Alessia Russo stars as Arsenal hammer Aston Villa
Alessia Russo scored twice to secure Arsenal a comfortable 4-0 Women’s Super League victory over Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.
The England forward nodded the hosts in front in the 18th minute before bagging her brace in second-half stoppage time.
Beth Mead tapped in the Gunners’ second from a rebound in the 39th minute, and substitute Stina Blackstenius added another with 20 minutes remaining.
The comfortable victory ensures the Gunners – now unbeaten in eight games across all competitions under interim boss Renee Slegers – finish the weekend third in the top flight and in the Champions League places.
After an uneventful opening 10 minutes, Villa keeper Sabrina D’Angelo was finally called into action to punch away a dangerous cross, then made a simple save to prevent Katie McCabe from opening the scoring directly from a free-kick.
Russo nodded the Gunners in front in the 17th minute, flicking on Kyra Cooney-Cross’ perfectly-placed free-kick with a bounce past a diving D’Angelo as Arsenal began to find their footing.
Danielle Turner intervened to nod away Mead’s threatening delivery into the penalty area, but Arsenal came close to doubling their lead with the resulting corner as Cooney-Cross worked the ball to Leah Williamson, who directed her effort marginally wide of D’Angelo’s right post.
Arsenal were picking up steam and finally extended their advantage via Mead.
Russo had just come inches away from a second, pinging her attempt off the post with England team-mate Mead waiting to tap in the rebound.
The Gunners continued to trouble D’Angelo, who got her body in the way of Russo’s next effort then tipped away a cross floating toward the top right corner.
The hosts continued to pile on the pressure after the break, when Mead fired into the the back of the net again but was denied by the offside flag.
Villa’s first real chance of the half came from Ebony Salmon, who sent an effort across the face of goal from a tight angle and was soon replaced by Gabi Nunes.
The visitors enjoyed a brief spell in the hosts’ half, unable to take advantage of a corner before falling further behind.
A sliding Blackstenius slid on to McCabe’s low cross from the right and instinctively hooked the Gunners’ third past the advancing D’Angelo.
Villa substitute Kenza Dali skied an effort from distance and her side rarely looked close to a consolation.
Blackstenius, through on goal, should have scored her second but somehow directed her effort wide, but Arsenal added another after Paula Thomas conceded possession in Villa’s penalty area.
Russo pounced, giving D’Angelo no chance when she curled into the top left in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time.
