Arsenal continued their onslaught to qualify for the Champions League by pushing past struggling Bristol City in the Women's Super League.
Sunday's emphatic win left the Gunners nine points clear of fourth-placed Manchester United, as bottom club City endure a 13-game winless streak.
The visitors were deep in their back five, but it took just seven minutes to keep Arsenal at bay as Beth Meade reacted quickly to take the lead with a goal from close range after Caitlin Ford hit the post.
Arsenal then took control but would have been disappointed not to have had more chances before Mead scored his second goal in the 32nd minute.
Any hopes that Bristol City would get back into the game were dashed after just two minutes. Steph Catley's cross unfortunately deflected off visiting defender Ella Powell and curled past their own keeper Fran Bentley.
Alessia Russo then scored two goals in the second half, life-shooting one from the edge of the area and curling another from inside the box past Bentley.
Arsenal's advantage over United in third place with four games remaining should be enough to seal a European spot, but Bristol City are seven points clear of West Ham in the battle to avoid relegation. be.
As Europe tempts Arsenal, put forces on the front lines
Although they are six points behind leaders Manchester City, Arsenal are unlikely to make a late comeback in the title race.
However, a home win against Leicester on April 21st, or if Manchester United fail to beat Tottenham Hotspur on the same day, will ensure Champions League football next season.
As expected, Arsenal were in control throughout and regularly found success with overlapping runs down the left from Ford and Catley.
Manager Jonas Eydewall started the rarely used duo of Russo and Stina Braxtenius in attack, but the front line performed well on Sunday, leaving him with a selection dilemma for the remaining games. There was a possibility of falling.
England forward Meade used his individual skills twice to keep himself switched on, converting loose balls and often making darting runs into the box to create space for his team-mates.
Beating Bristol City was routine for the Gunners and they were never really tested defensively.
Bristol City's outlook is bleak
There are just four games remaining in Bristol City's frenetic first season back in the top flight.
They still have to face Manchester City and Chelsea, and overhauling West Ham would be a monumental feat.
Against Arsenal, they tried to build up from the back, but they were turned around early on and could not sustain it, rarely getting out of their own half and unable to influence the result.
Arsenal had a chance to win by more goals, but it was a lack of final product that held them back, not Bristol City's defence.
There is no doubt that they will continue to fight until the end, but the Vixens also need to be ready for a return to the championship.
lineup
arsenal women
formation 4-2-3-1
- 14D'Angelo
- 2FoxReplacementvienna rotorin 81 minutesminutes
- 6williamsonReplacementleadin 87 minutesminutes
- 3Uben Moi
- 7cat tree
- twenty onePerova
- Tena bit
- 9meadReplacementMcCabein 63 minutesminutes
- twenty threeRusso
- 19hoodReplacementLacasin 63 minutesminutes
- twenty fiveblack stenius
substitute
- 1ginsberger
- 15McCabe
- twenty fourLacas
- 26vienna rotor
- 29goldie
- 53rear
- 62lead
bristol city women
formation 5-4-1
- 1bentley
- 2PowellReplacementbullin 69 minutesminutes
- 8rogers
- Fiveaspin
- 6connolly
- 11napier
- twenty fourmorgan
- 16ShimeReplacementFurnacein 69 minutesminutes
- 18StratigakisReplacementRayzelin 69 minutesminutes
- 17test lap
- twenty twoevansReplacementWardin 79 minutesminutes
substitute
- 3strike
- FourRayzel
- TenFurnace
- 13Clerk
- 15bull
- twenty threejones
- 29Ward
- 30Yañez
- 36slocom
- Referee:
- lisa benn
- Attendance:
- 3,565
live text
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Game over, Arsenal Women 5, Bristol City Women 0.
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At the end of the second half, Arsenal Women 5, Bristol City Women 0.
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Offside, Bristol City Women. Jamie-Lee Napier was caught offside.
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Attempt saved. Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal Women) fired a shot with her right foot from the right side of the box that was saved into her bottom right corner. Supported by Katie Reid.
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Substitution, Arsenal Women. Leah Williamson is replaced by Katie Reid.
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Attempt failed. Viktoria Perova (Arsenal Women) took a shot with her left foot from the center of the box, but it went just wide of the target.
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Attempt blocked. Laura Wienreuther (Arsenal Women's) shot with her left foot from outside the box was blocked.
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Substitution, Arsenal Women. Laura Wienroter replaces Emily Fox.
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Attempt failed. Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women) took a shot with her right foot from the center of the box, but it went wide of the target. Katie McCabe assists with the cross.
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Substitution, Bristol City Women. Mari Ward replaces Lisa Evans.
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Attempt blocked. Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women)'s right-footed shot from the center of the box was blocked.
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Corner, Arsenal Women. Brooke Aspin gave up a goal.
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Attempt failed. Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal Women) took a header from the center of the box, but it went wide to the left of the target. Leah Williamson assists the cross.
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goal! Arsenal Women 5, Bristol City Women 0. Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women) fired her right-footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom right corner. Supported by Katie McCabe.
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Offside, Arsenal Women. Chloe Lacasse was caught offside.
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Attempt blocked. Amy Rogers (Bristol City Women)'s left-footed shot from close range was blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Naomi Reisel (Bristol City Women)'s right-footed shot from close range was blocked.
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Corner, Bristol City Women. Emily Fox confirmed.
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Substitution, Bristol City Women. Jasmine Bull replaces Ella Powell.
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Substitution, Bristol City Women. Naomi Reisel replaces Sarah Stratigakis.