Arsenal Women continued their upturn in form with an impressive win over Reading at Meadow Park in front of a packed crowd.

The news from the Arsenal team sheet was that Stina Blackstenius was on the bench due to illness with Frida Maanum starting as a striker. Jonas Eidevall elected to play Noelle Maritz at left back, a position the right footer has played for Switzerland. Leah Williamson moved into midfield with a start for Wubben-Moy at centre half.

With fewer than four minutes played Katie McCabe was dragged down in the penalty area, and there could be only one result when the referee pointed to the spot and Kim Little stepped up. Grace Moloney guessed correctly and dived to her left, but Little’s spot kick was too powerful and gave the Gunners the perfect start.

Frida Maanum was always involved and tested Moloney with a header and then a close range effort, and the goalkeeper was up to the task again when McCabe’s powerful strike was kept out at the near post.

Arsenal continued to put pressure on the Royals, who came into the game just four points clear of the relegation zone, with a flowing move between McCabe, Maanum and Little almost resulting in an exquisite second goal. Leah Williamson then tested Moloney again with a first time strike that was too tame to cause any real danger.

Forty minutes after Little’s early penalty goal, the Gunners finally found their second. Foord was played through into the penalty area and squared the ball on a plate to Frida Maanum, who added another to her impressive goalscoring tally this season just before half time.

It was the ideal end to the first half, and the start to the second was even better. A driving run from Williamson then found Maanum, who played the ball back across goal. Sliding in to defend was Emma Mukandi, who could only put the ball into her own net to give Reading a huge mountain to climb. Maanum then scored the goal of the game from distance but the offside flag was up after Wienroither’s chipped pass.

Stina Blackstenius has been under the microscope after the injuries to Mead and Miedema but the striker has found form in the last week, and was introduced in place of after the hour mark along with Victoria Pelova as McCabe dropped to left back with Maritz swapping flank. Blackstenius was quickly played through on goal but her shot was straight at Moloney, a well timed run but lack of composure where it was needed.

It was then time for the biggest cheer of the night. Caitlin Foord burst past her marker to get to the byline, finding Blackstenius who’s shot was saved straight into the path of Leah Williamson, who found the back of the net before leaping into the air in celebration. Reading finally responded with some superb combination play on the edge of the box between Rowe and Woodham before the latter unleashed a strike that skimmed the crossbar with Manu Zinsberger beaten.

The talented Katherine Kuhl was introduced from the bench and dispatched a perfectly weighted through ball with the outside of her right foot to play through Blackstenius, who rounded Moloney before her shot trickled just wide of the far post. Again Kuhl was the provider, this time to Pelova, but the valiant Moloney was quick off her line to close down the ball and keep the score to 4-0.

A sold out Meadow Park enjoyed every kick of a dominant and clinical Arsenal victory. The Gunners take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter finals up next, and have hit form at just the right time.