Report: Aston Villa 5-2 Arsenal (inc goals)

Arsenal: Zinsberger; Reid, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe; Mariona, Cooney-Cross; Mead, Pelova, Kelly; Blackstenius
Substitutes: Williams (GK), Fox, Williamson, Little, Maanum, Wälti, Foord, Russo, Ilestedt

Three days after a famous result, an Arsenal side lacking application and the ability to execute fundamental principles of play shockingly lost to Aston Villa 5-2.

Renée Slegers made 7 changes to the team that beat Lyon on Sunday, with only Steph Catley, Katie McCabe, Mariona, and Chloe Kelly retaining their places. There was a first start in nearly a year for Victoria Pelova, and Lotte Wubben-Moy started for the first time since February.

Kelly won an early corner, and McCabe’s delivery was deep, finding Wubben-Moy free, who volleyed over.

Wubben-Moy then gave the ball away, but Salmon’s shot was blocked.

Mariona then won possession before driving forward and then finding Kelly. Kelly drove inside and kept going, before losing possession in the box.

On 18 minutes, Hanson’s cross was blocked behind by Wubben-Moy, and from the corner, Daly headed over.

Villa should’ve taken the lead on 22 minutes. Arsenal were caught playing out from the back, and Pacheco drove into the box before pulling the ball back for Missy Bo Kearns, whose shot was blocked by Cooney-Cross.

McCabe cleverly found Pelova in the box, but D’Angelo came out and scrambled the ball away as Pelova looked for the cutback.

Villa took the lead on 30 minutes. Mead had a half chance from an Arsenal corner, but Villa cleared the ball. Salmon led the counter attack, skipped past Cooney-Cross too easily, and with one Arsenal defender back, she crossed for Nobbs, who finished past Zinsberger. 1-0.

Hanson then had a shot hit over the bar, as Arsenal had issues playing out from the back again.

Pelova then had a shot wide, before Mead was played in but her cross for Blackstenius was too close to D’Angelo.

McCabe again looked for Wubben-Moy at the back post from a corner, but Grant tucked the ball away for another corner.

Aston Villa made it 2-0 in the first minute of stoppage time. Kelly lost the ball centrally to Missy Bo Kearns, who found Hanson quickly. Hanson drove across Wubben-Moy and then shot from 20 yards, with the ball flying into the upper left of the net. 2-0.

Salmon was then played behind McCabe, but shot over.

Slegers made a triple change at half time, with Williamson, Little, and Russo replacing Wubben-Moy, Cooney-Cross, and Pelova.

Villa, though, struck immediately. McCabe dawdled on the ball, Grant stole in and then finished past Zinsberger. 3-0.

D’Angelo made a smart save from Williamson’s volley after McCabe found her at the back post with a corner.

Mariona then seized on a loose ball in the penalty box, but her curling shot was straight at D’Angelo.

Daly made it 4-0 on 59 minutes. Villa played through the middle: D’Angelo’s kick was mishit but evaded an Arsenal player as Salmon stepped in front of Catley. She found Hanson, who found Daly’s run behind Reid, who finished past Zinsberger. 4-0.

Foord replaced Kelly on 62 minutes.

Blackstenius pulled a goal back on 68 minutes. Williamson found Mariona, and her long ball over the top found Blackstenius, who shrugged off her defender and slotted past D’Angelo. 4-1.

3 minutes later, Russo pulled another goal back. From the right, Reid crossed, and Russo stooped low and headed past D’Angelo. 4-2.

Comeback hopes were ended, though, as Grant made it 5, cutting through Arsenal on the counter attack again. The one-two in midfield set her away, and she fired past Zinsberger. 5-2.

Maanum replaced McCabe on 80 minutes.

Foord combined with Maanum, drove inside, and fired over the bar.

Arsenal chased another goal, but to no avail. Now, the Gunners have to hope that the performance doesn’t have any lasting implications on the rest of the season.

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