Live Blog: Arsenal Women host Aston Villa on WSL final day!

Follow all of the action as Arsenal Women take on Aston Villa at a sunny Meadow Park.



Live Blog: Arsenal Women host Aston Villa on WSL final day!

Arsenal fans will be singing loud and proud for one final time this season. Credit- @cardyfreddie


Live BLog Saturday May 27th

Please stand-by, this page will automatically update with live commentary and comments

  1. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:30 #2285

    Time for the presentations and post match reaction, so make sure to follow me on twitter @cardyfreddie and keep an eye on our website!

  2. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:29 #2284

    Arsenal's season ends in defeat thanks to goals from Daly and Lehmann, but the Gunners have secured Champions League football for 2022/23.

  3. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:29 #2283

    FULL TIME: Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa

  4. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:27 #2282

    Fantastic save from D'Angelo, diving away to her right to keep the score down to 0-2.

  5. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:26 #2281

    Today's attendance is 4,081 at Meadow Park. 0-2

  6. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:25 #2280

    Pacheco fouls McCabe as we approach the full time whistle. 0-2

  7. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:22 #2279

    This will be Arsenal's first defeat at Meadow Park in over 13 months. Gio's shot is saved by Hampton. 0-2

  8. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:20 #2278

    91' Nine minutes of added time, which is completely fair enough but won't really please anyone! Remi Allen's final game in an Aston Villa shirt comes to an end as she is replaced by Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah. 0-2

  9. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:19 #2277

    Full time: Reading 0-3 Chelsea- Chelsea are champions once again and Reading are down to the Championship

  10. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:17 #2276

    88' The Player of the Match, in her final Arsenal game, is Rafaelle! 0-2

  11. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:17 #2275

    88' McCabe slips the ball wide to Kuhl who bends a shot wide of the far post. 0-2

  12. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:15 #2274

    86' McCabe is booked, hopefully for the last time this season although you never know... 0-2

  13. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:14 #2273

    85' Yellow card now for Hannah Hampton, who is then cynically tripped by McCabe after claiming the ball. Looking forward to forgetting this game ever happened already. 0-2

  14. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:13 #2272

    84' Sarah Mayling goes down injured after blocking a cross and rolls back onto the pitch to delay proceedings. 0-2

  15. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:12 #2271

    83' Stay with me at full time for the post-match end of season presentations, which I'll cover live before hearing from Jonas Eidevall. 0-2

  16. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:10 #2270

    81' Arsenal make a second substitution with Gio coming on for Jodie Taylor. 0-2

  17. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:08 #2269

    79' Daly's header is saved by D'Angelo before the offside flag goes up. 0-2

  18. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:07 #2268

    78' Good play from Arsenal as Taylor swivels and lays the ball off to Maanum, but her shot is straight down the throat of Hampton. 0-2

  19. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:06 #2267

    78' Frustrations are boiling over for Arsenal now- there's an altercation between Hanson and Maritz before Pelova is fouled. 0-2

  20. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:04 #2266

    75' Big appeals for a penalty are waved away after Catley was pushed over. Manchester United finally lead Liverpool but the title is going to be Chelsea's. 0-2

  21. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:02 #2265

    73' Huge chance for substitute Simone Magill who should have scored, putting the ball over the bar from close range. 0-2

  22. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:01 #2264

    73' McCabe has bodied Lehmann into next week and came away with the ball. 0-2

  23. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 16:00 #2263

    71' Another corner for Villa with less than twenty minutes left of the season. Rachel Daly is still causing havoc. 0-2

  24. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:58 #2262

    3-0 now to Man City. 6 goals to go...

  25. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:57 #2261

    68' Hanson may well have been fouled in the box but the ref played advantage to allow Daly to get a shot away, but it was blasted over. 0-2

  26. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:56 #2260

    67' Simone Magill comes on for Lucy Staniforth. 0-2

  27. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:52 #2259

    63' Taylor's cross evades both Rafaelle and Wubben-Moy and Hanson again can burst forward down the left, but her pass can only find D'Angelo. 0-2

  28. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:51 #2258

    62' Good work by McCabe to win Arsenal a corner. The next goal has to be theirs. 0-2

  29. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:49 #2257

    2-0 to Manchester City now, who need 7 more goals in this second half to take the final Champions League spot from Arsenal!

