Live Blog: Arsenal Women travel to Leicester City looking to go second in the WSL

Jonas Eidevall's side have never failed to beat or even concede against Leicester



Live Blog: Arsenal Women travel to Leicester City looking to go second in the WSL

A chilly and wet evening at the King Power Stadium. Credit- @cardyfreddie


Live BLog Sunday Nov 12th

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

  1. Freddie Cardy: 20:53 #2906

    Arsenal move up to second in the Women's Super League!

  2. Freddie Cardy: 20:53 #2905

    Those second half goalscorers then: Lacasse, Russo, Foord, Pelova, Blackstenius, and then Hurtig, after Tierney and Cayman had put Leicester 2-0 up at half time. A crazy game of football.

  3. Freddie Cardy: 20:51 #2904

    Full time! Leicester City 2-6 Arsenal Women!

  4. Freddie Cardy: 20:48 #2903

    90+8' GOAL! Leicester 2-6 Arsenal- Lina Hurtig has her goal! It’s more than deserved for the Swede, who times her run in behind to perfection and slips the ball past Leitzig deep into added time. 2-6

  5. Freddie Cardy: 20:46 #2902

    90+6' Noelle Maritz comes on for Kyra Cooney-Cross. 2-5

  6. Freddie Cardy: 20:45 #2901

    90+5' Again, Mead goes close! She's played through on goal and it's a fantastic stop by Leitzig. 2-5

  7. Freddie Cardy: 20:42 #2900

    90+3 So unlucky from Beth Mead who hits the post after a brilliant low cross from Hurtig. 25

  8. Freddie Cardy: 20:41 #2899

    90+1' 10 minutes added on. Kathrine Kuhl comes on for Alessia Russo. 2-5

  9. Freddie Cardy: 20:38 #2898

    89' Arsenal have had this game sealed for a good while now and are comfortable keeping possession. Credit to Leicester who have never given up, but it has been a capitulation at the back for the Foxes in this second half. 2-5

  10. Freddie Cardy: 20:34 #2897

    85' Blackstenius shifts the ball away from her marker and strikes the side netting with a powerful hit. 2-5

  11. Freddie Cardy: 20:30 #2896

    81' Off the post from Lina Hurtig! The Swede did well to create a chance for herself and it almost creeps in past Leitzig. 2-5

  12. Freddie Cardy: 20:29 #2895

    79' Hannah Cain receives treatment but is quickly back on her feet to be substituted. Ava Baker is introduced along with Josie Green and Aimee Palmer. 2-5

  13. Freddie Cardy: 20:28 #2894

    78' Interesting to note that Katie McCabe has moved into midfield with Victoria Pelova now at right-back, a position she has often plaued for her national side. 2-5

  14. Freddie Cardy: 20:25 #2893

    75' GOAL! Leicester 2-5 Arsenal- A striker’s finish by Blackstenius to surely seal all three points for the Gunners. So much better from Eidevall's side. 2-5

  15. Freddie Cardy: 20:21 #2892

    72' Mead fires just wide of the far post! 2-4

  16. Freddie Cardy: 20:21 #2891

    71' Whelan comes on for Rantala as Leicester make a switch. 2-4

  17. Freddie Cardy: 20:20 #2890

    70' Hurtig flicks Cooney-Cross' corner onto the top of the crossbar, so close for the Swede! 2-4

  18. Freddie Cardy: 20:19 #2889

    70' Mead flashes the ball across goal and it's blocked behind for an Arsenal corner. 2-4

  19. Freddie Cardy: 20:18 #2888

    68' KCC's shot is palmed into the air by Leitzig before Russo heads over. It was Maanum, not Catley who was substituted there. 2-4

  20. Freddie Cardy: 20:16 #2887

    67' Lacasse, Foord and Catley are the players withdrawn. Hurtig, Blackstenius and Mead come on. 2-4

  21. Freddie Cardy: 20:15 #2886

    65' Pelova cuts onto her left foot to set up Russo but she can't get a shot away. Hurtig, Blackstenius and Mead are all preparing to come on for Arsenal. 2-4

  22. Freddie Cardy: 20:13 #2885

    63' A quite incredible second half turnaround from Arsenal, who lead 4-2 after being 2-0 down at half time.

