Arsenal Women 3-0 Bristol City: Gunners ease into FA Cup quarter-finals 

Goals from Kim Little, Victoria Pelova and Frida Maanum sees Arsenal safely into FA Cup quarter-finals 

Arsenal moved into the FA Cup quarter-finals after easing past a battling Bristol City side in front of 2,665 at Meadow Park on Sunday lunchtime.

Goals from captain Kim Little, Victoria Pelova and Frida Maanum were enough to see off the spirited challenge from the second tier side.

Gunners goalkeeper Anneke Borbe made her first start since being forced off injured during the closing stages of the Champions Cup final. Borbe collided with Lotte Wubben-Moy in stoppage time of Arsenal’s win over Corinthians, before being taken to hospital.

The 25-year-old German had returned to the squad in midweek as an unused substitute against OH Leuven prior to Slegers moving Daphne van Domselaar to the bench, as the Arsenal boss made six changes in total from Wednesday’s Champions League win.

Emily Fox, Leah Williamson, Steph Catley Kim Little and Olivia Smith all came into the side, while in-form Bristol City loanee Jessie Gale was ineligible to face her parent club.

Lauren Brzykcy started between the sticks for the visitors, with youngsters Chloe Giddings, Nia Lewis and Ruby Day making the bench.

On 14 minutes City captain Esther Morgan found captain Emily Syme with a ball over the top, but City’s skipper fired narrowly wide.

Stung, Arsenal swept up the other end with Caitlin Foord forcing Brzykcy into a save, with Chloe Kelly attempting in a shot shortly afterwards that was gathered at the near post. Moments later, Smith’s shot was saved by the City keeper, as the home side fought to establish early dominance.

The pressure eventually told when captain Little forced the ball home through a crowded box to put Slegers’ side 1-0 up on 25 minutes.

City battled bravely against the reigning Champions League holders, with keeper Brzykcy saving a penalty from Russo four minutes after the break. The spot kick being awarded after Ella Powell brought Foord down in the box.

The match was halted for a lengthy spell moments later, with the delay for treatment for Smith who appeared to injure her shoulder shortly after the penalty was saved - before all at Meadow Park gave a warm round of applause to the stricken Canadian who was stretchered off, to be replaced by Frida Maanum.

Eight minutes later it was Maanum who made it 3-0 after Fox's assist, as the home side threatened to run riot against a dogged but limited City side.