Women’s Super League

Subterms

    More stories

    • 188 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Kirby and White make Ballon d’Or shortlist as Barca’s Graham Hansen dismisses women’s award snub

      by

      FRAN KIRBY and Ellen White are among the WSL stars who made the nominees shortlist for this year’s Women’s Ballon d’Or award. The England aces are joined by Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema and Chelsea’s Sam Kerr, Magda Eriksson, Jessie Fleming and Pernille Harder. 
      Fran Kirby is one of five Chelsea stars on this year’s Women’s Ballon d’Or shortlistCredit: Rex
      Man City forward Ellen is among the WSL aces nominated for the awardCredit: Getty
      But the surprise omission of Barcelona’s wing wiz Caroline Graham Hansen has stunned some fans and pundits. 
      And a few have taken to social media to question why the Barca ace, 26, was missing from the women’s award’s 20-player shortlist. 
      But the Norway international, who helped the Catalan giants brush Chelsea aside in this year’s Women’s Champions League final seems unfazed by the nomination snub.
      And the winger who netted eight times in 23 top-flight games helping Barca to title wins in Europe and Spain, took to Twitter to let her supporters know. 
      Reacting to the announcement, Graham Hansen tweeted: “To everyone who is wondering. It’s all good. 
      “We won the triple, and we are working our a***s off to achieve this again. All that matters and the only thing that matters. 

      Kirby, 28, and White, 32, enjoyed impressive seasons for their top-flight sides last term. 
      City striker White broke the all-time record for goals scored in the WSL when she netted for the 55th time in the top-flight in February. 
      Meanwhile Kirby notched up 16 goals and 11 assists in the league helping the Blues claim their fourth domestic title.
      And the playmaker who netted twice during the Blues Conti Cup triumph finished as last term’s PFA Women’s Player of the Year.
      Barcelona have five stars on this year’s shortlist with Jenni Hermoso, Alexis Puttellas, Lieke Martins  and keeper Sandra Panos among the nominees.
      Samantha Mewis is the only USA’s women’s national team player in the running for the award which was put on hiatus last year due to the Covid pandemic. 
      Caroline Graham Hansen’s omission from this year’s Women’s Ballon d’Or shortlist has surprised some fansCredit: Rex
      And Portland Thorns forward Christine Sinclair among the Canada stars shortlisted alongside her compatriots Fleming and Paris Saint-Germain’s Ashley Lawrence. 
      The trio were part of the Canadian that won gold in the Tokyo Olympics women’s football tournament under the management of Bev Priestman.
      The winner of the prestigious prize is due to be announced on November 29 in France’s capital Paris. 

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

      Ballon d’Or nominees including Messi, Ronaldo and De Bruyne show their skills in training More

    • 225 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Rise in interest from Emma Raducanu and Women’s Super League is good for the future of female sport

      by

      THE Covid pandemic disproportionately affected women more than men.Women had higher job losses, lower wages and increased responsibilities juggling careers with their children’s education but we have scored one small victory: Sport was given a boost for women that might otherwise have taken many years.
      Rising British tennis star Emma RaducanuCredit: Rex
      Manchester United Women’s Super League teamCredit: Rex
      While millions of sport fans were frustrated at being unable to watch their teams in grounds, TV filled the gap with live, round-the-week screenings.
      Before then, women’s football was occasionally taken out of its hidey-hole but attracted minimum male interest.
      Now, both sexes were seduced by female competitors of perhaps surprising virtuosity.
      Though the overall standard is considered by some to be less compelling than the men’s game, we have the inherent skills and means to deliver entertainment.
      More, we don’t usually spit, rarely deliberately clog opponents and keep our elbows to ourselves (except in sales queues).
      So, interest in women’s sport exploded and suddenly we had hits in the TV charts.

