FROM MEADOW PARK — Arsenal returned to winning ways to put pressure on Chelsea at the top of the Women's Super League with a comfortable 2-1 win over Everton at Meadow Park.
After finishing 2023 with a north London derby loss at Tottenham, the Gunners looked to change the narrative by starting sprightly as Caitlin Foord finished well in the ninth minute.
The Toffees responded, however, when Katja Snoeijs cancelled out that opening strike midway through the first half.
Beth Mead scored what turned out to be Arsenal's winner in first-half stoppage time, though the hosts' relentless second-half attacks caused Everton further defensive woes.
Visiting goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan did well to keep the Gunners' threats at bay, forcing Arsenal to settle for a 2-1 victory.
Arsenal made a flying start for their first league game of 2024. The positive early signs indicated the hosts would pile on pressure all afternoon against a struggling Everton, who had a lacklustre start to their campaign.
Mead rattled the woodwork early on but the deadlock was soon broken in the ninth minute.
Foord capitalised as some smart skills from Victoria Pelova, who kept the ball in play and allowed her to slot home from close range. It was 24-year-old Pelova's fifth assist of the season, the most in the league, as she and compatriot Viv Miedema dictated proceedings in the engine room.
The first-half pressure from the hosts was relentless, not allowing Everton to string more than four passes together before pouncing to regain possession. Yet as the Toffees' comfortability grew, their first attack was conjured and Snoeijs' solo effort rolled past a statuesque Manuela Zinsberger to level the scores.
Goalkeeper Brosnan pulled off an impressive block to deny Mead
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