Katie McCabe scored twice as Arsenal beat Bristol Metropolis 2-1 in entrance of a document 12,008 crowd at Ashton Gate within the Ladies’s Tremendous League.
McCabe put Arsenal in entrance with a strong strike from vary after seven minutes earlier than Rachel Furness equalised for Bristol Metropolis with a glancing header, which was their solely try of the sport.
Bristol Metropolis’s sport plan to frustrate Arsenal was working till their resistance broke simply earlier than the hour. McCabe’s deflected shot following a set-piece wrong-footed goalkeeper Olivia Clark and so they didn’t get well.
Vivianne Miedema performed for the primary time in 11 months after struggling an ACL damage in December 2022, changing Alessia Russo in stoppage time, whereas Beth Mead bought extra helpful minutes underneath her belt off the bench.
Arsenal stay in seventh, two factors outdoors the highest three, after their first back-to-back wins of the season. Bristol Metropolis, in the meantime, are nonetheless in search of their first factors of the league season.
How Arsenal overcame Bristol Metropolis
Arsenal took management of the sport at Ashton Gate early on as a sample rapidly emerged of assault towards defence. Caitlin Foord, on her a centesimal look for the Gunners, struck the close to put up inside 5 minutes.
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Arsenal’s Katie McCabe scored one other magnificence for the Gunners as her long-range effort put the away facet 1-0 up towards Bristol Metropolis
McCabe then struck from vary to present Arsenal the lead after seven minutes with Bristol Metropolis goalkeeper Clark unable to get throughout to maintain out the left-footed effort. Bristol Metropolis, it appeared, had been susceptible to being on the top of one other thrashing following final weekend’s 5-0 defeat to Man Metropolis.
Bristol Metropolis responded with a objective towards the run of play 9 minutes later. Furness, maybe afforded an excessive amount of room, guided Jamie-Lee Napier’s cross into the far nook together with her head. Manuela Zinsberger, the Arsenal goalkeeper, may do nothing as Bristol Metropolis’s solely effort of the sport went in off the put up.
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Bristol Metropolis’s Rachel Furness produces a peach of a header to degree issues up for the Robins
Arsenal had been ruffled and didn’t rediscover the depth they began the sport with. The guests thought they need to have had a penalty when Lia Walti was introduced down in a tussle with Ella Powell at a nook simply earlier than the break, however referee Adewunmi Soneye disagreed.
Bristol Metropolis caught with the low block within the second half and needed to experience their luck. Clark unconvincingly parried Victoria Pelova’s shot into the trail of McCabe, who was denied a sure objective by Bristol Metropolis captain Megan Connolly’s block.
Arsenal wanted a little bit of fortune to interrupt down Bristol Metropolis, with McCabe’s shot taking a deflection off Aspin’s head earlier than discovering a well past Clark. The hosts didn’t regain a foothold within the sport after Arsenal’s second.
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McCabe scored her and Arsenal’s second of the sport as her highly effective strike gave the Gunners a 2-1 lead
The introduction of Mead after the hour drew one of many greatest cheers of the night time at Ashton Gate. She almost made an prompt impression however her glancing header was simply vast.
Miedema got here on in stoppage time with the factors all however sealed and almost created a objective together with her first contact again within the WSL after virtually a 12 months out, with Foord denied by Napier’s last-ditch block after Mead’s shot was saved.
Eidevall: We had sufficient probabilities to attain extra
Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall talking to Sky Sports activities: “I feel it was a really sturdy efficiency from Katie McCabe and the remainder of the staff as a complete.
“What you get from Katie – in fact she is a superb set-piece taker – but in addition selecting up the second balls, she has an excellent long-distance shot. It is nice for us that we have now choices.
“We had sufficient goalscoring alternatives to attain greater than two objectives right now. That half we have to do higher. However I feel the gamers have confirmed good persistence and moved the ball properly right now.”
McCabe: Miedema and Mead return so particular for us
Arsenal’s Kate McCabe talking to Sky Sports activities: “It is an actual credit score to Bristol, the defensive self-discipline they confirmed tonight was actually irritating at instances for us, they had been actually compact and defended the field rather well.
“For us going into these video games it is all about positioning and being composed on the ball.
“We all know we’re a great footballing staff however we must be in the suitable positions to point out that and I feel we regarded good at instances. I feel the second half was far more constructive from that perspective. Fortunately for us clearly the objectives got here ultimately.”
On Miedema’s return, she added: “It was a extremely particular second for Viv, she’s labored so exhausting over the previous couple of months. Herself and Beth [Mead] to have them each again inside every week of one another is so particular for the staff.
“I stated to her on the finish I believed it was going to be a trademark Viv particular as a result of she slotted Beth in and I believed Beth was going to complete it off and it was going to be written within the stars. I am certain we’ll see that mixture developing within the subsequent few weeks.”
What’s subsequent?
After the worldwide break, Bristol Metropolis journey to West Ham on Sunday November 5 within the WSL; kick-off 3pm. Arsenal play on the identical day, welcoming Man Metropolis to Meadow Park; kick-off 12.30pm.