      And with the relaxation in Covid restrictions, this has been translated spectacularly in the number of spectators, greater involvement of the leading clubs, bigger business, more sponsorships, greater media coverage and business possibilities.
      The increase in pay and the standard of football has attracted a number of high-class foreign players and in many ways the Women’s Super League has shadowed the Premier League to become a world favourite.
      Our game was in a strategic place to take advantage of the TV gush that became a mild antidote to the horrors of the pandemic.
      Since the FA changed their 50-year misogynistic stance and took the women’s game to their bosom, progress has been fast.
      This possibility had long been there. On Boxing Day 1920, 53,000 watched a women’s match at Goodison Park — with another 10,000 locked out.
      And then, theorising that the game was “quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged”, the FA banned women from playing on Football League grounds the next year.
      Relief came in 1969 when the Women’s FA was formed on the strength of the whole population’s involvement in England’s 1966 World Cup triumph.
      History maker Emma Raducanu became the first qualifier ever to win a Grand Slam on Saturday night
      Then the seed of the soccer sorcery flowered with the introduction of the WSL in 2011.
      All-professional in 2018, the 11-team WSL was cashing in strong links with leading clubs and our leagues prospered from greater exposure just as cricket did through The Hundred, in which a double-header of the women’s competition preceding the men’s was hugely popular.
      Another Wonder Woman emerged with Emma Raducanu’s extraordinary capture of the US Open title at the age of 18 and without dropping a set, a breath-taking positive for Britain.
      Follow that with Lucy Bronze, Ellen White and the other England stars who yearn to win the World Cup as the dominance of North America is increasingly challenged.
      The rewards are good and growing. BBC and Sky have signed huge, live TV contracts.
      Uefa’s prize money for the European Super League is now £24million and the group-stage winners will get £341,000 — five times the previous figure.
      Today, football is truly a career for women athletes.
      Tomorrow? I can see it challenging the men’s game.
      Not everyone will be Jolie
      JUBILANT scenes around St James’ Park on Thursday night after the announcement that Mike Ashley had left the club after 14 years as owner.
      I am sure he was just as jubilant as the supporters to be out of there.
      Newcastle fans celebrate their Saudi takeoverCredit: Splash
      Because what he hoped would be a love affair between them on the scale of Romeo and Juliet ended up as irreconcilable a split as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s, with both parties happy to see the back of each other.
      Supporters interviewed about their view on the new owner being Saudi, with their — how shall we put it kindly? — dubious moral dilemmas, said this was an issue for another day.
      I suspect seeing off Ashley and welcoming an owner with a £320billion fortune may mean that day never comes for them.
      But what the rest of the Premier League, the football authorities and the Crouch review will make of it . . . well, that day will come, I’m sure of it.
      Alan Shearer says Newcastle ‘can dare to hope again’ as ex-Toon stars rejoice at £300m Saudi takeover More

    • 200 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Hayes warns Chelsea must ‘respect Wolfsburg’s history’ as WSL champs aim to conquer rivals in Europe

      by

      EMMA HAYES says Chelsea are not taking Wolfsburg’s threat to their hunt for Women’s Champions League glory for granted. And the Blues boss suggested memories of her side’s dramatic loss to Barcelona in last season’s finals have been well and truly put to bed.
      Emma Hayes will be looking to defeat Wolfsburg for the second time this yearCredit: Rex
      Melanie Leupolz and her team-mates are due to play the two-time Women’s Champions League winners at KingsmeadowCredit: Getty
      The WSL champs will host the German giants on home turf tonight in the contest’s new group stage format introduced this season.
      And their German opponents, who have won the tournament twice in their history, have never lost on English soil despite the Blues knocking them out of the contest quarters last term.
      Hayes said: “I think you have to respect Wolfsburg’s history.
      “They have won the Champions League and they’ve competed at the top end for a lot of years.
      “They have the knowledge and the experience of being there, so I don’t feel we’re underdogs, but I don’t think we’re clear favourites either.
      “I think it’s an evenly matched game where we’ve earned the right in Europe to reach that point.
      “I think until we take that next step then quite rightfully, we’ve still got a lot of work to do.

