Arsenal Women defeated London City Lionesses 4-1 in their WSL opener, with Olivia Smith scoring a stunning debut goal. Kosovare Asllani initially gave the Lionesses the lead from a penalty, but Arsenal responded with goals from Smith, Chloe Kelly, Stina Blackstenius, and Frida Maanum. Beth Mead achieved her 50th WSL assist, and manager Renee Slegers set a new record with her ninth consecutive home win.
Arsenal Women kicked off their Women's Super League (WSL) campaign in emphatic style, dismantling London City Lionesses 4-1 at Meadow Park. The match was a tale of two halves, with the Lionesses initially threatening an upset before the Gunners roared back, spearheaded by a sensational debut goal from Olivia Smith.
The London City Lionesses, making their first-ever appearance in the WSL, stunned the home crowd by taking an early lead. In the 17th minute, Kosovare Asllani was brought down inside the penalty area by Katie Reid. Asllani, a seasoned international, stepped up and calmly slotted the spot-kick past Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, sending the travelling fans into raptures.
However, Arsenal, known for their resilience and attacking prowess, refused to be fazed. They gradually wrestled control of the match, and the introduction of young Canadian international Olivia Smith proved to be a game-changer. Smith, making her debut for the Gunners, electrified the crowd with a moment of pure brilliance. Picking up the ball outside the box, she dribbled past two defenders before unleashing an unstoppable shot from nearly 30 yards out. The ball soared into the top-left corner of the net, leaving the Lionesses' goalkeeper with no chance and sparking wild celebrations among the Arsenal faithful.
The Gunners weren't done there. Just before the halftime whistle, they completed the turnaround. Alessia Russo, displaying her playmaking abilities, delivered a pinpoint low cross into the box, which was met by Chloe Kelly. Kelly, with her predatory instincts, poked the ball home from close range, giving Arsenal a 2-1 lead heading into the break.
The second half saw Arsenal consolidate their dominance. While the early stages were relatively quiet, the Gunners stepped up a gear in the final 15 minutes, putting the game beyond doubt with two quick-fire goals. Beth Mead, returning from injury, showcased her exceptional creative abilities by providing two assists in as many minutes.
In the 83rd minute, Mead delivered a sublime cross into the box, which was met by Stina Blackstenius. Blackstenius, timing her run perfectly, connected with the cross and powered a header past the goalkeeper to extend Arsenal's lead to 3-1.
A minute later, Mead turned provider again. This time, she dinked a delicate ball into the box, which was met by Frida Maanum. Maanum, rising highest, directed her header into the net, sealing a comprehensive 4-1 victory for Arsenal.
A cannon from our Canadian Gunner pic.twitter.com/joSTCXSXeI
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) September 6, 2025
The victory propelled Arsenal to the top of the WSL table, sending a clear message to their rivals that they are determined to challenge for the title this season.
Data Debrief: Mead Reaches Milestone
Arsenal's attacking display was reflected in the data. They accumulated 1.92 expected goals (xG) from 20 shots, highlighting their offensive threat. In contrast, London City Lionesses managed 0.93 xG from just five attempts.
Beth Mead's first assist of the match was a historic moment, making her the first player in WSL history to reach 50 assists. She now leads the way with 51, solidifying her status as one of the league's most creative players.
Arsenal's manager, Renee Slegers, also achieved a remarkable feat, becoming the first manager in WSL history to win each of their first nine home matches in charge. This surpasses Sonia Bompastor’s previous record of eight consecutive home wins from last season, underlining Slegers' impact on the team.