Report: Crystal Palace 0-4 Arsenal (inc. goals)

Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, Nighswonger; Wälti, Mariona; Mead, Maanum, Kelly; Russo
Substitutes: Zinsberger, Ilestedt, Reid, Cooney-Cross, Pelova, Little, Kafaji, Foord, Blackstenius

Alessia Russo scored an 11th league goal of the season and Beth Mead scored twice as Arsenal beat Crystal Palace 4-0 on Sunday afternoon. The win keeps Arsenal in second place, above Manchester United on goal difference and 7 points ahead of Manchester City, in 4th.

Renée Slegers made 3 changes, with Lia Wälti, Beth Mead, and Jenna Nighswonger coming into the team. Kim Little and Caitlin Foord dropped to the bench, while Katie McCabe was suspended.

Frida Maanum went the closest for Arsenal in the early stages. Seizing upon a loose ball in midfield, she drove forward and fired just wide with a low shot from the edge of the box.

Arsenal took the lead on 14 minutes. Wälti and Mariona combined in midfield, before Maanum played Kelly down the left. She crossed to the edge of the box, and Beth Mead, with her left foot, volleyed past Yanez. 0-1.

Alessia Russo made it 2-0 on 25 minutes. Arsenal won the ball high up the pitch, and Russo had time to drive into the penalty box, run onto Mariona’s pass, shift and shoot past Yanez. 0-2.

Kelly picked up Mariona’s pass in the middle, and drove forward, before shooting just wide from the edge of the box.

Kelly then pressed and won the ball back from Swaby. Her touch was a little heavy, and Yanez was able to claw the ball away from Kelly as she tried to take the ball around her.

Kelly, this time on the right, was passed to by Mead. She shot sharply, but Yanez saved.

On the stroke of half time, Palace should’ve scored. Williamson slipped and Stengel was able to collect Sharpe’s cross, and take a touch before shooting over the bar.

Frida Maanum could’ve made it 3 shortly into the second half. Mead’s outswinging corner was palmed away by Yanez, but the loose ball eventually came to Maanum, who lifted the ball over the goal from close range.

Arsenal’s interplay on the left could’ve created another goal. Maanum found Kelly, and she drove down the left. Nighswonger was found on the underlap, and cut the ball back across the penalty box, where an Arsenal forward really should’ve been.

Mead then found Mariona on the edge of the box, but her shot was low and straight at Yanez.

Arsenal made a double substitution on 63 minutes. Kim Little replaced Lia Wälti, while Victoria Pelova replaced Frida Maanum.

Mead and Pelova combined on the right, and the latter played in Russo. She turned her defender and shot, but Yanez’s legs denied Russo a brace.

Arsenal made it 3-0 on 77 minutes. Kelly received possession on the left, and drove inside past Riley. She played the ball across goal, and it went in via Swaby. 0-3.

Arsenal made a double substitution on 81 minutes. Rosa Kafaji replaced Kelly, and Kyra Cooney-Cross replaced Mariona.

On 83 minutes, Katie Reid replaced Leah Williamson.

Van Domselaar used her hands for the first time in the 89th minute, as Arsenal cleared a set piece.

There would still be time for Arsenal to add a fourth goal, as Mead scored in the first minute of stoppage time with her patented crot. Little played wide to Mead right, and she lined up to cross. She mishit it, but it flew in past Yanez. 0-4.

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