Arsenal kicked off their Adobe Women’s FA Cup campaign on Wednesday night beating Bristol City 5-0 at Meadow Park. A tap in from Frida Maanum accompanied a brace from each of Beth Mead and Stina Blackstenius to complete a resounding victory over their Women’s Super League Championship opposition. Arsenal clad in all white- now a tradition for Arsenal’s first FA Cup game of the season in support of the No More Red campaign opposing knife crime across London. Bristol also respected the campaign in their changed all black strip.
Arsenal rang in the changes from the side narrowly beaten by Chelsea on the weekend with only Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mariona Caldentey and Mead remaining in the rotated line-up. Bristol too were coming into this one off the back of a weekend with title intrigue. Steve Kirby’s side had beaten title rivals Birmingham City 3-1 at St Andrews drawing level on points with their hosts at the top of the table. Conversely Bristol only made one change with Jackie Burns coming in for Fran Bentley between the sticks.
The Lineups
ARS: Zinsberger, Reid, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Catley, Cooney-Cross, Mariona, Maanum, Kafaji, Mead, Blackstenius
BRI: Burns, Bennett, Struck, Powell, Mustaki, Bance, Rodgers, Napier, Syme, Morgan, Lloyd-Smith
The Action
Arsenal looked in the mood from the off, an audacious flick from Mead was our first clue for what was to come, that first flicker of flair would be far from Arsenal’s last on the night. Moments later it was Mead picking the ball up on the right wing who ran in behind, her ball across the six yard box was calmly slotted home by Blackstenius. Arsenal looked to double their lead shortly after, Laia Codina’s header from an early corner was tipped over by Jackie Burns. But Burns blushes would not spared moments later when Cooney-Cross fired a meek shot on goal which was spilled by the Northern Irish stopper backwards towards her own net, Frida Maanum all too willingly poked it home. 2-0 to Arsenal and we had barely begun.
Bristol bore their teeth for the first time just before the ten minute mark when Jamie-Lee Napier duped Katie Reid who was marking her a little too tightly in the Arsenal press, Napier was set on her away down the right side of the Arsenal defence but Reid did well to recover. It was Napier who found space in behind Reid once again shortly after as Bristol managed their first shot of the contest, which was easily dealt with by Manuela Zinsberger. However on the 15th minute mark smart interplay between Codina and Reid helped put Arsenal on the front foot. The move concluded with Blackstenius jinking one way and then the other on the edge of the Bristol box before the Swede fired past Burns in the Bristol goal.
Tonight was not Burns’ night and after Maanum rattled the cross bar from inside the box the Bristol City stopper was unable to collect the rebound which had ricochet high into the sky, she did gratefully catch it after a fortuitous bounce. Yet her luck ended there, A cross field ball from Catley found Mead whose first time header was neatly directed into to the net just on the far post and confirmed Arsenal’s 4 goal lead. The WSL Championship Halfway Line Player of the Weekend Ffion Morgan was struggling for service up front for Bristol but the Robins ad identified a potential weak point in the Arsenal eleven in between Reid in her less preferred right back role and her right centre back colleague Codina not famed for her pace.
Arsenal took the opportunity at half time to rest both Kyra Cooney-Cross and Steph Catley subbed and Leah Williamson and Emily Fox. Interestingly Codina stepped into midfield with Williamson taking her place at centre back while Fox moved into right back and Reid moved to left back.
The pace of the match slowed after half time as Arsenal controlled possession and proceedings and before the match reached the hour mark it was 5-0, Mead once again lethal, collected the ball on the wing and with an arrow like cross-come shot evaded Burns’ grasp and extended the Gunners advantage. With just over twenty minutes remaining Mead attempted to complete her hat-trick from a dead ball situation in much the same area she’d scored her second from. This time however Burns’ did well to tip the ball over. Burns was beginning to demonstrate why she is an international level goalkeeper parrying away efforts from Rosa Kafaji and Blackstenius.
As the match petered out with it competitive edge all but extinguished Amanda Ilestedt returned to the pitch for Arsenal after her maternity leave to feature in the last ten minutes, receiving a raucous reception from the home faithful. Arsenal spurned further chances to increase their lead late on but the Gunners professionally saw out a comfortable victory and passage to the next round.
Arsenal will face London City Lionesses in the next round with the tie set to take place at Meadow Park on Sunday 9th February 2024. Next up for Arsenal in the league is a trip to Manchester where they will face Manchester City in the WSL while Bristol City next play on 16th February when their attention returns to league action as they welcome Southampton to Ashton Gate.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Beth Mead
This was the performance Beth Mead needed after missing a few chances against Chelsea on the weekend Mead was questioned in some corners, with accusations of a lost edge in front of goal prevalent. While that may not yet be disproven, Bristol would be unlikely to describe her as efforts in front of goal tonight as such. Lethal from the wing she threatened to score a hat-trick more than once and when she touched the ball she looked like she could summon some Mead magic. Set up Blackstenius as well as scoring two of her own, Arsenal fans will hope this is the start of an upturn in her form.