      “We respect Wolfsburg as a team. They’re in the early stages of team development under their new coach but they’re unbelievably athletic.
      “This will be a high-intensity game.”
      Chelsea go into this game having moved to third in the WSL and three points behind Arsenal and Tottenham following a 3-1 defeat of Brighton.
      And the top-flight title-holders are playing in Europe for the first time since being beaten by frontrunners Barcelona who consigned the Gunners to a 4-1 defeat .
      But Hayes insists her Blues are fully focused on the task ahead and their battle for silverware on all fronts.
      Of course, we always want to win all of them (trophies) including the Champions League Emma Hayes
      The Kingsmeadow chief added: “Our preoccupation is on our daily practice and competing for every trophy.
      “Of course, we always want to win all of them including the Champions League
      “I just think we’re one year better because of that experience last year.”
      Blues captain Magda Eriksson believes her side are far more formidable opponents than they were last season.
      Wolfsburg are currently second in Germany’s top-flightCredit: Getty
      And the Chelsea centre-back admitted to being ‘devastated’ to hear of the sexual misconduct allegations engulfing America’s National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
      Last week The Athletic last published a report including accusations made by players about England-born coach Paul Riley’s conduct and allegations relating to sexual coercion
      Riley, who denies the allegations, was fired from his head coach role post of NWSL club North Carolina Courage following the publication of the report.
      And games in the top-flight of women’s club football in America were suspended at the weekend with the division’s commissioner Lisa Baird quitting her role.
      Fifa has initiated a preliminary investigation into the situation.
      Magda Eriksson believes Chelsea are stronger side than they were last seasonCredit: PA
      Eriksson said: “As players, we stay updated on what’s happening in the women’s football world and we are devastated to hear about these events in the NWSL.
      “We discussed how horrifying it (the situation) is, but it’s good that players are brave enough now to step forward
      “I think there has to be a good system in place for when players speak up.”

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

      Emma Hayes gets stuck into Chelsea training More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Barcelona 4 Arsenal 1: Champions League queens run riot as Gunners endure first loss in Europe this season

      by

      BARCELONA brought Arsenal’s nine-game winning streak to a grinding halt with a ruthless attacking display.  A clinical strike from ex-Gunner Asisat Oshoala was among the goals that saw the WSL aces dispatched 4-1 in an intense Women’s Champions League duel.
      Asisat Oshoala was on target for Barcelona netting their second goal against ArsenalCredit: Avalon.red
      Caroline Graham Hansen was a constant threat down the right for last term’s Women’s Champions League winnersCredit: Getty
      The defeat leaves the Gunners third in their group and in a need of a win to aid their quest to reach the contest’s quarter-finals.
      And it sees Barca go second behind German side Hoffenheim who crushed Danish outfit HB Koge 5-0.
      Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall said: “Barcelona played in a way where they really denied us a lot of space and time when we win the ball double in the first half. 
      “On just on a few occasions we succeeded in playing the ball out to toward our open spaces and if you watch the second half in comparison, we did that many more times. 
      “And, of course, that’s sometimes how football is. We played a team that’s better than any other opponent we have played so far this year.
      “That will prepare us for the future, and we will learn from it, and we will need to raise our standards and hopefully do better.”

      Arsenal, so dominant in domestic competition, spent much of the game chasing the ball, maintaining five at back when sitting deep.
      Their hosts, intent on getting off the mark quickly and defeating their third WSL team this year, enjoyed 70 per cent of possession.
      That dominance bore fruit with Mariona Caldentey opening the scoring moments after the half-hour mark.
      The midfielder walloped in Barca’s first after Oshoala’s bottom-left corner shot was parried by keeper Manuela Zinsberger. 
      And the ex-Arsenal ace was involved in Barcelona’s second goal of the evening minutes before half-time. 
      The Nigeria striker hovered around Arsenal’s defence, before jetting down the right and into the box and cutting a pass back for Alexia Puttellas to net from eight yards out.
      Our expectation is to be loyal to our style and to play the way we know how to play. It doesn’t matter who our opponent is.Mariona Caldentey
      The second half saw Barca extend their lead with Oshoala getting on the scoresheet for the hosts’ third.
      The scoreline prompted Eidevall to shuffle his cards in the 56th minute with Nikita Parris, Caitlin Foord and Tobin Heath coming on for Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema and Katie McCabe.
      And it was a tactical move that worked to great effect with Parris seeing her shot cleared off the line in the 74th minute before Frida Maanum nabbed a goal for the visitors moments later.
      A superbly placed Tobin Heath cross led to the Norway ace bundling the ball over the line.
      Barca had a couple more attempts on goal before super sub Lieke Martens wrapped up the win.
      And she did so by exploiting Arsenal’s high line with a well-timed run evading Leah Williamson to net Barca’s fourth.  
      The Catalan giants came close to increasing their goal tally to five with the ref pointing to the spot after Alex Puttellas hit the turf following a Jordan Nobbs tackle. 
      And Zinsberger pulled off an impressive save parrying the ball out of danger with the game ending 4-1.
      Mariona Caldentey says Barca will be ‘loyal’ to their style of play no matter who their opponents areCredit: Getty
      Barca midfielder midfield ace Caldentey said: “There’s a long way to go (in the competition) and there is much to do, but what we have to do is concentrate on ourselves. 
      “Our expectation is to be loyal to our style and to play the way we know how to play. It doesn’t matter who our opponent is.
      “If we play our game if we feel comfortable, and if we play the one, the way we want, I think that we’re a very difficult team to defend (against).”

