Arsenal warmed up for Saturday’s Champions League semi-final meeting with Lyon by thrashing Leicester 5-1 in the WSL to move within three points of leaders Chelsea.
The Gunners have now won each of their last eight games at the Emirates Stadium in all competitions, scoring 31 goals in that period, and only conceding twice.
That formidable record will be tested by eight-time European champions Lyon but was never at risk of being troubled by Leicester, who failed to make much of an impression on the game and were smothered by Arsenal’s impressive passing precision.
Caitlin Foord opens the scoring
Each of the three goals they scored before the break oozed quality. Caitlin Foord converted at the back post from Frida Maanum’s instinctive cross, Beth Mead gifted Stina Blackstenius a tap-in and the striker – starting in place of the stricken Alessia Russo – returned the favour for Foord to complete her double.
Beth Mead scores Arsenal’s fourth goal of the night
Kim Little created Arsenal’s fourth after the break by dancing into the box and providing Mead the chance to plant a super header beyond Janina Leitzig, before Yuka Momiki’s fine strike offered Leicester a brief consolation.
A mere three minutes later Victoria Pelova – managing a return from an ACL injury sustained last June – rounded off the scoring by hooking a half-volley into the far corner.
