How Arsenal exploited Leicester's weaknesses to claim dominant win

Stina Blackstenius starred in width-targeting victory for the Gunners

Stina Blackstenius is Arsenal’s leading goalscorer in the WSL. Credit: Getty Images

Stina Blackstenius was the star of the show as Arsenal claimed a 4-1 win at Leicester City and secured their first WSL away victory since September.

Sunday’s trip was a must-win game for the Gunners, who had come into the match eight points behind league leaders Chelsea, who travel to the Emirates next weekend.

Arsenal headed to the King Power Stadium with a threadbare squad as several key players had picked up injuries during the international break. Kyra Cooney-Cross, Frida Maanum, Olivia Smith, and Lotte Wubben-Moy, were all absent through injury or illness, on top of long-term absentees Leah Williamson and the ACL stricken Manuela Zinsberger. This meant that Renee Slegers could only name eight substitutes rather than the nine permitted, which included two goalkeepers, three teenagers, and a senior player who hadn’t played a single minute of competitive football this season.

Slegers made four changes to the side that had beaten Benfica over a fortnight ago in the Champions League. Caitlin Foord replaced the injured Smith, Taylor Hinds, came in at right-back, making her full league debut for the club, while Laia Codina came in at the heart of the Arsenal defence for her first start of the season.

The selection which Arsenal would ultimately define Arsenal’s performance, however, was the inclusion of Blackstenius. Not for the first time, the Swede was picked in the same starting line-up as Alessia Russo, with the Ballon d’Or bronze medallist playing in the No. 10 role.

Unlike sides that Arsenal have faced in recent weeks, Leicester were happy to sit in a mid-block, lining up with a back three that allowed Arsenal’s defenders time on the ball in deep build-up.

Having been stifled in their build-up in recent weeks, this was a welcome approach from an Arsenal perspective. With Leicester pushing their wing-backs high, Arsenal were able to exploit the space left between these players and Leicester’s wide-centre-backs. Straight from the kickoff, Blackstenius was released in behind with a ball into the channels – an early statement of Arsenal’s intent to attack these spaces. The movement, not just from Blackstenius, but also Russo and Beth Mead, allowed Arsenal to exploit a weakness in the Leicester set up time and again.