Aston Villa 0-4 Arsenal: Miedema, Nobbs, McCabe & Evans score

Arsenal scored four second-half goals to beat a resilient Aston Villa side and record their first Women's Super League victory in four matches.

Home keeper Lisa Weiss made great saves to deny Jill Roord and Katie McCabe.

But Arsenal's patience was rewarded as Vivianne Miedema flicked home Beth Mead's cross and Jordan Nobbs made it two after a Weiss save fell to her.

Noelle Maritz hit the bar before fellow full-back McCabe struck from 25 yards, with Lisa Evans' header making it four.

Victory moves Joe Montemurro's Arsenal to within six points of Manchester United - who occupy the third and final Champions League spot - with a game in hand, while Villa remain 10th, four points above bottom side Bristol City.

• Relive Sunday's WSL action

Captain Jordan Nobbs returned to the Arsenal side after a quad strain, with Jen Beattie also back from injury, but they lacked a spark in the first half against a Villa side who sat deep and defended in numbers.

McCabe's deflected effort was heading for the top corner but Weiss kept it out with a fine fingertip save.

When Danielle van de Donk blazed over from close range and Villa's Elisha N'Dow struck narrowly off target from range, it felt like Arsenal may be made to pay for their failure to make their dominance count.

But the WSL's leading scorer Miedema grabbed her 13th goal of the season with a poacher's finish and Nobbs was in the right place to guide home a second.

Republic of Ireland defender McCabe then took a touch and thundered in with a fine strike before setting up the fourth for substitute Evans to leap up and head in.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Aston Villa Women

Formation 5-3-2

29Weiß

3Ale5N'Dow6Asante15Haigh12Hutton

23Hanssen21Ewers8Arthur

20Iwabuchi9Larsen

• 29Weiß
• 3Ale
• 5N'Dow
• 6Asante
• 15Haigh
• 12HuttonSubstituted forGregoryat 59'minutes
• 23HanssenBooked at 85mins
• 21Ewers
• 8Arthur
• 20IwabuchiSubstituted forFollisat 77'minutes
• 9Larsen

Substitutes

• 1Rogers
• 7Follis
• 11West
• 13Siems
• 14Syme
• 18Gregory
• 22Hayles

Arsenal Women

Formation 4-3-3

18Williams

16Maritz6Williamson5Beattie15McCabe

7van de Donk13Wälti14Roord

8Nobbs9Mead11Miedema

• 18Williams
• 16MaritzSubstituted forPattenat 80'minutes
• 6Williamson
• 5BeattieSubstituted forWubben-Moyat 80'minutes
• 15McCabe
• 7van de DonkSubstituted forMaierat 76'minutes
• 13Wälti
• 14RoordSubstituted forEvansat 76'minutes
• 8Nobbs
• 9Mead
• 11MiedemaSubstituted forFoordat 71'minutes

Substitutes

• 1Zinsberger
• 3Wubben-Moy
• 4Patten
• 17Evans
• 19Foord
• 20Maier
• 21Gut
• 24Stenson

Referee:

Lisa Benn

Match Stats

Home TeamAston Villa WomenAway TeamArsenal Women

Possession

Home22%

Away78%

Shots

Home5

Away30

Shots on Target

Home0

Away14

Corners

Home0

Away12

Fouls

Home8

Away3

Live Text

1. Post update

   Match ends, Aston Villa Women 0, Arsenal Women 4.

2. 90'+4'

   Full Time

   Second Half ends, Aston Villa Women 0, Arsenal Women 4.

3. 89'

   Post update

   Attempt missed. Stine Larsen (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.

4. 88'

   Goal!

   Goal! Aston Villa Women 0, Arsenal Women 4. Lisa Evans (Arsenal Women) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Katie McCabe with a cross.

5. 85'

   Booking

   Nadine Hanssen (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card.

6. 85'

   Post update

   Hand ball by Nadine Hanssen (Aston Villa Women).

7. 80'

   Substitution

   Substitution, Arsenal Women. Anna Patten replaces Noëlle Maritz.

8. 80'

   Substitution

   Substitution, Arsenal Women. Charlotte Wubben-Moy replaces Jennifer Beattie.

9. 79'

   Post update

   Attempt saved. Beth Mead (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Leonie Maier.

10. 78'

    Post update

    Attempt missed. Stine Larsen (Aston Villa Women) header from the left side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Elisha N'Dow with a cross.

11. 77'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Emma Follis replaces Mana Iwabuchi.

12. 76'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Arsenal Women. Leonie Maier replaces Daniëlle van de Donk.

13. 76'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Arsenal Women. Lisa Evans replaces Jill Roord.

14. 75'

    Post update

    Offside, Aston Villa Women. Mana Iwabuchi tries a through ball, but Stine Larsen is caught offside.

15. 75'

    Post update

    Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Freya Gregory.

16. 73'

    Goal!

    Goal! Aston Villa Women 0, Arsenal Women 3. Katie McCabe (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Jill Roord.

17. 73'

    Post update

    Attempt missed. Jill Roord (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Lia Wälti.

18. 71'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Arsenal Women. Caitlin Foord replaces Vivianne Miedema.

19. 71'

    Post update

    Attempt missed. Beth Mead (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left.

20. 69'

    Post update

    Foul by Beth Mead (Arsenal Women).

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