Ibrahim Oladamola
Stina Blackstenius scored twice as Arsenal humbled Brighton 4-0 to rise to third in the Women’s Super League table, displacing rivals Manchester City in the quest for a Champions League spot.
Manager Jonas Eidevall professed to “not care” about the results of Arsenal’s direct competitors after City dropped points to Liverpool at an inopportune point in the season last weekend, but the slip-up has allowed the Gunners to leapfrog Gareth Taylor’s side in the standings.
Only the top three teams will qualify for European competition with Arsenal now level on 44 points with City, holding a better goal difference and a crucial game in hand after putting an impressive four first-half strikes past helpless Brighton.
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Blackstenius was on target twice in the first eight minutes during a rampant opening, with Arsenal showing devastating efficiency to put the result beyond their hosts before the game had even reached its midway point.
Frida Maanum then headed Noelle Maritz’ scooped delivery beyond the clutches of Megan Walsh five minutes before the break, and Victoria Pelova rounded off the scoring on the stroke of half time to seal a statement victory in the hunt for Champions League qualification.
“We had to take smart decisions,” Eidevall commented post-match, referring to Arsenal’s threadbare squad, which suffered another blow when Lia Walti was taken ill in the warm up. “I’m not one for excuses, we have to find solutions,” he concluded.
