Report: Arsenal 4-1 London City Lionesses (inc. goals)

Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Fox, Reid, Catley, McCabe; Little, Mariona; Smith, Pelova, Kelly; Russo
Substitutes: Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Mead, Maanum, Hinds, Blackstenius, Cooney-Cross

Arsenal have won on the opening day of the WSL season for the first time since 2022, beating London City Lionesses 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium. London City Lionesses went ahead in the first half through a penalty, but goals from Olivia Smith and Chloe Kelly saw Arsenal go ahead at the break, before making the game safe in the second half.

Renée Slegers named Katie Reid in centre back, and a midfield of Kim Little, Mariona Caldentey, and Victoria Pelova. Olivia Smith made her full debut.

Pelova, starting as the #10, created Arsenal’s first opening on 10 minutes. Arsenal kept possession well and McCabe found Pelova on the left of the box. Her nutmegged pass found Emily Fox, free at the top of the box, but she dragged her left footed shot wide of the far post.

On 15 minutes, London City Lionesses won a penalty. Fox lost the ball to Zelem in the middle, and she played the ball into the space. Reid won the first tackle off of Goodwin, but Asllani won the second ball with a toe poke, and then went over Reid’s challenge. Asllani passed the penalty into the far corner. 0-1.

Olivia Smith equalised on 29 minutes with a superb individual strike. She picked the ball in the center, drove past one, and from the edge of the D fired her strike into the far left corner. 1-1.

A minute later, Pelova was played through. She went around the goalkeeper, but her shot was blocked on the line by Kumagai.

Smith almost gave Arsenal the lead on 39 minutes. Russo was played in the down the left by McCabe. She crossed to the edge of the 6 yard box, where Smith met it on the volley but shot just wide of the far post.

Two minutes later, Kelly went close. Again, Russo set the play with a flick after Catley’s cross from the left, and Kelly’s shot went just wide of the near post.

In first half stoppage time, McCabe’s first time cross was met by Russo, but Lete stuck up a hand and parried the header behind for a corner.

30 seconds later, though, Arsenal were ahead. Fox intercepted Linari’s pass out, and played quickly into Russo. She took a touch and squared for Kelly, who poked in the tap-in. 2-1.

LCL made a change at half time, with Katie Zelem withdrawn for Julia Roddar.

Pelova should’ve made it 3-1 on 51 minutes. Little, waiting for Linari to jump, played a fantastic ball into the space for Smith. She cut the ball back to Pelova in the middle of the box, but Pelova’s left footed shot went over the bar.

Pelova then turned provider, playing a good cross into the box after a corner, but Smith headed wide.

LCL countered after Arsenal lost the ball in the centre, and Parris played wide to Rofiat Imuran, who drove down the right before crossing. Her cross went off the post, and Van Domselaar gratefully dove on the ball.

Smith went close again, shifting onto her left and firing a sharp shot, but Lete was able to parry and LCL cleared.

On 61 minutes, Arsenal made a double change with Frida Maanum and Caitlin Foord replacing Olivia Smith and Victoria Pelova.

Kelly was booked on 64 minutes after clattering into Parris. From the free kick, Kennedy looped a header that Van Domselaar easily claimed.

Foord was finding good spaces on the left behind Jana Fernandez, but Linari was able to clear away a dangerous cross.

Arsenal made another double substitution on 76 minutes, with Beth Mead and Stina Blackstenius replacing Kelly and Russo. The last time Mead and Blackstenius were substitutes, of course, was the Champions League final, where the former set up the latter for the goal that won Arsenal the Champions League (for the second time).

Blackstenius’ first involvement was to win a corner, from which McCabe’s delivery nearly caught Lete out, but landed on the top of the net.

Foord, driving down the left, carried the ball into the box and then slipped the ball to Maanum, running behind Kumagai. The angle was narrow and Maanum, going with her right foot, poked the ball wide of the near post.

A minute later, Mead seized on a loose ball and played Blackstenius in, but her shot was straight at Lete.

That combination would seal the game on 83 minutes. Mariona played a big up and under for Mead, who was too strong for Imuran. She crossed, and Blackstenius, with Maanum right behind her, stuck a right foot out and finished. 3-1.

A minute later Arsenal made it 4, with Mead again the provider. Blackstenius won the ball off Kumagai, and she crossed for Mead in the center. Mead, looking to shoot, had to shift, but was able to play a deft cross to the far post, and Maanum headed it in. 4-1.

On 87 minutes, Arsenal made a final substitution, as Taylor Hinds replaced Katie McCabe.

In second half stoppage time, Mariona played an excellent fizzed pass into Maanum. She turned and shot, with the ball taking a nick before Lete parried over.

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