A stunning long-range strike from Olivia Smith and a thunderous late winner from Stina Blackstenius secured a 2-1 victory for Arsenal Women over Liverpool in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Saturday, maintaining pressure at the top end of the table in a game settled by two moments of elite finishing.
Arsenal took control early with sustained pressure and were rewarded in the 16th minute when Smith collected possession on the right, drove past three Liverpool challenges and unleashed a fierce effort into the bottom left corner from distance. It was a goal of outstanding individual quality that set the tone for the afternoon.
Despite Arsenal’s dominance, Liverpool levelled with their first meaningful chance when Beata Olsson broke through and finished calmly past debutant Anneke Borbe to make it 1-1 before the interval.
Arsenal started the second half with increased intensity and went close through Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey, before Renée Slegers introduced Katie McCabe, Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius just after the hour.
The changes injected even more urgency and stretched Liverpool in behind as Arsenal pressed for a winner.
That pressure was finally rewarded in the 87th minute. A long ball from Emily Fox found Blackstenius beyond the defensive line. She took one touch to steady herself before turning and smashing a left-footed strike into the top right corner to settle the contest.
Smith left the field to a standing ovation in stoppage time as Arsenal closed out the win and claimed three valuable points.
After the match, Slegers explained the tactical role that led to Smith’s opener and confirmed her return to full fitness. “We’ve been talking about what we want out of her on the left side versus when she’s on the right side,” Slegers said. “Going inside and getting shots off is definitely one of the things we wanted to do on the left side. I think it was very far out.
“We normally aim to get closer to the box or in the box to get our shots off but that was very far out. There was so much quality and power in that shot.
“I’m happy she stayed at home [over the international break] and she got her medical issues resolved. She’s fully fit now, injury-free, pain-free and I think you could see that on the pitch today.
“She was moving freely and I think one of her first 90-plus minutes that she’s played for us in a competitive game. So that was a really good step and I think she showed the quality and the things that she brings to the team today.”
Slegers said the result mattered as much as the manner of it following the international break. “I’m relieved after the game that we got the three points,” she said. “It was the first game back after international break. We had to get together again and get connected. Early kick-off today, so it all went really, really quick.
“Liverpool as an opponent, it’s been one goal difference. It was 1–1 against Chelsea, the game they played before us in the WSL. We knew it was going to be hard.”
She added that Arsenal had made life harder than necessary before substitutions turned the game decisively. “Intensity is not as high as we want it to be, so how quickly we position and how fast we circulate the ball could have been better in the first half.
“If you look at the five players coming on for us, they all give us so much energy, such a quality injection as well.
“Stina is one of them. There was a lot of space behind their back line and Stina is really good at exploiting those spaces. She got the winner for us today, so I’m really happy for her.
“Always when Stina plays, it disrupts back lines because they have to think so much about defending the space in behind and create space for herself or for others. I think she did so many good things before the goal. There were a couple of chances we had before but she scored this amazing goal.”
Arsenal now turn their focus to the Champions League as they host FC Twente at Meadow Park on Tuesday night, before returning to WSL action away at Everton the following weekend.