Arsenal continue flying start with victory over struggling Leicester City | OneFootball

Arsenal have continued their excellent start to the new Barclays Women’s Super League season with a 4-0 victory over struggling Leicester City at The King Power Stadium this afternoon.

Frida Maanum, Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Stina Blackstenius got the goals for The Gunners as they inflicted a first defeat on newly-appointed Leicester City boss Willie Kirk.

The first half was played out in driving rain and on a saturated pitch but Arsenal didn’t let the conditions dampen their spirits. Maanum forced a save out of Leicester City goalkeeper Kirstie Levell inside the first minute before Blackstenius saw an effort strike the bar in The Gunners’ next attack.

Arsenal broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when a Blackstenius cross wasn’t dealt with by Levell and Maanum poked the loose ball home.

Nine minutes later, a delicious low ball from Beth Mead found Foord at the far post who was handed a simple tap in.

At the other end, CJ Bott raced away on the counter attack and got a shot away but Arsenal keeper Manuela Zinsberger came out and made a crucial block. Leicester City were then made to rue that miss when Catley scored a third Arsenal goal direct from a corner kick, The Foxes have now conceded by that method two weeks on the bounce.

Arsenal added to their three-goal lead early in the second half when Blackstenius latched onto a long ball and she rounded Levell to score.

The game went a little flat after the fourth goal but there were one or two chances produced towards the end of the second half. Mead sliced a shot wide when it looked easier to score before Maanum produced a good save from Levell with a long range rocket. At the other end, Zinsberger had to be on top form to tip Missy Goodwin’s curling effort over as the game ended 4-0.

This afternoon’s result sees Arsenal return to the league summit while Leicester City remain cemented to the bottom.