Stina Blackstenius' first-half hat-trick gave Arsenal a resounding victory over Aston Villa and a place in the Women's League Cup final.
Frida Mahnum's exquisite through ball was met by Braxstenius at the near post, giving League Cup holders Arsenal the lead after just nine minutes.
The Swedish striker was on target again just two minutes later, slotting home from close range after Alessia Russo had tipped Beth Mead's cross into the net.
Villa were overwhelmed by Arsenal's energetic attack and struggled, but Manum made the lead three points after just 18 minutes when he effortlessly slotted a shot from the edge of the area into the top corner.
Braxstenius pounced on the loose ball after Villa missed a corner kick to complete their hat-trick before the break as Arsenal cruised towards victory.
Villa improved in the second half, but their moments of creativity remained fleeting, with Arsenal rarely coming under any real pressure.
Six-time League Cup winners Arsenal will face the next winner. Thursday's Manchester City vs Chelsea match The final will be played at Molineux on Sunday 31st March (kick-off 19:15 GMT).
More to come.
lineup
arsenal women
formation 4-2-3-1
- 1ginsberger
- 15McCabe
- 6williamsonReplacementCodinain 63 minutesminutes
- 3Uben Moi
- 7cat tree
- 12Ma'anumReplacementrearin 90 minutesminutes
- 13VertiReplacementPerovain 80 minutesminutes
- 9meadReplacementhoodin 63 minutesminutes
- twenty fiveblack stenius
- 32cooney cross
- twenty threeRussoReplacementa bitin 80 minutesminutes
substitute
- Tena bit
- 19hood
- twenty onePerova
- 27Codina
- 40williams
- 53rear
- 61earl
- 86bhaddi
Aston Villa Women's
formation 4-3-3
- twenty oneREIT
- 2mailing
- 14turner
- FourPatten
- 33pacheco
- 8Knobs
- 6CauchyBooked in 39 minutes
- TendaliReplacementMulletin 84 minutesminutes
- 7LehmanReplacementmcgillin 45 minutesminutes
- 9daily
- 20HansonReplacementsalmonin 44 minutesminutes
substitute
- 13poor
- 17salmon
- 18Mullet
- twenty twomcgill
- 34macfile
- 49Saraway
- Referee:
- paul howard
- Attendance:
- 3,507
live text
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Game over, Arsenal Women 4, Aston Villa Women 0.
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At the end of the second half, Arsenal Women's 4, Aston Villa Women's 0.
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Steph Catley (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick inside the defence.
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Foul by Georgia Mallett (Aston Villa Women).
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Foul by Kim Little (Arsenal Women).
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Simone McGill (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick inside the defence.
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Substitution, Arsenal Women. Vivienne Lear replaces Frida Mahnum.
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Steph Catley (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick on the left.
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Foul on Anna Patten (Aston Villa Women).
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Attempt failed. Viktoria Perova (Arsenal Women) took a shot with her right foot from the right side of the box, but it missed the right side of the frame.
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Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Georgia Mallett replaces Kenza Dali.
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Attempt failed. Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal Women) fired a shot with her right foot from the center of the box that went just wide of the target.
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Corner, Arsenal Women. Anna Patten confirmed.
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Substitution, Arsenal Women. Viktoria Perova replaces Lia Verti.
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Substitution, Arsenal Women. Kim Little replaces Alessia Russo.
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Attempt blocked. Caitlin Ford (Arsenal Women)'s shot with her right foot from the right side of the box was blocked.
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Foul by Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal Women).
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Danielle Turner (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick inside the defence.
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Attempt saved. Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa Women) took a right-footed shot from outside the box that was saved into the top right corner.
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Steph Catley (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick on the left.