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

      Barcelona wonderkid Gavi shows off his footwork in training More

    • 225 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Arsenal boss Eidevall says Gunners will not show too much respect to beatable Barcelona in Women’s Champions League

      by

      JONAS EIDEVALL reckons toppling Barcelona will NOT be Arsenal’s season-defining moment if his side defeats Europe’s football queens.And the Gunners boss warns his stars will not be showing the defending champions too much respect in their Champions League clash.
      Jonas Eidevall says Arsenal will need to be the ‘best versions of themselves’ against BarcelonaCredit: Getty
      Barcelona have scored 25 times in their three games before their clash with the GunnersCredit: Rex
      The game at the Johan Cruyff Stadium will see two sides with some of Europe’s most feared forwards go head-to-head for the first time since Arsenal’s 7-0 aggregate drubbing of Barca in 2013.
      And Eidevall is ‘confident’ his players can compete with the team that crushed Chelsea 4-0 in the contest’s finals in May.
      The Arsenal chief told reporters: “I really think Barcelona is the best team with big capital letters. The way they are playing – especially in offence – is very structured.
      “We know it’s a very, very big football team that we’re playing against, but they’re human just like we are. They will make mistakes just like we do.
      “They are a very good football team, but they are also beatable. It’s 11 humans against 11 humans. In Sweden, we say ‘a shovel is a shovel’.
      “We need to be our best version of ourselves and shouldn’t overly respect them either. It’s about us trying to be as good as possible.”

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

      Both sides come into this game unbeaten in their domestic divisions with the Catalan giants having scored 25 goals in their last three top-flight encounters.
      These include 8-0 thrashings of Valencia and Villarreal in Spain’s top division in September.
      And Arsenal have scored more away goals in England’s top tier than any other Women’s Super League side.
      However, Eidevall says the Gunners will not get carried away should they defeat their rivals on their home turf.
      If we win, it’s not like the season is going to end. We have another game coming up against EvertonJonas Eidevall
      Arsenal will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run across all competitions so far this termCredit: Getty
      The Meadow Park boss added: “This is one game out of many. It’s a really, really nice challenge and we’re looking forward to it.
      “But if we win tomorrow, it’s not like the season is going to end. We have another game coming up against Everton.
      “If we draw tomorrow the season is going to continue, if we lose the season is going to continue. It’s all about us having a good performance.”
      Watch Vivianne Miedema kick a ball over her head and perfectly into a basketball hoop More

    • 288 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Man City 0 West Ham 2: Japan ace Hasegawa nets wonder goal as Irons stun City to leave giants nine points off Arsenal

      by

      YUI HASEGAWA helped West Ham to a shock away win at Manchester City heaping more pressure on Gareth Taylor’s injury-hit side.The Japan star’s glorious chip was among the goals that saw City lose their third WSL game in a row.
      Yui Hasegawa and Dagny Brynjarsdottir were both on target for West Ham in their win over Man CityCredit: Getty
      Hasegawa put the Irons 2-0 in front with a perfectly timed chipCredit: Zuma Press
      It leaves the Citizens languishing fourth from bottom in the top-flight before their mammoth derby clash with Manchester United on Saturday.
      Taylor said: “We’re in a tough moment, we’re really in a tough moment. It will get better.
      “We have to take responsibility and finish our chances off.
      “They had one chance in the first half and scored from it so that makes your job really difficult.
      “I think I have proved I can bring a brand of football that is exciting to watch but is winning football. I still believe (this) massively.
      “We are up against it. Everything seems to be going against us. We won’t get help from anywhere, we have to do it ourselves.”

