Key Takeaways
- Arsenal crushed Leicester City 7-0 at the Emirates Stadium in a dominant WSL display.
- Stina Blackstenius and Smilla Holmberg both scored twice in the rout.
- The Gunners sit third in the table with two games in hand on the top two teams.
Arsenal Women issued a stern warning to Barclays Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City after producing a stunning 7-0 victory against Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium.
The North London club moved into third position following this emphatic win in front of 18,130 fans. The result comes just days before their crucial Champions League semi-final second leg against Lyon.
Frida Maanum celebrated her 100th WSL appearance by heading home the opening goal. The midfielder then created the next two strikes, setting up Smilla Holmberg for a quickfire brace. Holmberg had not scored since her January transfer from Hammarby.
Swedish striker Stina Blackstenius also grabbed two goals, while Spanish winger Mariona Caldentey and England captain Leah Williamson added their names to the scoresheet. Full-back Emily Fox nearly extended the lead further, but her fierce drive struck the crossbar.
The victory pushes Arsenal above Manchester United into third place. They now trail second-placed Chelsea by two points and leaders Manchester City by eight points. However, they possess two matches in hand over both rivals.
For Leicester, this loss confirms they will finish bottom of the division. The Foxes must now face a relegation playoff against the third-placed team from the second tier next month.
Head coach Renee Slegers rotated her squad ahead of the European clash, resting key names including Williamson and Alessia Russo initially. The match remained scoreless for 25 minutes before the hosts seized complete control.
After the final whistle, Slegers praised her team’s discipline and adaptability. She noted the high levels of communication among players and welcomed the clean sheet. When asked about the title race, she urged caution, stating the squad must concentrate on immediate tasks rather than dreaming of catching Manchester City.
Arsenal now focus on their European campaign, but return to domestic duties against Brighton on May 6th.