Report: Arsenal 5-1 Charlton Athletic (inc. goals)
Arsenal: Misa; Holmberg, Williamson, Catley, Batlle; Little, Stanway; Baum, Russo, Mariona; Blackstenius
Substitutes: Borbe (GK), Damm (GK), Fox, Wubben-Moy, Hinds, Cooney-Cross, Reuteler, Maanum, Smith, Foord, Cerci, Conway, Teer-Hutchings
Arsenal won their final pre-season match, beating Charlton Athletic 5-1. Charlton took the lead, but Arsenal recovered quickly and had too much for their opponents.
Renée Slegers named Mariona out wide, with Alessia Russo playing as the number 10. Steph Catley and Leah Williamson played in central defence, with Ona Batlle playing left back and Georgia Stanway partnering Kim Little in midfield.
Charlton Athletic were promoted last season after beating Leicester in the relegation play-off. They had the best defence in WSL2 last season, conceding only 21 goals in 22 games, but only scored 31, perhaps giving an indication as to why Arsenal chose them for a final pre-season tune up.
From a corner, Arsenal went short and Mariona flashed a shot just wide of the far post.
On 12 minutes, Baum had a good chance. Holmberg drove down the right and crossed towards the back post. The cross was headed down by Russo for Baum but she struck her shot weakly and straight at the goalkeeper, Sophie Whitehouse.
Charlton took the lead against the run of play on 24 minutes. Williamson and Catley didn’t communicate about a loose ball in the penalty box, and the ball was passed back to Lucy Fitzgerald, who slotted past Misa. 0-1.
Arsenal had two excellent chances to equalise. First, Mariona headed a Holmberg cross straight at Whitehouse. Then Baum was put in behind. Her shot, with her right, was beaten away by Whitehouse but fell to Stanway, who put the shot wide.
Stanway would make up for her miss, though, equalising on 35 minutes. Baum and Holmberg combined on the right, and Baum’s cute reverse ball found Stanway on the right hand side of the box. With Whitehouse advancing, Stanway, from a narrow angle, squeezed the ball into goal. 1-1.
Arsenal kept the pressure up. First, Holmberg’s high cross went to Mariona, who fed Stanway. Rather than shooting, she passed wide to Holmberg, whose second cross was more accurate and found Batlle in the centre, but she headed over goal.
Arsenal were awarded a penalty on 43 minutes. From a corner, Partido hauled Stanway to the ground and despite muted appeals, the referee pointed to the spot.
Mariona took the penalty, sent Whitehouse the wrong way and planted her penalty into the left side of the net. 2-1.
A number of changes were made at half time: Misa, Williamson, Catley, Batlle, Stanway, Little and Little were replaced by Borbe, Wubben-Moy, Hinds, Fox, Cooney-Cross, Reuteler, and Foord. Holmberg went to centre back, with Fox and Hinds at right and left back.
Russo slipped in Blackstenius but her left footed shot was too central and Whitehouse parried.
Arsenal made it 3-1 on 57 minutes. Baum’s in-swinging cross went to the far post and was cleared by Neville. The ball came to Cooney-Cross at the edge of the D, and she hit it first time on the half-volley into the top corner. 3-1.
Arsenal made a further two changes on 61 minutes. Baum and Russo were replaced by Olivia Smith and Frida Maanum.
After a smart pass from Hinds, Maanum received the ball back from Fox, and her cross flashed across goal but went out of play.
Fox shifted inside and struck with her left foot from 25 yards, but her dipping shot was kicked away by Whitehouse.
Selina Cerci replaced Stina Blackstenius on 74 minutes.
Arsenal added another goal on 89 minutes. Foord got down to the byline on the left and cutback into the middle. Cerci turned to shoot but her shot was blocked. The loose ball came to Smith at the edge of the area and she smashed her shot past Whitehouse. 4-1.
Maanum made it 5 in added time. She received the ball from Wubben-Moy in the inside left channel, turned, and drove into the box before shooting and her curled shot went into the far side of the goal, with Whitehouse getting a slight touch. 5-1.
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