      City, eager to bounce back from the 5-0 drubbing they endured at Arsenal, went on the attack swiftly in the game’s opening moments.  
      And Taylor’s side had a chance to net in the fifth minute with a Lauren Hemp cross to Ellen White in the box before keeper Mackenzie Arnold snuffed out the danger.
      The hosts burst forward moments later with Hemp once again darting down the left before her cross was cleared by Gilly Flaherty.
      And Taylor’s side came close to getting an opener moments before the fifteenth minute with White almost connecting with Janine Beckie’s dangerous cross into the six-yard box.
      With City dominating the ball West Ham’s attempts on goal were few and far between.
      One occurred around the half-hour mark with Dagny Brynjarsdottir looking to capitalise on an erroneous City pass.
      And the Iceland striker teed up Claudia Walker for a shot, but her effort failed to trouble keeper Karima Taieb.
      But against the run of attacking play, the Irons eventually got off the mark close to half-time.
      Lauren Hemp caused problems for the Irons down the left with a number of dangerous crossesCredit: Zuma Press
      And it was Brynjarsdottir who put them ahead in the 38th minute nodding in the Irons’ first goal following a well-weighted pass from Hasegawa.
      From then on West Ham weathered a wave of Man City attacks prompting some impressive goalkeeping from Arnold.  
      That included a save from a Jess Park shot from inside the box moments before the half-time whistle.
      The hosts looked like they equalised with just under half an hour of normal time remaining after Ellen White buried a bottom corner shot.
      However, the goal was later ruled out as offside. And City’s penalty shout for a handball by Hawa Cissoko resulted in a free-kick.
      I thought the players dug deep today. It was a pleasing performance and good to come away with the winOlli Harder – West Ham Women’s manager
      After some diehard defending the visitors sealed the win with Hasegawa exploiting a Demi Stokes error to loft the ball over Taieb’s head from 40 yards out.
      The result saw the Irons go fifth before their clash with Birmingham after nabbing their set of first back-to-back wins in the league since 2018.  
      Olli Harder’s team are fifth in the table after two wins, one draw and one loss in the WSL
      Hammers boss Olli Harder said: “I thought the players dug deep today.
      “City are a quality team, we knew that. We let them have the ball but pressed them high up the pitch when we could.
      “It was a pleasing performance and good to come away with the win.”

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

      West Ham unveil statue of Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst and intern Peters’ ashes at London Stadium More

    • 200 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      West Ham ace Leon opens up on battle from injury woe to Olympic glory with Canada

      by

      WEST HAM star Adriana Leon says a  fantastic Olympic gold medal made her fightback from injury all the sweeter.The winger, who turned 29  yesterday, is loving life back in London after glory with Canada at the Tokyo Games.
      Adriana Leon feared a foot fracture would prevent her from competing at the Tokyo OlympicsCredit: Getty
      The West Ham star did triple workouts in a bid to return to fitness for the Tokyo Olympics and the new WSL seasonCredit: https://www.instagram.com/_adrianaleon_/?hl=en
      But she very nearly did not get on the plane at all after a painful foot fracture.
      Leon, who joined the Hammers in January 2019, admitted to playing through the pain barrier before finally having an operation.
      And the surgery paved the way for a triumphant Olympic run, including a goal against Team GB.
      Leon said: “It was a game against the USA at the SheBelieves Cup in February where I really did some damage on my foot.
      “I couldn’t even walk at the hotel. It was awful and I played through that and then got back to London and told West Ham that I needed to get a scan as something was not right.
      “Sure enough, it was a fracture and I decided to do the operation because the Olympics were around the corner.
      “There were definitely times after that surgery where I was thinking to myself, ‘there’s no way I’m making the Canada squad’. The way I felt physically was awful.

      “I was doing triple workout days and I worked out for two to three weeks straight and made it into the squad for June. 
      I had an unbelievable first camp back and my team-mates were saying they couldn’t believe the condition I  was in after being out for three to four months.
      “I was happy just to be at the Olympics and then to win the gold was insane.
      “That goal felt incredible, it made it all worth it. All the struggles and ups and downs in my career, it just felt like it was worth it.”
      Following Canada’s win in Tokyo Leon says the team will turn their attention to the Women’s World Cup and attempting to win the tournament for the first time in their history.
      The Ontario-born winger hopes the Olympic gold will pave the way for a professional women’s football league in her country.
      Leon hopes Canada’s Olympic gold triumph will lead to more coverage of women’s football in her countryCredit: Getty
      She said:  “I think we’re the only nation amongst the world’s top ten or 15 football sides that doesn’t have a professional league in their own country.
      “That’s definitely something that we’d like to see moving forward and even things like media coverage in Canada of women’s sports is still quite poor.
      “We’d like to see more media and people talking about women’s football.
      “We’ve got a lot of great athletes and a lot of people can’t see it on the big screen. It’s time to change that.”
      Leon reckons West Ham can give tonight’s opponents Manchester City a run for their money, despite their opponents winning the five previous WSL clashes between the sides.
      The match will see Leon come up against her international team-mate Janine Beckie for the first time since  Tokyo.
      Leon, who helped the Hammers reach the 2019 Women’s FA Cup final where they lost 3-0 to City, has high hopes for the Irons this season after 11 new players joined over the summer.
      She said: “Our ambition is to finish as a high up in the table and I think the club has shown itself to be  ambitious with the signings made this summer.”
      Leon is set to play against Canada team-mate Janine Beckie when West Ham take on Man City at the Academy StadiumCredit: Sportimage
      City boss Gareth Taylor wants his side to bounce back from a 5-0 loss to Arsenal last time out but knows the Irons will be tough to beat.
      He said: “They will make it difficult. Their results have been good so far.
      “They have stepped up in that respect, so we are expecting a tough game.”

