Stina Blackstenius and Kim Little’s second half goals saw Arsenal Women beat Aston Villa 2-0 to reach the FA Cup fifth round.

The Gunners have now kept four clean sheets in a row in all competitions, with summer signing Anneke Borbe earmarked for praise after full time, Kim Little revealed to the Gooner Fanzine.

“We highlighted that at the end with Anneke,” the Arsenal skipper said of her side's defensive record. “Obviously being hard to score against, it's important for us and if we want to win trophies, so long may that continue.”

Head coach Renee Slegers was asked by the Gooner whether Borbe’s five clean sheets in seven games have gone under the radar. “Not for us to be honest, she's really grown into the team. Of course the first game against Liverpool at the Emirates, you want to see how that is because you haven't seen it yet in a competitive game. 

“She did so well and just from there on, we've conceded two goals and we have I don’t know how many [five] clean sheets and she's been a big part of it, but also on the ball her composure, her decision making has been really good. But we do everything as a team, it's definitely credit to Nekki, she's done so well for us.”

Slegers was forced into a change midway through the first half with Emily Fox withdrawn due to a suspected head injury. Smilla Holmberg, who made her debut off the bench against Manchester United, impressed again at right-back.

“She had a great performance,” Little said. “I thought she held her own and would really dominate in that right side area, so I'm really happy for her in her first two games for Arsenal, and many more to come, I’m sure.”

Asked Kim Little about playing in multiple competitions this month: “The fact that they’re so different in so many ways, the history of the FA Cup and new trophies coming into the women’s game. It’s exciting and it’s really different, each game is a new challenge.”

— Freddie Cardy (@CardyFreddie) January 18, 2026