After ending Chelsea’s 34 game unbeaten run the week before, Everton were brought back down to earth with a 3-1 defeat to a dominant Arsenal, writes Rebecca Clayton at Goodison Park.
A frantic four minute spell inside the first 15 minutes promised excitement, but the reality was Arsenal took control from here to dictate the remainder of the game and move to second in the table ahead of other results.
Katie McCabe’s strike will remain in headlines as she opened the scoring for The Gunners who were commanding early on. Everton struck back instantly with a strike from Honoka Hayashi, but they didn’t stay level for long with Alessia Russo putting Arsenal in front again minutes later.
The game remained the same with a fair few chances coming from both sides up until the 87th minute with ex Liverpool player, Olivia Smith getting the closing goal of the game.
The defeat saw Everton remain in ninth place but keeping a close eye on results from Leicester and West Ham.
Arsenal got off to a quick start with the home side hardly seeing the ball but working hard defensively. It didn’t take long for the visitors to get on the scoresheet with McCabe scoring with her left foot from outside the box beating Courtney Brosnan.
Just three minutes later, Hayashi equalized for the Toffees from outside the box, scoring her second goal in two matches. Almost immediately, Arsenal regained their lead with Russo’s chested effort crossing the line despite Caitlin Foord hammering it home from close range after Brosnan pushed the ball into her path.
Early in the second half Arsenal were pushing for that third goal, but all they could see was a sea of blue blocking their path.
It took a triple change from Everton to start to pressure Arsenal in their own half and regain some possession.
Despite The Toffees looking better going into the visitor’s half, Arsenal’s substitutions changed the flow of the game completely with record signing Smith sealing the deal for with a wonderful strike from outside of the box.
