Arsenal continued their winning ways with a 4-1 win over Sunderland at Boreham Wood.

Arsenal wasted no time in opening the scoring against the Black Cats, netting after just five minutes when Natalia Pablos-Sanchon got on the end of a Leah Williamson cross from the left.

Sunderland, however, pulled level after 24 minutes when their keeper, Rachael Laws, found Beth Mead, the long-ball tactic causing Arsenal problems on more than one occasion.

1-1 at the break in what was an entertaining game and the score was a fair reflection of the match at that point, something that would change dramatically in the second 45.

In the second half, Arsenal applied most of the pressure but were finding it hard to find a way through initially. Pablos-Sanchon hit the bar in the 59th minute with a curled shot after being set up by Ubogagu the closest they came.

Things livened up even more in the 71st minute when Kelly Smith, on as a second-half substitute, was fouled in the box by Abby Holmes. The right-back was shown a red card and Pablos-Sanchon stroked the ball home from the spot for her second of the day.

The breakthrough came at a cost, however, as Smith had to be replaced by Emma Mitchell as she was injured in the challenge.

A third followed a few minutes later when Carla Humphrey got on the end of Dan Carter’s cross in the 77th minute.

Less that 10 minutes later Carter turned goalscorer with a delightful strike from the edge of the box, scoring Arsenal’s fourth and the final goal of the game.

Attendance: 815.

Full match report to follow.