Arsenal Women 9-0 Leeds United

Meadow Park

Vitality Women’s FA Cup Fourth Round

New signings Victoria Pelova and Kathrine Kuhl both impressed as Arsenal swept aside amateur outfit Leeds United Women in a commanding FA Cup victory at Meadow Park.

Leeds, three tiers and forty places lower than Arsenal in the pyramid, knew they were in for ninety minutes of attacking onslaughts from the Gunners. It took less than ten minutes for the home side to take the lead, with Caitlin Foord bundling the ball home from a corner that Leeds failed to deal with.

Less than two minutes later, Kathrine Kuhl scored her first goal on her first Arsenal start, finding space in the box and taking her shot early, with Carrie Simpson getting a strong hand to the ball but unable to keep it out.

Kuhl then had a header saved by Simspon, but Leeds were then able to steady the ship and try to settle into the game, despite rarely escaping their own half. Simpson then made an outstanding stop to deny another header, this time from Foord, with Leeds then able to clear the danger.

The everpresent Kim Little’s shot was then tipped around the post, with Simpson then making another stunning save to deny a powerful close range strike, once again from Foord, who on another day would have had a first half hat-trick to her name.

With four minutes to go before the break, Caitlin Foord was fouled in the area, and captain Kim Little was never going to miss the resulting penalty, giving Arsenal a 3-0 lead before the interval.

The North Bank was packed, and there was plenty of noise coming from all around Meadow Park, with 2,405 spectators in attendance. Leeds fans travelled down to Boreham Wood in good numbers on a historic day for their side, a club that was saved by its supporters after Leeds United withdrew all funding for their women’s side in 2014. New Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani has since brought them back under the ownership of Leeds United, and Lilywhites fans have been rewarded with a cup run to remember.

Four changes were made by Jonas Eidevall at half time as the Gunners continued where they left off after half time. Leeds could then finally mount something of an attack as Macy Ellis made good ground down the right flank before being dispossessed by Catley.

It was Swedish forward Lina Hurtig who scored Arsenal’s fourth just before the hour mark, left unmarked at the back post to power a header past Simspon into the bottom corner. The next successful header sparked possibly the biggest celebration of the afternoon from the Arsenal fans, Jen Beattie rising above the Leeds defence to head the Gunners into a 5-0 lead.

Stina Blackstenius has been short of goals as of late but the striker soon had her name on the scoresheet, alert in the box to finish past Simpson, before unveiling a delightful flick to complete her brace, with the score starting to turn ugly.

Arsenal then introduced teenage striker Michelle Agyemang, who didn’t take long to score her very first goal for the club, displaying fantastic control in the box before firing the ball home.

With first Arsenal goals being handed around left right and centre, it was then the turn of Victoria Pelova to take aim and fire into the bottom corner on the edge of the box for Arsenal’s ninth, and their fifth in just thirteen minutes.

Leeds were in the end able to keep the score down to single figures, and will make the journey back to Yorkshire with their heads held high on a landmark day for the club. The Gooner will have reaction from both Kuhl and manager Jonas Eidevall to come.