September 5, 2024
We kicked off our 2024/25 season in style with a commanding win over Rangers in the UEFA Women's Champions League qualifiers.
Caitlin Foord picked up a sublime four goal tally, with Alessia Russo and Kim Little rounding off the win as we booked our place in the Round 1 final against Rosenborg on Saturday.
Jonas Eidevall made just a single change to the side who lined up against Southampton on Saturday with Laia Codina coming in for Katie Reid at the back.
Her Spanish teammate Mariona Caldentey took to the field for her competitive Arsenal debut, starting on the left wing alongside Alessia Russo and Caitlin Foord.
Foord and right-back Emily Fox started well down the right, overlapping with ease to give the Scottish side an early headache.
Rangers burst out of the gate with grit and physicality, hassling for every ball and preventing any easy opportunities on target, but our Gunners stood firm.
Laia Codina had a commanding display in defence, the first to every ball and calmly protecting our half from any counterattacks. Elsewhere, her centre-back partner Leah Williamson broke the lines with her characteristic long deliveries, picking out our wingers in promising positions.
After a dominant opening, we found our breakthrough in the 16th minute through a fantastic delivery to the back post from Mariona. our Aussie winger was on hand to neatly head home for our first.
Mariona's fluid movement across the frontline created pockets of space for our attack to dominate and we continued to press for another goal.
We showed bags of intent as we kicked off the second half, coming close to doubling our lead within the opening five minutes. Williamson picked out Maanum unmarked in the box, but our Norwegian was unable to get a solid touch.
Kim Little also had a chance, bursting into the box with classic close control but her shot was deflected wide of the target.
Our captain would be instrumental in our second goal, dribbling intricately through the Rangers defence and slotting the ball into the box. Foord made no mistake one-on-one with the keeper, curling into the right-hand corner.
Before Rangers had even had a chance to catch their breath, we had the ball in the back of the net again through a decisive strike from Alessia Russo.
From that moment, our Gunners played with a glorious freedom and joy and showed zero sign of taking of their feet off the accelerator.
The goal of the game came in the 69th minute as Foord secured a hat trick in style. Receiving a deep cross from Katie McCabe, Foord hit a spectacular volley to drive the Meadow Park faithful wild.
Kim Little's late penalty seemed set to round off the victorious night at Meadow Park - her thumping spot kick to make it 5-0.
But Foord wasn't done yet. After a goalmouth scramble, our Aussie winger popped up yet again to get her fourth and our sixth.
Team news
Arsenal: Zinsberger, Fox (Wienroither, 79), Codina, Williamson, McCabe, Cooney-Cross (Walti, 79), Little (C), Maanum (Kafaji, 71), Foord, Ma
By Arsenal