  23. Freddie Cardy: 20:12 #2884

    61' GOAL! Leicester 2-4 Arsenal. Goodwin goes down in the box but appeals for a penalty are waved away. Moments later, Victoria Pelova bundles home another counter attack and Arsenal double their lead! 2-4

  24. Freddie Cardy: 20:09 #2883

    58' GOAL! Leicester 2-3 Arsenal- Caitlin Foord finishes off Arsenal's counter-attack with a delightful strike, and the Gunners lead. 2-3

  25. Freddie Cardy: 20:06 #2882

    57' Foord tees up Maanum and her shot is blocked. Momentum with Arsenal. 2-2

  26. Freddie Cardy: 20:06 #2881

    56' Any stoppage will not be welcomed in this cold weather but there has beeb a lengthy one here after Howard went down injured. Eventually we're back underway. 2-2

  27. Freddie Cardy: 20:04 #2880

    54' Goals have come like London buses for both sides in this game! Sloppy defending at both ends and it's all to play for now with those goals from Lacasse and Russo. 2-2

  28. Freddie Cardy: 20:02 #2879

    52' GOAL! Leicester 2-2 Arsenal! Alessia Russo is alive in the box, stays onside and finishes past Leitzig- all square. 2-2

  29. Freddie Cardy: 20:00 #2878

    49' GOAL! Leicester 2-1 Arsenal- the travelling fans have been singing her chant all night and it’s Cloe Lacasse who pulls one back for the Gunners with a calm finish. 2-1

  30. Freddie Cardy: 19:58 #2877

    49' Loads of space for Goodwin but Catley is there to block her shot. Changes are surely imminent for Arsenal here. 2-0

  31. Freddie Cardy: 19:56 #2876

    47' Beth Mead is quickly out to warm up vigorously. 2-0

  32. Freddie Cardy: 19:55 #2875

    46' Back underway for the second half! 2-0

  33. Freddie Cardy: 19:54 #2874

    A half time substitution for Leicester as Missy Goodwin replaces Deanne Rose.

  34. Freddie Cardy: 19:51 #2873

    Leicester are out first for the second half.

  35. Freddie Cardy: 19:46 #2872

    All of the Arsenal substitutes with the exception of Vivianne Miedema are warming up at half time.

  36. Freddie Cardy: 19:39 #2871

    Half time: Leicester City 2-0 Arsenal Women. The Gunners rush down the tunnel after conceding twice in quick succession- a massive team talk for Jonas Eidevall.

  37. Freddie Cardy: 19:37 #2870

    45+6' Lacasse is shown yellow for a frustrated foul on Cain. Nevin's delivery is headed away by her compatriot Foord. 2-0

  38. Freddie Cardy: 19:36 #2869

    45+5' Russo moves the ball wide to Pelova, who exchanges passes with Lacasse before giving the ball away. 2-0

  39. Freddie Cardy: 19:35 #2868

    45+4' Cayman again is told off by the referee, this time for fouling Cooney-Cross, and two attempts for a quick free kick are not permitted. 2-0

  40. Freddie Cardy: 19:34 #2867

    45+3' Cayman pulls down Russo and Catley takes the free kick. It's headed away before Pelova pulls down her marker and is penalised. 2-0

  41. Freddie Cardy: 19:33 #2866

    45+2' Hannah Cain has time and space to unleash an effort that Zinsberger allows to fly over the crossbar. 2-0

  42. Freddie Cardy: 19:31 #2865

    45+1' Seven minutes of first half stoppage time. 2-0

  43. Freddie Cardy: 19:31 #2864

    45' Ilestedt heads away Leicester's corner and Lacasse scampers forward. She gets to the byline and pulls the ball back but Thibaud clears. 2-0

  44. Freddie Cardy: 19:29 #2863

    43' After failing to score in 395 minutes of football against Arsenal, Leicester netted twice in two minutes against the Gunners and are in control of this game. 2-0

  45. Freddie Cardy: 19:25 #2862

    38' GOAL! Leicester 2-0 Arsenal. Cain does well and crosses low to Cayman, who has the simple task of finishing past Zinsberger. 2-0

