A Frida Maanum hat-trick helped Arsenal comfortably guarantee they progressed to the Champions League quarter finals as group winners with a 9-1 win over Zurich of their closing group stage fixture on Wednesday night.
The Gunners had already sealed their protected passage to the knockout levels final week in opposition to Lyon, and knew a victory in Switzerland can be sufficient to prime the group. Arsenal did simply that – after which some.
A Frida Mannum hat-trick, braces from Stina Blackstenius brace and Caitlin Foord and objectives from Kim Little and Mana Iwabuchi noticed the Gunners to an emphatic victory, topping their group forward of European champions Lyon.
Arsenal tore out of the beginning blocks and had the Zurich objective beneath siege from the off, Rafaelle nearly turning house from a set piece earlier than once more coming shut from a nook, solely to be denied by two goal-saving blocks
The Gunners continued to knock on the door, however Zurich goalkeeper Lourdes Romero was available to first deny Katie McCabe from distance after which Blackstenius on the comply with up from level clean vary.
Arsenal deservedly took the lead after 19 minutes – and in spectacular type. Maanum impeccably discovered the highest nook with a free kick from the sting of the world to proceed her spectacular objective scoring type this season.
Zurich have been handed a golden alternative to degree minutes later, however Alayah Pilgrim noticed a free header fly over – and it could be a miss that the Swiss champions would go on to rue.
Foord quickly added a second, turning house Blackstenius’s cross after being completely picked out by the Sweden striker.
Maanum nearly netted a close to similar objective to her opener, however grazed the bar with one other free kick from the left hand aspect of the world.
She did have her second simply after the half hour mark, Foord triggering the lightning counter assault and sliding within the Norwegian worldwide who had burst ahead from midfield, and ending first time.
Maanum turned supplier on the stroke of half time to wrap up a devastating first 45 for her and Arsenal, bursting ahead and rolling the ball throughout the face of objective to Blackstenius, who could not miss.
Maanum accomplished her hat-trick 5 minutes into the second half, Leah Williamson profitable again possession deep within the Zurich half, and Maanum rifling the ball into the highest nook from the sting of the world.
Blackstenius tried to steal Maanum’s thunder 4 minutes later, sending a surprising, curling strike from vary into the highest nook to double her tally for the night.
Zurich netted a comfort – and simply their second objective of the group levels – after Williamson slipped within the field and inadvertently introduced down Seraina Séverin Piubel. Fabienne Humm netted the following spot kick.
Arsenal rapidly restored their six objective benefit, Foord capitalising on a poor again go and poking house.
Little marked her return to motion after almost two months on the sideline with a objective from 12 yards out to make it eight, changing from the spot after Steph Catley’s cross had struck a hand.
Fellow substitute Iwabuchi added a ninth six minutes from time, crashing the ball into the underside nook to wrap up an emphatic victory for the Gunners.
Arsenal have been superior within the first half in opposition to Zurich / Sebastian Widmann/GettyImages
GK: Manuela Zinsberger – 6/10 – Could not do an important deal in regards to the Zurich objective. In any other case largely a spectator.
RB: Noelle Maritz – 7/10 – Again into the beginning XI in opposition to her former aspect, not often troubled defensively and linked up nicely with McCabe.
CB: Rafaelle – 7/10 – Denied a objective from a set piece on a number of events within the early levels of the primary half. Stable defensively.
CB: Lotte Wubben-Moy – 7/10 – Made a goal-saving block to maintain out Pilgrim within the first half and usually strong. Changed after an hour.
LB: Steph Catley – 7/10 – Prompted chaos together with her set piece deliveries and helped win the spot kick for her aspect’s eighth after her cross struck a hand.
CM: Lia Walti – 7/10 – Sometimes composed on the ball and strong defensively, permitting Williamson and Maanum the liberty to tear ahead. Changed after an hour.
CM: Leah Williamson – 8/10 – Moved into midfield and made probably the most of her extra superior function, marauding ahead regularly and teeing up Foord with a low cross within the first half from which Arsenal ought to have scored. Received possession again and teed up Maanum for Arsenal’s fifth. Unlucky to concede a penalty after slipping.
CM: Frida Maanum – 10/10 – Loved a devastating first half with two objectives and an help: a spectacular free kick into the highest nook and two trademark bursts into the field to complete coolly and smarty pick Blackstenius. Sealed her hat-trick with a fizzing effort from vary early within the second half.
RW: Katie McCabe – 8/10 – Despatched Blackstenius away within the construct as much as Arsenal’s second with a probing go in behind and a relentless menace together with her skill to win the ball excessive up and drive on the Zurich backline.
ST: Stina Blackstenius – 9/10 – Noticed two first half efforts saved, earlier than choosing out Foord for Arsenal’s second and getting on the scoresheet simply earlier than the break with a faucet in. Netted a surprising second from vary early within the second.
LW: Caitlin Foord – 9/10 – Received the free kick from which Arsenal opened the scoring, netted Arsenal’s second with a detailed vary end and instrumental within the Gunners’ third with a drive ahead and perfectly-weighted go to Maanum.
SUB: Lina Hurtig (62′ for Blackstenius) – 6/10
SUB: Kim Little (62′ for Wubben-Moy) – 7/10 – Netted from the penalty spot, her first look since October.
SUB: Jordan Nobbs (62′ for Walti) – 6/10
SUB: Mana Iwabuchi (74 ‘ for Maanum) – 7/10 – On the scoresheet with a candy end when one v one.
SUB: Jen Beattie (81′ for Catley) – 6/10