Arsenal 4-0 Leicester City
by Layth Yousif at Meadow Park

Arsenal Women beat Leicester City 4-0 at Meadow Park on Sunday to banish memories of a bad week. 

Jonas Eidevall’s Gunners capitalised on Chelsea’s unexpected 1-0 loss to Reading on Saturday to move four points clear at the top of the Women's Super League.

Jordan Nobbs and Vivianne Miedema put Arsenal 2-0 ahead, before Leicester defender Jemma Purfield was sent off after bringing down the lively Nikita Parris on the edge of the area. 

Following the break, substitute Frida Maanum nodded in two goals in two minutes to extend the Gunners lead as they eased to routine victory over bottom of the table Foxes, in boss Lydia Bedford's first game in charge.

After crushing defeats at the hands of Emma Hayes' Blues in the FA Cup final at Wembley last week, along with losing to Barcelona in the Champions League at the Emirates on Thursday, the home side showed character to extend their lead at the top of the table.

“It’s huge for us,” said Nobbs after the match, adding: “We're focusing on every game and every team has shown you can't take your foot off the pedal. That's what we wanted to do. It's a big three points for us and we keep moving forward.

“Anything can still change. We just have to keep winning every single game.”

Eidevall’s team dominated the early stages as Nobbs fired in the opener from Viv Miedema’s cross, in front of a crowd of 1,316 at Borehamwood.

The Dutch attacker added a goal of her own after Parris teed up on 34 minutes, before Purfield was sent off moments before half time. 

Leicester’s ten players battled well after the break until substitute Maanum grabbed her late brace to emphasise the gulf in class, as Arsenal showed courage after a chastening seven days.

While visitors remain bottom of the table without a point with a crucial relegation clash looming against Birmingham next weekend, new boss Bedford was pleased with her side’s doughty second half performance. 

“The resilience was fantastic,” the Foxes manager said afterwards, adding: “We spoke earlier this week about being a family and sticking together.

“I said to them at half time that now is their opportunity to put their money where their mouth is and work together as a team. We worked hard and I was really pleased with that second half performance.

“These girls want to prove to the league they can climb the table. The passion came out on the pitch and you want to see that energy.

“Birmingham is obviously a big game but for us there's lots of games left this season that we have opportunities to pick up points in.”