October 18, 2022
We maintained our perfect start to the Women's Super League season on Sunday as we defeated Reading 1-0 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Coming in off the back of the international break with only two days of preparation, Jonas Eidevall's side dug deep and delivered a controlled team performance, despite missing key players Leah Williamson and Rafaelle Souza through injury.
We started strong on the night and had a golden opportunity to open the scoring inside 30 seconds, as Stina Blackstenius raced behind the Reading defence and saw her curling effort palmed away.
Chances for Beth Mead and Laura Wienroither followed with the latter coming agonisingly close from inside the six-yard area, firing just wide at full stretch before the lively Blackstenius gave us a deserved lead on the half-hour mark.
The Sweden international typically picks up her goals inside the penalty area, but this time she tried her luck from distance and powered home into the bottom left corner.
That was all for the first half and shortly after the restart, Blackstenius was causing yet more havoc, hitting the post twice in quick succession from two wide deliveries.
We were awarded a penalty on the hour mark following a handball from Mead’s cross, but our captain Kim Little, who is usually so reliable from 12 yards, saw her low effort saved by Jacqueline Burns.
A triple change took place shortly after with Jordan Nobbs, Lina Hurtig and Frida Maanum coming into play, and late on the latter made a vital block on the goal line to clear away a Reading header.
Blackstenius had another chance to double our lead with just five minutes remaining, breaking free down the left wing and firing just wide, but in the end, her opening goal was enough to secure all three points in a difficult game on the road.
#arsenal
Enjoy match highlights, training and behind the scenes to get closer to the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe, Vivianne Miedema, Gabriel Jesus, Alex Zinchenko, Leah Williamson, Kim Little, Mana Iwabuchi, Jordan Nobbs, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kim Little, Gabriel Martinelli, Aaron Ramsdale, Beth Mead, Ben White and more.
Subscribe to the Official Arsenal YouTube Channel: https://arsn.al/youtube
Follow us on Facebook: https://arsn.al/facebook
Follow us on Twitter: https://arsn.al/twitter
Follow us on Instagram: https://arsn.al/instagram
Follow us on TikTok: https://arsn.al/tiktok
This is the Official YouTube channel for Arsenal Football Club.
For more match action, highlights and training videos, make sure you become a digital member and sign up to Arsenal Player. It's FREE and is the Home of the Game: https://arsn.al/arsenalplayer
Arsenal Football Club were formed in 1886 and amassed 13 League titles, 14 FA Cups. Some of their greatest players include: Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Tony Adams, Ian Wright, Robert Pires, Liam Brady, Patrick Vieira, Cliff Bastin and Charlie George.
By Arsenal
