Live Blog: Arsenal Women take on London City Lionesses in FA Cup fifth round

January signing Jenna Nighswonger makes her debut for the Gunners



Live Blog: Arsenal Women take on London City Lionesses in FA Cup fifth round

Credit- Suzy Lycett @boodlepim


Live BLog Sunday Feb 9th

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

  1. Freddie Cardy: 15:55 #6487

    Full time: Arsenal 2-0 London City Lionesses.

  2. Freddie Cardy: 15:54 #6486

    90+5' Here's the free-kick, then. Oof! Boye-Hlorkah skims the crossbar with an excellent effort! 2-0

  3. Freddie Cardy: 15:53 #6485

    90+4' Ilestedt brings down her fellow Swede Jakbsson and London City have a late free-kick. Ilestedt is booked. 2-0

  4. Freddie Cardy: 15:51 #6484

    90+1' Off the crossbar! Maanum sets up Mariona who finds some space and smashes her shot off the underside of the bar. 2-0

  5. Freddie Cardy: 15:48 #6483

    89' Codina sends in a cross for Russo but she can't direct her header towards goal. The two sides just going through the motions now. 2-0

  6. Freddie Cardy: 15:46 #6482

    88' Kyra Cooney-Cross is the Arsenal Women Supporters Club Player of the Match. She's replaced by Amanda Ilestedt with two minutes remaining. 2-0

  7. Freddie Cardy: 15:45 #6481

    86' 2,483 is the official attendance at Meadow Park. Roddar and Campbell are replaced by Mengyu and Fitzgerald for the visitors. 2-0

  8. Freddie Cardy: 15:43 #6480

    85' Russo cuts inside and the ever-present Kumagai is back to make the block. 2-0

  9. Freddie Cardy: 15:42 #6479

    83' It's Blackstenius' 50th Arsenal goal. 2-0

  10. Freddie Cardy: 15:41 #6478

    82' Goal! Arsenal have their second with 8 minutes remaining. Maanum's shot is saved and Blackstenius converts the rebound. 2-0

  11. Freddie Cardy: 15:39 #6477

    81' Fox's first involvement is to flash the ball across goal from the right side, no one is there to meet it. 1-0

  12. Freddie Cardy: 15:37 #6476

    79' Emily Fox replaces Katie Reid at right-back. 1-0

  13. Freddie Cardy: 15:36 #6475

    77' Another change for the visitors as Asllani is withdrawn. Former Reims midfielder Meyong comes on- she played there under Leicester boss Amandine Miquel. 1-0

  14. Freddie Cardy: 15:34 #6474

    76' It's safe to say this has not been a classic FA Cup tie at Meadow Park, not one that will live long in the memory unless we get some late drama. 1-0

  15. Freddie Cardy: 15:33 #6473

    74' And a minute later, Brougham is booked for a foul on Russo. 1-0

  16. Freddie Cardy: 15:32 #6472

    73' Yellow card for Asllani, the first booking of the game after making one foul too many. 1-0

  17. Freddie Cardy: 15:31 #6471

    72' Great long ball to set up Blackstenius who collides with the brave Orman, rushing out to intercept. Foul on the keeper. 1-0

  18. Freddie Cardy: 15:30 #6470

    71' A foul on McCabe by Goldie gives Arsenal a free-kick from a very narrow angle. Cooney-Cross' delivery is flicked over the bar by Brougham. 1-0

  19. Freddie Cardy: 15:28 #6469

    70' Stina Blackstenius comes on for Cailtin Foord. 1-0

  20. Freddie Cardy: 15:25 #6468

    66' Maanum breaks into the box but her low cross is well defended. McCabe then jinks past a defender before Roddar clears. 1-0

  21. Freddie Cardy: 15:23 #6467

    65' She's able to continue as we get back underway. 1-0

  22. Freddie Cardy: 15:21 #6466

    63' Codina is being attended to after a clash of heads with Boye-Hlorkah. 1-0

  23. Freddie Cardy: 15:16 #6465

    58' Russo with a first time effort from the edge of the box, straight at the goalkeeper. 1-0

  24. Freddie Cardy: 15:13 #6464

    55' Wilde replaces Neville for London City. 1-0

  25. Freddie Cardy: 15:12 #6463

    53' Mariona sets up Maanum and her shot is blocked behind for a corner. Arsenal piling on some pressure now. 1-0

  26. Freddie Cardy: 15:10 #6462

    51' McCabe slips through Russo before the ball is worked out to Cooney-Cross, who shoots from range and draws a save from Orman. 1-0

  27. Freddie Cardy: 15:05 #6461

    46' Maanum is in behind after 18 seconds and her outside of the right foot shot is saved by Orman. 1-0

  28. Freddie Cardy: 15:04 #6460

    46' The second half is underway. 1-0

  29. Freddie Cardy: 15:04 #6459

    And Boye-Hlorkah comes on for Goodwin. Surprised to see her taken off but Boye-Hlorkah scored a hat-trick in round four against Fulham.

