GUNNERS hotshot Vivianne Miedema scored SIX goals and added FOUR assists ahead of tonight’s Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Arsenal went to the top of the WSL yesterday on goal difference over Manchester City.
Vivianne Miedema was a class apart as she helped Arsenal thrash Bristol CityCredit: Rex Features
Nine goals were netted within the hour mark with Dutch ace Miedema, 23, making four assists.
There is not a Dream Team competition for the Women’s Super League yet but if there were, Miedema would — assuming she bagged the Dream Team Star Woman award too — have racked up 60 points.
Her tally was the most ever scored by an individual in a WSL match and took her total to 22 goals in 13 starts.
She reckons slim wins will not be enough for Arsenal who are aiming for back-to-back titles.
Miedema, one of 20 nominees for the women’s Ballon d’Or, said: “We want to win the league again and we knew that the last couple of games have been hard for us.
“I think a 1-0 win, 2-0 win won’t be enough at the end of the season. Getting a good goal difference today might make a difference.
“I think it’s really easy to play a good first half and drop the level in the second half. But we kept the level up and we scored even more goals in the second half.
The Dutch ace scored six goals against City to confirm why she is one of the Ballon d’Or nomineesCredit: PA:Press Association
“I expected Bristol to do better but it’s obviously hard for them as well.
“We played really well for 90 minutes and we wanted to score more goals and that says enough about the team today.”
The visitors were hoping for a different outcome after shipping seven the last time the two sides met.
But six goals from Woman of the Match Miedema and her outstanding team-mates put paid to that.
Lisa Evans (2), Leah Williamson, Jordan Nobbs and Emma Mitchell were on target, with Yana Daniels grabbing a late consolation for City from the spot after being brought down by Manuela Zinsberger.
The Vixens looked stunned as the 11th went in the net in the 79th minute with one of their players kicking the ball skywards in frustration.
England midfielder Nobbs, who got on the scoresheet, has recently returned from a long spell out with a knee injury.
And Arsenal coach Joe Montemurro said: “Every experience I’ve had with a player coming back from an ACL, it takes a good six months before they get into their rhythm.
WSL ROUND-UP
GEMMA BONNER hit the only goal as MANCHESTER CITY beat LIVERPOOL 1-0.
The England defender converted Caroline Weir’s 20th-minute free-kick to settle the contest.
It left the visitors propping up the division with a single point.
Katharina Baunach scored two free-kicks as WEST HAM twice came from behind to beat MANCHESTER UNITED 3-2.
Goals from United duo Kirsty Hanson and Lauren James were cancelled out by Laura Vetterlein and Baunach’s first.
Baunach then curled home a 90th-minute set-piece after Hammers striker Leanne Kiernan was dismissed for a second booking.
EVERTON’S clash with CHELSEA was postponed because of a frozen pitch at Southport.
The match was initially delayed by 30 minutes to allow conditions to improve but the game was called off after a second pitch inspection.
It meant Chelsea, who topped the table at the start of the day, dropped to third.
“She’s growing day by day but we still have to make sure she’s mentally strong and mentally ready and today was a really good step for her.”
On Sunday, it is Reading away up next for Arsenal in the league.
And Bristol City are due to face tenth-placed Birmingham City who are one spot above them in the table.
Vixens boss Tanya Oxtoby said: “We have three massive games before Christmas and that’s the period where we’ll be looking for a reaction from the players.
“You look at our bench and the players we had on the pitch.
“Most of them are academy products when you’re comparing that to the calibre of Arsenal’s weaponry.
“We have to take positives but again that performance for me today was not acceptable.
“We need to regroup and refocus and get back to what we’re good at.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