  46. Freddie Cardy: 19:23 #2861

    37' GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Arsenal. Leicester swing in a corner and it's headed towards goal unmarked, where Sam Tierney is there to head the Foxes into the lead. 1-0

  47. Freddie Cardy: 19:21 #2860

    35' Brilliant defending by Wubben-Moy to prevent Leicester taking the lead! Cain times her run in behind and slips the ball into Rose, but Wubben-Moy makes a crucial tackle to stop her from scoring. 0-0

  48. Freddie Cardy: 19:18 #2859

    32' Best chance of the game so far! Three Arsenal players could have gone for goal there, in the end it was Pelova who's lob over Leipzig is just wide. 0-0

  49. Freddie Cardy: 19:17 #2858

    31' Rose fouls Wubben-Moy deep in the Arsenal half. The travelling fans are quiet; perhaps uneasy. Arsenal have not clicked into gear and Leicester are enjoying themselves. 0-0

  50. Freddie Cardy: 19:15 #2857

    30' Pelova with a clever pass to find Catley in the box but the attack comes to nothing. 0-0

  51. Freddie Cardy: 19:14 #2856

    27' Chants of "boring boring Leicester" are met by shouts of "boring boring Arsenal". The Gunners nearly have their opener though as Caitlin Foord's shot is deflected over. 0-0

  52. Freddie Cardy: 19:11 #2855

    25' A lack of conviction about Arsenal's passing with Pelova now giving the ball away in a good area. Alessia Russo has been marked tightly by Sophie Howard and the Gunners need to up their tempo. 0-0

  53. Freddie Cardy: 19:08 #2854

    22' Lacasse is clever to win her side a corner after Maanum's pass into her took a nick off of a Leicester defender. Catley's cross is headed away. 0-0

  54. Freddie Cardy: 19:06 #2853

    20' Foul on Russo by Howard and KCC's free kick is well dealt with by Leicester. 0-0

  55. Freddie Cardy: 19:05 #2852

    19' England manager Sarina Wiegman is here watching on- she was in London earlier to see Spurs play Liverpool, so a busy day for the Dutchwoman. Ilestedt is good to go. 0-0

  56. Freddie Cardy: 19:03 #2851

    18' Ilestedt is now down receiving treatment and both sides will have a drink. 0-0

  57. Freddie Cardy: 19:03 #2850

    18' Headed away well by Ilestedt but then Zinsberger spills a cross back into the box- luckily for her Arsenal clear. 0-0

  58. Freddie Cardy: 19:02 #2849

    16' Rantala's cross is stabbed behind by Catley for a corner as Leicester continue their good spell. 0-0

  59. Freddie Cardy: 19:00 #2848

    15' Leicester are pressing Arsenal well here and have forced errors from Wubben-Moy and Foord. Good showing from the Foxes so far. 0-0

  60. Freddie Cardy: 18:58 #2847

    13' Leicester win the ball back high and Cayman's flicked header is wide of the far post. 0-0

  61. Freddie Cardy: 18:57 #2846

    12' Victoria Pelova is able to work an opportunity and bends her shot into the sidenetting. 0-0

  62. Freddie Cardy: 18:55 #2845

    9' Wide free kick on the left hand touchline is headed on by Russo and saved by Leitzig. The rebound fell to Wubben-Moy and Leitzig made herself big to make an important save. 0-0

  63. Freddie Cardy: 18:55 #2844

    9' Wide free kick on the left hand touchline is headed on by Russo and saved by Leitzig. The rebound fell to Wubben-Moy and Leitzig made herself big to make an important save. 0-0

  64. Freddie Cardy: 18:52 #2843

    6' Russo flicks on Cooney-Cross' ball in but it poses no harm to the goal. 0-0

  65. Freddie Cardy: 18:51 #2842

    6' Maanum is alive to a loose ball and her shot is blocked behind for a corner. 0-0

  66. Freddie Cardy: 18:51 #2841

    5' The corner is whipped in towards the near post and Cayman got there ahead of Wubben-Moy, with the last touch coming off the Belgian. 0-0

  67. Freddie Cardy: 18:50 #2840

    4' Janice Cayman's effort from outside of the box is deflected behind for a corner after McCabe gave the ball away. 0-0

  68. Freddie Cardy: 18:47 #2839

    2' It is indeed a back four with McCabe at right-back. 0-0

  69. Freddie Cardy: 18:46 #2838

    1' A loud chorus of Angel from the Arsenal supporters. 0-0

  70. Freddie Cardy: 18:46 #2837

    1' The teams take a knee and we are underway! Leicester in all blue and Arsenal in red and white. 0-0

  71. Freddie Cardy: 18:44 #2836

    Both sides observe the Last Post and a period of silence.

