Key Takeaways
- Arsenal Women crushed Leicester City 7-0 at Emirates Stadium to stay in the WSL title race
- Swedish forwards Stina Blackstenius and Smilla Holmberg both scored two goals each
- Leicester City confirmed their bottom-place finish and must now prepare for a relegation playoff
Arsenal Women produced a ruthless attacking display to defeat Leicester City 7-0 and maintain pressure on Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City.
The Gunners entered the match knowing they needed a big win to close the goal difference gap. They delivered exactly that through a clinical performance that confirms Leicester will finish in last place.
Swedish strikers Stina Blackstenius and Smilla Holmberg were the standout performers. Both players scored twice to help Arsenal reduce their goal difference deficit to City from 13 goals down to just six.
Frida Maanum opened the scoring with a clever header after 25 minutes. Holmberg then grabbed her first goal for the club just two minutes later. Blackstenius added two more before half-time, leaving Leicester with no way back into the contest.
After the break, captain Leah Williamson thundered home a header from a corner. Mariona Caldentey also found the net as Arsenal dominated against a helpless Leicester side.
Arsenal manager Renée Slegers made five changes to the team that beat Lyon in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Sunday. She wanted to keep her squad fresh for the busy schedule ahead.
“We wanted to win today. We needed to win today,” Slegers said after the match. She praised her players for maintaining their attacking style regardless of who started the game.
The result leaves Leicester facing a relegation playoff against the third-placed team from the second tier. They must now play Chelsea and Everton before that crucial survival match.
Leicester boss Rick Passmore admitted the heavy defeat damages his team’s confidence. He said he takes full responsibility for the poor results and must rebuild belief before the playoff.
Arsenal now turn their attention to the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Lyon. They remain in contention for both major trophies this season.