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

      West Ham unveil statue of Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst and intern Peters’ ashes at London Stadium More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 4: Skipper Little leads Gunners to a hard-fought win against Villa before Barcelona battle

      by

      KIM LITTLE came to Arsenal’s rescue with Jonas Eidevall’s aces battling their way to three points against a resolute Aston Villa.The playmaker nabbed a brace – including her 150th Gunners goal – as the league leaders’ unbeaten run continued with a 4-0 win.
      Kim Little netted twice for Arsenal who moved back to the top of the WSL table after defeating Aston VillaCredit: Rex
      Kim Little has scored 151 times for ArsenalCredit: Reuters
      Team boss Eidevall said: “Kim is an amazing player.
      “When you see her playing in games when you’re not her coach, you see that she is a great player, and one of those that you get really excited to work with.
      “She showed great leadership, great game intelligence. It was really nice to see that she could score two goals.”
      The away result at Villa Park saw Eidevall’s side move back to the top of the table before their eagerly awaited Champions League duel with Barcelona.
      But the visitors were made to battle for their victory with Carla Ward’s Villans putting on a first-half defensive masterclass.
      Anita Asante, Elisha N’Dow and Mayumi Pachecho were all impressive in a back-five rearguard.
      Arsenal attempted to get on the attack almost immediately with Nikita Parris forcing a corner in the first minute.
      And Vivianne Miedema got on her head on the ball before Villa thwarted the danger by clearing their lines.

      Although Arsenal enjoyed the bulk possession at 76 per cent the Villans had a few minor chances in the first half.
      Their closest effort came with Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah attempting a long-range strike after spotting Manuela Zinsberger off her line in the 14th minute.
      And the visitors came close to breaking the deadlock in the 20th minute with Beth Mead’s in-swinging cross finding Miedema in space between two defenders.
      However, keeper Hannah Hampton came out quickly snuff out the danger.
      Mayumi Pacheco put in an impressive defensive shift against Arsenal’s Nikita ParrisCredit: Reuters
      The second half saw Eidevall roll the dice with Mana Iwabuchi coming in place of Frida Maanum.
      And the Japan star’s entrance was followed by Little rolling her defender to give Arsenal the lead in the 51st minute.
      Ward’s gutsy Villans held out until the later stages of the game with Hampton making a superb double block following close-range shots from Miedema and Parris.
      But the Gunners went on to extend the lead with Tobin Heath ghosting into the box and delivering a swift cut back for Iwabuchi who slotted home the visitors’ third.
      The fourth goal for Arsenal came courtesy of a rare Hampton error.
      The former Birmingham keeper passed to Katie McCabe who chipped the ball over her head into the goal from 40 yards out.
      The players are little disappointed, but I told them if you go out there and you give that sort of effort week-in and week-out and we’ll be just fine in the leagueCarla Ward – Aston Villa manager
      And in-form skipper Little notched up her brace with a deflected injury-time effort.
      The result saw Villa, who face Reading next, register their first loss of the season.
      Mana Iwabuchi was on target for the Gunners against her former clubCredit: PA
      But Ward believes should be proud of their efforts after holding Arsenal at bay in the first half.
      Villans chief Ward said: “The players are little disappointed, but I told them if you go out there and you give that sort of effort week-in and week-out and we’ll be just fine in the league.
      “It was about reminding them that they’re up against – in my opinion – not just one of the best teams in the country right now, but one of the best in Europe.” 

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

      England manager Southgate says Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe ‘very close’ to making England squad More