  30. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:48 #2256

    60' Not far wide from Taylor! Maanum looked up and found Maritz, and Taylor almost turned in her cross. 0-2

  31. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:48 #2255

    59' Free kick for Villa on the left hand side is headed away by Beattie. Great tracking by Blinkilde to stop Pelova breaking. 0-2

  32. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:44 #2254

    55' D'Angelo goes down for the tactical timeout, and Arsenal need it. Villa have played their cards perfectly here and taken their chances- the Gunners are looking forward to this season being over. 0-2

  33. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:42 #2253

    53' Brilliant recovery from Wubben-Moy but it was a mess of her own making- terribly sloppy in possession and Daly should really have scored. 0-2

  34. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:41 #2252

    52' Hanson drives down the left and sees D'Angelo off her line- the lob was almost good enough to creep under the crossbar but D'Angelo held on. Man City lead Everton and need nine more goals for Champions League football! 0-2

  35. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:40 #2251

    51' Arsenal have pulled off a fair few comebacks this season- have they got enough in the tank to turn this game around? 0-2

  36. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:39 #2250

    The ball broke for Alisha Lehmann in the box and she slotted it past D'Angelo to double Villa's lead.

  37. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:38 #2249

    49' GOAL! Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa

  38. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:37 #2248

    48' Catley and Kuhl combine but the Aussie can't quite get to Kuhl's return pass. 0-1

  39. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:34 #2247

    46' Back UNDERWAY for the second half! Taylor is into the central striker role. 0-1

  40. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:33 #2246

    Stina Blackstenius is the player taken off.

  41. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:32 #2245

    Arsenal are back out first for the second half. Kathrine Kuhl is preparing to come on.

  42. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:29 #2244

    Elsewhere in the WSL at half time it's 0-0 between Brighton and Leicester, Liverpool and Man United and Man City and Everton. West Ham are 2-1 up against Spurs whilst Chelsea are getting set to lift the WSL trophy- they have a two goal cushion against Reading, who will be relegated.

  43. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:27 #2243

    Arsenal head groundsman Ben Howell is leaving the club at the end of the season after 10 years of service and is being presented with a gift by Kim Little.

  44. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:22 #2242

    That goal also means that Daly has equalled a certain Viv Miedema's record for the most goals in a WSL season....

  45. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:20 #2241

    Rachel Daly’s goal in injury time means that Arsenal will have to come from behind as they did in the reverse fixture- they’ve been the better team but have lacked that final pass.

  46. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:18 #2240

    HALF TIME: Arsenal 0-1 Aston Villa

  47. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:18 #2239

    48' Rafaelle hits a strong clearance straight into the back of Remi Allen's head- she was lying on the turf and that's going to hurt, but she will soldier on. 0-1

  48. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:17 #2238

    D'Angelo can't collect the cross and a shot is cleared off the line before Daly was there to rifle in her 22nd WSL goal of the season. Drama before half time and Daly was absolutely delighted.

  49. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:16 #2237

    47' GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Aston Villa!

  50. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:16 #2236

    46' Hanson, who scored the opener in the reverse fixture, wins a corner off Maritz. 0-0

  51. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:15 #2235

    46' Three added minutes at the end of the first half. 0-0

  52. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:14 #2234

    44' This time Catley fouls Lehmann but Rafaelle heads away the free kick. 0-0

  53. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:14 #2233

    44' This time Catley fouls Lehmann but Rafaelle heads away the free kick. 0-0

  54. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:13 #2232

    2-0 now to Chelsea against Reading- they will be crowned WSL champions for a fourth consecutive season. Reiten has the second after setting up the first. It's still goalless between Liverpool and Man United.