  72. Freddie Cardy: 18:39 #2835

    The tannoy here at the King Power are playing a 5th, or maybe even 6th Kasabian song before kick-off- can't complain as the Leicester locals are perfect for some pre-match belters!

  73. Freddie Cardy: 18:36 #2834

    Arsenal beat Bristol City 3-1 as they began their Conti Cup defence on Wednesday night, with Maanum, Wubben-Moy and Blackstenius scoring for the Gunners.

  74. Freddie Cardy: 18:35 #2833

    I've got player ratings to come as well as post-match reaction, all on the Gooner Fanzine website.

  75. Freddie Cardy: 18:32 #2832

    The Arsenal away end has filled up very nicely indeed. Fans gathered at The Local Hero pub from early on this afternoon for their traditional pre-match meet-up.

  76. Freddie Cardy: 18:27 #2831

    Less than twenty minutes until kick-off at the King Power. I was here a few weeks ago to watch the Lionesses beat Belgium 1-0 in front of an almost sold-out stadium. The ground is filling up around us in the main stand, but the other three stands will be empty tonight.

  77. Freddie Cardy: 18:22 #2830

    Arsenal midfielder Frida Maanum has netted four goals in four games against Leicester, including in both fixtures last season. Her winning goal in the 1-0 win at Meadow Park in May was a stunner.

  78. Freddie Cardy: 18:21 #2829

    The Foxes however are yet to score against Arsenal, let alone take any points off of the Gunners from the four WSL games between the two teams.

  79. Freddie Cardy: 18:14 #2828

    Leicester finished 10th in the WSL last season, 5 points clear of relegated Reading. An impressive feat considering the Foxes first won a league game midway through January!

  80. Freddie Cardy: 18:07 #2827

    The start of Leicester's notable improvements in the WSL came in January when goalkeeper Janina Leitzig arrived- the German has proved to be one of the finest shot-stoppers in the WSL, and saved a Katie McCabe penalty when these two sides last met.

  81. Freddie Cardy: 18:02 #2826

    And McCabe is warming up in her trademark short sleeved shirt and shorts! I'm about to slip a second coat on up here in the press box...

  82. Freddie Cardy: 18:00 #2825

    Captain Kim Little is also not involved in the squad, so Katie McCabe wears the armband.

  83. Freddie Cardy: 17:58 #2824

    Lia Walti and Laia Codina miss out for Arsenal.

  84. Freddie Cardy: 17:55 #2823

    16-year-old striker Vivienne Lia is named in Arsenal's WSL matchday squad for the first time. She netted nine goals in ten games for Arsenal's U16s last season and travelled to Linkoping for the Champions League qualifiers in September.

  85. Freddie Cardy: 17:52 #2822

    Leicester subs: Palmer, Whelan, Robinson, Green, Siemsen, Goodwin, Kop, Baker, Reavill.

  86. Freddie Cardy: 17:51 #2821

    Arsenal subs: Mead, Miedema, D'Angelo, Maritz, Hurtig, Kuhl, Blackstenius, Williams, Lia.

  87. Freddie Cardy: 17:50 #2820

    Leicester City: Leitzig, Nevin, Tierney, Bott, Howard, Rose, Rantala, Petermann, Cayman, Thibaud, Cain.

  88. Freddie Cardy: 17:48 #2819

    Here's the Arsenal starting XI: Zinsberger; Catley, Ilestedt, Wubben-Moy, McCabe; Cooney-Cross, Pelova, Maanum; Foord, Russo, Lacasse.

  89. Freddie Cardy: 17:40 #2818

    Good evening and a warm welcome to our live blog as Leicester City take on Arsenal Women at the King Power Stadium. Team news is five minutes away.


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