The Ladies put a very serious and professional performance to beat Reading Women 3-1 away at the Hive.

Goals from Vicky Losada and a brace for Fara Williams with a consolation goal for Reading’s Emma Follis gave a well-deserved victory to the Gunners.

Pedro Losa did his usual rotation game as the team had played a third game in a week. He gave also a first start in goal to Emma Byrne. The back four was a bit of a surprise with Casey Stoney playing at left back with Alex Scott at right-back and Jemma Rose linking with Josephine Henning in the middle of the defense.

There was a double pivot in midfield with Fara Williams and Dominique Janssen with Vicky Losada in the playmaker position. In attack, Jordan Nobbs was bizarrely on the right, Katie McCabe on the left and Danielle Van De Donk up front.

Arsenal dominated the first half but were absolutely unable to put the ball in the back of the net despite creating so many chances with Earps in goal for Reading being superb and the Arsenal finishing quite abysmal. The first half ended up with a disappointing 0-0 scoreline.

We don’t know what Pedro Losa said at the half time break but it worked a treat with two goals straight after the restart. First, Losada was put through by Williams and finished well, then Van De Donk was tripped, probably accidentally by Bartrip and the referee gave a penalty. Williams scored and the game was more or less over.

Williams added a third goal from a superb Van De Donk chipped pass before Follis scored a late goal for Reading from a Van De Donk turnover.

Overall it was a serious professional 3-1 win and Arsenal are through the Conti Cup quarter-finals.