strive for even more.”
Match details
Everton (5-4-1): MacIver 5; Maier 5, Bjorn 6, Finnigan 5, George 6, Pattinson 7; Graham 6 (Dali 6, 79), Galli 6, Christiansen 6, Bennison 6; Duggan 5 (Magill 6, 60).
Subs not used: Turner, Brosnan, Clinton, Weir.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Zinsberger 6; Maritz 6, Williamson 8, Wubben-Moy 6, Catley 7; Little 7 (Iwabuchi 6, 79), Walti 7 (Maanum, 88); Mead 6, Miedema 6 (Parris 6, 79), Foord 8 (Nobbs 7, 65); Blackstenius 6 (McCabe 7, 65).
Subs not used: Beattie, Williams (gk), Boye Sorensen, Wienroither.
Referee: Kirsty Dowle (Kent).
Attendance: 584.