  30. Freddie Cardy: 15:03 #6458

    Lia Walti comes on for Jenna Nighswonger at half-time.

  31. Freddie Cardy: 14:59 #6457

    It almost feels a little condescending towards the lower-league club to allow them to play her, like you're confident enough in winning the game that it won't matter. Imagine if Goldie scores the winner today...

  32. Freddie Cardy: 14:59 #6456

    Have to say I'm not a fan of Arsenal allowing Teyah Goldie to play against them this afternoon as part of her loan deal. Giving a top Championship side any advantage in a key FA Cup game like this just doesn't seem right to me.

  33. Freddie Cardy: 14:48 #6455

    Half time: Arsenal Women 1-0 London City Lionesses.

  34. Freddie Cardy: 14:45 #6454

    45' Russo is well-watched by Imuran down to the byline and ends up winning a goal kick. Excellent defending from her and the visitors so far. 1-0

  35. Freddie Cardy: 14:45 #6453

    45+1' Three added minutes. 1-0

  36. Freddie Cardy: 14:42 #6452

    43' Foord looks to cross for Russo but it floats behind for a goal kick. 1-0

  37. Freddie Cardy: 14:41 #6451

    42' A nervy moment for Brougham who is closed down by Mariona and gets her clearance away in the nick of time. 1-0

  38. Freddie Cardy: 14:38 #6450

    39' What a chance! Asllani sends in a perfect cross into the six yard box and Jakobsson can't quite adjust her body to put the shot on target. Should have scored. 1-0

  39. Freddie Cardy: 14:36 #6449

    37' McCabe's corner is headed into the hands of Brougham by Codina, who's proving to be a nuisance at the back post. 1-0

  40. Freddie Cardy: 14:34 #6448

    35' Remember Codina scoring a similar header away to Southampton in pre-season as part of a brace that afternoon. 1-0

  41. Freddie Cardy: 14:32 #6447

    33' GOAL! Laia Codina with a brilliant header at the back post, meeting Cooney-Cross' floated ball in and powering it over the goalkeeper into the far corner! 1-0

  42. Freddie Cardy: 14:31 #6446

    31' Foord drives infield and plays a very clever ball through to Russo, who looked offside. She's closed down quickly and LCL make the block. 0-0

  43. Freddie Cardy: 14:29 #6445

    30' Also, Saki Kumagai in midfield, what a treat to watch her go about her business. Some coup for the Championship side to secure her services. 0-0

  44. Freddie Cardy: 14:28 #6444

    28' Close! Jakobsson gets into the box and curls a shot just wide of the far post. A warning from the away side. 0-0

  45. Freddie Cardy: 14:24 #6443

    25' Mariona's cross is then headed away. Russo works the ball to Foord and Arsenal go all the way back into defence. 0-0

  46. Freddie Cardy: 14:24 #6442

    25' Strong save by Orman to deny Russo's first effort of the game. That was travelling. 0-0

  47. Freddie Cardy: 14:21 #6441

    22' Another big block by Arsenal loanee Goldie to deny Maanum on the turn, she's been crucial for London City in defence. 0-0

  48. Freddie Cardy: 14:20 #6440

    20' Now a break in play as Campbell is down for London City and requiring treatment. She's hobbling off with the physios but I think she'll continue. 0-0

  49. Freddie Cardy: 14:17 #6439

    18' Now Imuran gets past Reid but her cross is claimed by Zinsberger. 0-0

  50. Freddie Cardy: 14:17 #6438

    17' Excellent defending by Wubben-Moy to use her body to defend against the dangerous Goodwin, eventually winning a free-kick. 0-0

  51. Freddie Cardy: 14:15 #6437

    16' A stoppage here as something has gone wrong with Reid's right boot. Cooney-Cross is helping her out, and now she's back up to continue. Cold hands trying to do her laces, perhaps? 0-0

  52. Freddie Cardy: 14:14 #6436

    15' Imuran works the ball into the box after a misplaced Arsenal throw-in but Asllani's cross can only find McCabe and the Gunners clear. 0-0

