Match Reports

Albion's winning run ended by Arsenal

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Hope Powell's team suffered a 3-0 defeat on Sunday evening.

By Joel Newman • 13 March 2022

By Kyle Hemsley
Danielle Carter shields the ball as she faces her former club.

Despite a spirited, hard working display from the Albion, Stina Blackstenius' double and a strike from Beth Mead gave Arsenal all three points at the People's Pension Stadium.

Hope Powell's side headed into the game having enjoyed back-to-back WSL victories and started brightly, with Aileen Whelan just unable to get onto a long ball from Ellie Brazil.

Following a long shot from Danielle Carter which didn't trouble Arsenal keeper Manuela Zinsberger, the visitors started to build up the pressure.

The Gunners had the first real chance in the sixth minute, when a Mead cross was headed by Lotte Wubben-Moy and forced Albion stand-in skipper Megan Walsh into her first save of the evening.

Walsh was busy again when a snap shot from Vivianne Miedema was well saved by Walsh's feet and cleared. The Albion keeper was keeping her side in contention with a magnificent double save following a goalmouth scramble.

Miedema and Walsh were seemingly having their own duel with Walsh coming out on top again with another smart save from close range.

The Gunners had the bit between their teeth though but smart interplay between Miedema, Mead and Arsenal captain Kim Little nearly led to the opener with Mead hitting her shot just wide.

The visitors did eventually get the better of the Seagulls' defence after 25 minutes, when Catilin Foord's ball was played across the face of goal where Blackstenius stabbed home.

The league leaders doubled their lead eight minutes later, when a lapse in concentration from the Albion defence let Miedema in who put it on a plate for Mead to stroke the ball home.

By Kyle Hemsley
Kayleigh Green's first half snapshot flew narrowly wide.

Kayleigh Green's perseverance was nearly rewarded when her long-range shot went just wide in what was one of the few chances the Albion were able to create in the first half.

And with five minutes to go until half time, Arsenal made it three when a deflected cross was headed in by Blackstenius for her second of the evening.

The visitors started the second half as the finished the first with Miedema hitting a long-range shot just wide.

It was very nearly four for the visitors when a long ball from Lia Walti was played to Mead who fired in a low cross. Miedema would have scored but for some last-ditch defending by Maya Le Tissier who scrambled it clear for a corner.

Substitutes Maisie Symonds and Inessa Kagman linked up well with Geummin Lee in the latter stages but unfortunately the Albion's hard work wasn't rewarded.

Arsenal substitute and England international Nikita Parris thought she had added to her side's lead, however her shot went flew wide when she looked certain to score.

There was however, no change to the scoreline and the crowd of 2539 - a record at the People's Pension Stadium - showed their appreciation as the final whistle went.

Albion: Walsh, Koivisto, Gibbons (Kerkdijk 46), Le Tissier, Whelan, Lee, Green (Bance 89), Brazil (Zigiotti 63), Kullberg, Carter (Symonds 71), Simpkins.

Unused subs: Startup, Bowman, Connolly.