Report and highlights as Arsenal secured a 3-1 comeback victory at Aston Villa; Ebony Slamon gave the hosts a first-half lead; the Gunners roared back in the second half to level through Victoria Pelova; late goals from Lotte Wubben-Moy and Stina Blackstenius sealed the win
Monday 25 March 2024 06:16, UK
Arsenal sealed a confidence-boosting victory ahead of next week's League Cup final after a late flurry of goals saw them come from a goal down to secure a 3-1 win at Villa Park.
Just over a week after kick-off in their game against Chelsea was delayed by 30 minutes because of a kit issue, Arsenal ran into problems again ahead of kick-off. The start of the game at Villa Park was delayed by 45 minutes with the Gunners delayed by traffic.
With the Gunners' title hopes left in tatters by that 3-1 defeat at Chelsea last time out, Jonas Eidevall's side were staring at another loss at half-time after Ebony Salmon gave Aston Villa a 35th-minute lead.
However, much like in the first half, Arsenal piled the pressure on at the start of the second 45 minutes and were eventually rewarded with an equaliser in the 54th minute when Victoria Pelova converted a rebound after goalkeeper Anna Leat denied Alessia Russo.
The Gunners pushed for a winner and it looked like it might never come as Frida Maanum and Russo both struck the woodwork.
However, their dominance was eventually rewarded as Lotte Wubben-Moy's header (84) and Stina Blackstenius' late strike (86) sealed a much-needed victory for Arsenal ahead of next week's League Cup final against Chelsea.
The win strengthens Arsenal's position in third and they remain six points behind leaders Chelsea and second-placed Man City.
Sky Sports' Izzy Christiansen:
"That is a massive win for Arsenal. After going in behind at half-time and the defeat to Chelsea last weekend, to be going into next weekend's cup final with that feeling they will have in that huddle right now, that winning feeling which they needed.
"They now have a really enthusiastic squad going into a cup final, places up for grabs in the team, you need to have a good week's training to prepare for that game.
"So yes leaving with three points was the number-one priority for Arsenal, they have got that, but they had to work hard for it."
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall on Sky Sports:
"We had to accumulate a lot of shots and chances to force them into conceding and she [Leat] had a great game and so did we as team.
"It was a decent first half from us, we were by far the better team, but we conceded a goal from their only chance and that made it a more challenging second half for us.
"But the way the team responded and kept on suffocating Villa, to keep piling on pressure and creating chances, I thought was great, a really good response from us.
"It's one game at a time. More importantly it's to see what a performance like this can do. Second half was a great display of playing the Arsenal way."
On the League Cup final, he added: "Really looking forward to that. We have great memories from the final last year. We're going to do our best to recreate them."
Player of the Match Arsenal midfielder Victoria Pelova on Sky Sports:
"We all needed a bit of confidence after the game against Chelsea, but we showed even if we are 1-0 down we can turn it around, so that is a good thing.
"I was looking and it was about 75 minutes and she [Leat] was just having every single ball! And I thought there cannot be 15 minutes more!
"But she did well, and I am happy for her in that way, but glad we scored!
"In football, confidence goes up and down, when we beat Chelsea 4-1 we had lots of confidence, and if you lose, it is not that it goes away, but it is good that we won, and how we won today."
Aston Villa boss Carla Ward on Sky Sports:
"We knew we'd have to be resolute and compact. It was important we stuck together and dug in tonight and we did that. We had to ride a number of waves but we did that really well. It's frustrating to come away having conceded two late goals.
"I still haven't been allowed near the players [due to sickness]. I did radio down to let them know I had immense pride. We have to build on that. We need to take that into games that are winnable and try and get some points on the board."
On aiming for a top-six finish: "It's achievable. It's tough. Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham are all fighting for that. We have to try and get as many points as we possibly can."
Aston Villa are next in action when they host Leicester in the WSL on Saturday; kick-off 12.30pm. Villa then travel to Chelsea on Sunday April 21; kick-off 2pm.
Arsenal's next game is against Chelsea in the League Cup final at Molineux on Sunday; kick-off 3pm.
The Gunners then host Leicester in the WSL on Sunday April 21; kick-off 2pm.
