The competitive football season is now underway with Arsenal breezing past Rangers earlier this evening with a 6-0 win in their first match in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Qualifiers.
A sumptuous Caitlin Foord four-goal-haul, alongside goals from Kim Little and Alessia Russo marked the perfect start to the new season for Arsenal.
Jonas Eidevall named two of his three summer signings on the bench in Daphne van Domselaar and Rosa Kafaj, with Mariona Caldentey starting.
Laia Codina partnered Leah Williamson in defence, with Manuela Zinsberger starting in goal.
Notably for Rangers, Jo Potter started Olivia McLaughlin in midfield following her signing a permanent contract for Rangers this summer.
The Match
Rangers got the game underway on a balmy September evening in Hertfordshire, with Caitlin Foord taking her place on the right of an attacking three behind Alessia Russo, with Frida Maanum and Mariona Caldentey on the left.
Caldentey had a chance to score for the Gunners’ in the first half, collecting a raking cross-field pass but her shot flew over the bar.
On the fifteen minute mark, she registered her first assist for her new club, with a stunning cross that was headed home by Foord, who beat Victoria Esson at her near post to give Arsenal the lead.
Kyra Cooney-Cross, fresh from her goal against Southampton in pre-season, found herself in oceans of space, but her effort this time sailed well over Esson’s crossbar.
Cooney-Cross was as bullish as usual in the Arsenal midfield, preventing Rangers players from finding space and breaking up the game with superb tackles when needed.
She kick-started another move when her inch-perfect challenge saw the ball find Maanum, but it was unable to amount to anything.
Arsenal were defending resolutely, and half time came and went with one change for Rangers, with Mia McAuley replacing Brogan Hay.
A two minute sucker punch from the hosts then put this first round tie out of the grasp of their Scottish visitors, much to the delight of many inside Meadow Park.
Little won the ball back and her tackle fell to the foot of Foord who curled it expertly past Esson in the Rangers goal to double the Gunners lead.
A third was on the horizon less than two minutes later as Maanum fed the ball to Russo who smashed an unerring finish past Esson to add further gloss on the scoreline for Arsenal.
Foord then completed her hat-trick in incredible style, volleying home Katie McCabe’s raking cross-field pass, leaving Esson with no chance in front of the adoring Arsenal faithful.
Rosa Kafaji and Stina Blackstenius were then introduced in place of Russo and Maanum.
Rangers also followed with two changes, Camille Lafaix and Tessel Middaq replacing Kirsty Howat and Laura Rafferty.
Laura Wienroither was introduced in place of Emily Fox as the game approached it’s final ten minutes.
Two minutes before the end, Little got the chance to get on the scoresheet after McCabe was fouled inside the area.
The Scot stepped up with her usual conviction, smashing it home and scoring her sides fifth.
Arsenal found their sixth a minute before the end, as Foord smashed in her fourth of the evening, crowning off a brilliant evening for the Gunners.
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