  55. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:12 #2231

    42' Foul by Lehmann on Catley who wins a free kick. It's taken short as Arsenal build from the back with the clock ticking down towards half time. 0-0

  56. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:09 #2230

    40' McCabe was running in behind and Hampton had to come a long way from goal to clear the ball out of Meadow Park. 0-0

  57. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:08 #2229

    38' The corner is flicked on and falls for Pelova, who's shot is scuffed high and wide. 0-0

  58. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:07 #2228

    38' Finally some space for Maanum to run into and her strike is beaten away by Hampton at her near post- a nice height for the keeper. 0-0

  59. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:06 #2227

    Aston Villa held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw on the final day of the 2020/21 season...

  60. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:04 #2226

    35' Taylor finds Catley who stretches to keep the ball in play, and her cross deflects into the hands of Hampton. 0-0

  61. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:03 #2225

    33' Arsenal give the ball away, Hanson crosses for Pacheco who slips the ball across goal but it can only find an Arsenal player. 0-0

  62. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 15:01 #2224

    32' Another (adjudged) foul by Taylor and she is shown a yellow card. 0-0

  63. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:59 #2223

    29' Villa are very well organised in defence under Carla Ward and have plenty of experience across the park. Arsenal are struggling to find a way through so far. 0-0

  64. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:56 #2222

    27' Good to see Blackstenius back up on her feet as Villa take their time to get things back underway. 0-0

  65. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:54 #2221

    25' Blackstenius goes down in the box under pressure from Turner and she will receive some treatment as both teams grab a drink. 20 degrees here in Hertfordshire! 0-0

  66. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:53 #2220

    24' Daly was completely unmarked from the free kick and played the ball across the box but Beattie cleared. 0-0

  67. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:52 #2219

    23' Some passes are just not sticking for Arsenal and Villa can enjoy some possession midway through the first half. Lehmann is fouled by Taylor on the right wing. 0-0

  68. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:49 #2218

    20' Chance for a counter as Pelova finds Maritz before Blackstenius is offside again in a great position. 0-0

  69. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:48 #2217

    Sam Kerr has scored for Chelsea, on the final day, once again! Reading 0-1 Chelsea.

  70. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:48 #2216

    19' Long range effort from McCabe flashes wide- it was travelling. 0-0

  71. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:46 #2215

    Goalless everywhere in the WSL so far.

  72. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:44 #2214

    14' Just feel that Arsenal are missing Pelova and Maanum in a more advanced role- both have been magnificent this season but are having to fill in at the base of midfield due to all of Arsenal's injuries. The Gunners don't really have anyone up there supporting Blackstenius in this formation. 0-0

  73. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:42 #2213

    12' Blackstenius cuts inside in the box but Pacheco defends well. An end to end game so far with Arsenal doing most of the attacking. 0-0

  74. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:39 #2212

    9' Daly launches an attack with a backheel but Maritz was there to close down Hanson. 0-0

  75. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:38 #2211

    8' Lots of space for Maritz who flicks the ball over Hanson's head before Arsenal switch the play and find Blackstenius, who very nearly finds the back of the net with a little chip. 0-0

  76. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:35 #2210

    6' Maritz plays Blackstenius through into the box but the flag is raised. That looked tight. 0-0

  77. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:34 #2209

    4' Sloppy from Pacheco on the edge of her box and McCabe wins the ball, but Turner slides in to put it behind for Arsenal's first corner. 0-0

  78. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:32 #2208

    3' McCabe is on the right wing for Arsenal and Taylor on the left, with Walti and Pelova in holding midfield. 0-0

  79. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:30 #2207

    1' UNDERWAY at Meadow Park with Arsenal kicking from left to right. 0-0

  80. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:29 #2206

    One final blast of "North London Forever" before kick off, and we're all set!

  81. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:28 #2205

    These new kits are definitely growing on me! Villa are in all black as Katie McCabe and Remi Allen meet in the middle for the coin toss.

  82. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:24 #2204

    For the final time this season both teams stride out onto the pitch at Meadow Park as Arsenal fans wave their flags- it's a brilliant, final day atmosphere.