  53. Freddie Cardy: 14:11 #6435

    11' Cooney-Cross' corner is crossed back in by Foord who did superbly to work something from a poor ball in. McCabe sends it back in and Wubben-Moy and Maanum are both denied. 0-0

  54. Freddie Cardy: 14:10 #6434

    10' Lovely turn by Foord to burst past two midfielders, and Mariona can drive forward to win a corner. 0-0

  55. Freddie Cardy: 14:06 #6433

    7' Cooney-Cross takes the ball for a Sunday jog, weaving around the midfield before being brought down. All Arsenal so far. 0-0

  56. Freddie Cardy: 14:02 #6432

    4' The pitch at Meadow Park definitely looks a little worse for wear after Boreham Wood played on it yesterday. 0-0

  57. Freddie Cardy: 14:01 #6431

    3' McCabe looks to be playing at left-back with Nighswonger in midfield and Mariona on the left wing. 0-0

  58. Freddie Cardy: 13:59 #6430

    1' Underway! 0-0

  59. Freddie Cardy: 13:58 #6429

    Poor Jenna Nighswonger lines up next to Katie Reid as the teams enter the pitch- the height difference between left-back and right-back is notable!

  60. Freddie Cardy: 13:56 #6428

    Here come the teams!

  61. Freddie Cardy: 13:56 #6427

    Arsenal beat London City 4-0 in Dartford last season in the Conti Cup quarter-final, with Cloe Lacasse hitting a brace and Kim Little & Alessia Russo also on target.

  62. Freddie Cardy: 13:53 #6426

    No team has won more FA Cups than Arsenal's 14, but somehow the Gunners haven't lifted the trophy since 2015/16, beating Chelsea 1-0 in the final.

  63. Freddie Cardy: 13:49 #6425

    Arsenal's hopes of a third consecutive League Cup victory were extinguished by Manchester City on Thursday night, only a few days after the Gunners won 4-3 in the WSL against the same side.

  64. Freddie Cardy: 13:45 #6424

    London City travelled to the west of the capital to beat lower league Fulham 5-0 in the fourth round, whilst Arsenal beat Bristol City by the same scoreline.

  65. Freddie Cardy: 13:41 #6423

    Sweden legend Kosovare Asllani and five-time Champions League winner Saki Kumagai, who won the 2011 World Cup with Japan, both start for London City. Not bad for a Championship side!

  66. Freddie Cardy: 13:40 #6422

    London City have lofty aspirations of WSL football and beyond, and sit one point behind league leaders Birmingham City at the top of the Championship, with a game in hand.

  67. Freddie Cardy: 13:39 #6421

    Arsenal knew they would play London City in this fixture (if they beat Bristol City) ten days before Godfrey's loan move was confirmed, whereas Goldie joined LCL last summer.

  68. Freddie Cardy: 13:35 #6420

    Clarification on Goldie and Godfrey- I'm told that Goldie's loan deal allows her to play against Arsenal, but Godfrey's does not.

  69. Freddie Cardy: 13:34 #6419

    Alessia Russo is back upfront for Arsenal after two games in which Stina Blackstenius led the line. Katie McCabe is pushed up onto the wing with Nighswonger at left-back.

  70. Freddie Cardy: 13:29 #6418

    So Arsenal loanee Teyah Goldie starts against her parent club for the Championship side. There's no place in the squad for fellow Gunner Freya Godfrey.

  71. Freddie Cardy: 13:28 #6417

    LCL subs: Utteridge, Brown, Wilde, Meyong, Mengyu, Fitzgerald, Marashi, Boye-Hlorkah.

  72. Freddie Cardy: 13:26 #6416

    London City Lionesses: Orman, Neville, Brougham, Goldie, Campbell, Imuran, Kumagai, Roddar, Jakobsson, Goodwin, Asllani.

  73. Freddie Cardy: 13:26 #6415

    Arsenal subs: van Domselaar, Williams, Fox, Williamson, Catley, Walti, Blackstenius, Ilestedt.

  74. Freddie Cardy: 13:25 #6414

    Arsenal: Zinsberger; Nighswonger, Codina, Wubben-Moy, Reid; Mariona, Cooney-Cross; McCabe, Maanum, Foord; Russo.

  75. Freddie Cardy: 13:24 #6413

    Renee Slegers will give the specifics post match, I'm sure but Beth Mead and Rosa Kafaji are both out for Arsenal.

  76. Freddie Cardy: 13:23 #6412

    Team news is in, and Jenna Nighswonger makes her Arsenal debut.

  77. Freddie Cardy: 13:21 #6411

    Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of Arsenal Women's FA Cup fifth round clash against London City Lionesses.


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