  83. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:20 #2203

    Ten minutes until kick-off! A reminder that the only way that Arsenal can miss out on Champions League qualification today if if they lose here and Manchester City beat Everton, with an ELEVEN goal swing in City's favour, such is the gap between the two sides in terms of goal difference.

  84. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:16 #2202

    Meadow Park is understandably not top of the list if you are a neutral this afternoon. Chelsea will win a fourth consecutive WSL title with a win over bottom of the table Reading- even a draw would mean that Manchester United have to win by 6 goals against Liverpool to win their first ever league title. We'll keep you up to date with the action at both ends of the table.

  85. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:12 #2201

    Arsenal CEO Vina Venkatesham is presenting a framed shirt with the number 100 on the back to Manu Zinsberger, who recently brought up her century of games for the Gunners.

  86. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:09 #2200

    Daly has been banging the goals away in Villa's warm up here too, and will be a real handful for Arsenal's defence.

  87. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:08 #2199

    Rachel Daly was named the WSL player of the season after scoring 21 goals in 21 league games after joining Villa from Houston Dash last summer. A versatile player, Daly started every game of England's victorious Euro 2022 campaign at right back but has shone upfront this season. She is also three goals clear of Khadija Shaw in the race to take home the golden boot.

  88. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 14:04 #2198

    The brass band have made it to Meadow Park and are helping out with some of the chanting in the North Bank- all four corners of the ground have been singing since fans came through the turnstiles just over an hour ago.

  89. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 13:58 #2197

    Arsenal have announced over the tannoy that their players and coaches will be doing a lap of appreciation for the fans after today's game, with some presentations also to come.

  90. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 13:52 #2196

    Aston Villa manager Carla Ward will stay at the club until the end of the 2024/25 season after signing a contract extension ahead of today's game, with the option to extend for a further year. It's been a remarkable season for Villa, who will finish fifth in the WSL thanks to some fantastic recruitment both last summer and in January.

  91. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 13:48 #2195

    Jonas Eidevall's programme notes: "A huge thank you to everyone, especially the Arsenal Women's Supporters Club, The Red and White and AWFC home and away, who have been instrumental in creating an atmosphere to be proud of".

  92. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 13:46 #2194

    Both sides are out to warm up, with Rafaelle serenaded by the home fans ahead of her final game here.

  93. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 13:43 #2193

    Arsenal will be wearing next season's adidas kits for the first time this afternoon, a day before the men don the new threads against Wolves.

  94. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 13:36 #2192

    Katie Reid, Michelle Agyemang and Ruby Doe are all on the bench for Arsenal after their U17 Euros for England were ended at the semi final stage with a 3-1 defeat to Spain.

  95. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 13:35 #2191

    Remi Allen will play her final game for Villa today, with Rafaelle doing the same for Arsenal after her departure was confirmed yesterday amongst speculation that the Brazilian will join Orlando City in the NWSL.

  96. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 13:33 #2190

    Aston Villa: Hampton, Mayling, Allen, Corsie, Lehmann, Daly, Staniforth, Turner, Blinkilde, Hanson, Pacheco.

  97. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 13:32 #2189

    Arsenal: D'Angelo, Maritz, Wubben-Moy, Beattie, Rafaelle, Catley, Pelova, Maanum, McCabe, Taylor, Blackstenius.

  98. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 13:30 #2188

    Team news is in, and Jordan Nobbs misses out due to injury and won't be able to face her former club.

  99. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 13:27 #2187

    Meadow Park is full of Arsenal fans already- Arsenal's brass band was serenading the supporters as they basked in the sun and enjoyed some drinks in the town centre earlier this afternoon.

  100. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 13:25 #2186

    Good afternoon for the final time in 2022/23! The sun is shining down on Meadow Park as Arsenal Women get set to take on Aston Villa, with Champions League qualification all but secured for the Gunners. Team news is just five minutes away.


NEW! Subscribe to our weekly Gooner Fanzine newsletter for all the latest news, views, and videos from the intelligent voice of Arsenal supporters since 1987.

Please note that we will not share your email address with any 3rd parties.


Article Rating

Leave a comment

Sign-in with your Online Gooner forum login to add your comment. If you do not have a login register here.