Everton 0-3 Arsenal: Player ratings as Gunners close gap at WSL summit
By Ali Rampling
Arsenal moved back to within a point of Chelsea at the WSL summit with a comfortable 3-0 win over Everton on Sunday evening.
In an evening of milestones, Beth Mead and Jordan Nobbs both netted their 50th WSL goals, while the former also moved ahead of Karen Carney to break the league's assist record.
Hosts Everton turned in a resilient defensive display in the first half, getting bodies behind the ball and proving frustrating to break down, before the attacking class of Arsenal ultimately took its toll.
Stina Blackstenius had the ball in the back of the net just before the half hour mark after being found by Caitlin Foord following a lightening quick counter attacking move, only to be ruled offside. Replays suggested the Sweden international had timed her run to perfection.
The Gunners finally made the breakthrough two minutes before half time, Leah Williamson picking out Foord with a fabulous cross field pass, and the Australian cushioning the ball beautifully before finding the bottom corner.
Arsenal added a second just after the hour mark. Vivianne Miedema rolled Nathalie Bjorn in the Everton box and fed Beth Mead, who poked home from close range for her 50th WSL goal.
Mead then turned provider as substitute Jordan Nobbs joined her on a half century of WSL goals, the former Sunderland pair combining and Nobbs crashing home emphatically to seal all three points for the Gunners.
Everton vs Arsenal player ratings - WSL
1. Everton (5-4-1)
GK: Sandy MacIver - 5/10 - Made a couple of routine saves, couldn't have done a great deal about any of the Arsenal goals.
RB: Leonie Maier - 5/10 - Playing against her former club, lost the run of Foord as the Arsenal forward gave the Gunners the lead.
CB: Nathalie Bjorn - 4/10 - Surrendered possession in the build up to Arsenal's opener, and rolled by Miedema for Arsenal's second.
CB: Megan Finnigan - 6/10 - Managed to keep Blackstenius quiet, but struggled a bit more when Miedema moved up front.
CB: Gabby George - 7/10 - An absolute rock, throwing herself in the way of everything - including a particularly impressive block to deny Miedema from point blank range.
LB: Poppy Pattinson - 6/10 - Lost out to Mead for Arsenal's second - although the Gunners' forward did appear to be marginally offside. Confident on the ball, limited in her opportunities to get forward.
RM: Hannah Bennison - 6/10 - Showed flashes of quality with a few clever touches, but largely on the periphery such was the nature of the game.
CM: Aurora Galli - 6/10 - Looked comfortable on the ball as Everton attempted to knock the ball about when in possession. Largely spent the game very deep, sitting in front of the Toffees back four.
CM: Izzy Christiansen - 6/10 - Had to be brave in her role to constantly demand the ball off the defence - sometimes it came off and the Toffees were able to play out from the back, sometimes it resulted in surrendering possession deep in her own half.
LM: Lucy Graham - 5/10 - Limited in her opportunity to make a telling attacking contribution, with Arsenal camped in the Everton half for long periods.
ST: Toni Duggan - 5/10 - A thankless task having to lead the line solo against an Arsenal side destined to keep the ball for long periods - ran her socks off but largely fed off scraps.
Sub: Simone Magill - 5/10
Sub: Kenza Dali - 6/10
2. Arsenal (4-3-3)
GK: Manuela Zinsberger - 6/10 - Largely a spectator, didn't have a save to make.
RB: Noelle Maritz - 6/10 - Got forward frequently, didn't have a great deal to do defensively.
CB: Leah Williamson - 7/10 - Produced a trademark lofted through ball to crack open the robust Everton defence and find Foord for Arsenal's opening goal. Rarely tested defensively.
CB: Lotte Wubben-Moy - 7/10 - Showed good anticipation on a few occasions to break up a couple of Everton attacks. Cool on the ball.
LB: Steph Catley - 7/10 - A constant threat, always looking to get forward and providing a series of teasing deliveries.
CM: Lia Walti - 6/10 - Did the simple things very well, without having the opportunity to show off her passing range.
CM: Kim Little - 6/10 - Ever so cool and calm on the ball, but not her most devastating attacking performance with Everton sat deep and difficult to break down.
CM: Vivianne Miedema - 7/10 - Crashed a goal bound effort into Blackstenius, and saw another blocked by George. Moved to a central striker role just after an hour and the impact was instant, Miedema rolling Bjorn and feeding Mead for Arsenal's second.
RW: Beth Mead - 8/10 - Produced a fabulous piece of skill to get the better of Pattinson in the first half. Doubled Arsenal's advantage with a close range finish - her 50th WSL goal - before setting up Nobbs for her side's third with an intelligent layoff.
ST: Stina Blackstenius - 5/10 - Thought she'd opened the scoring with a trademark run in behind and cool finish, but was incorrectly judged offside. Would be her only big contribution of the game, and was replaced after 64 minutes.
LW: Caitlin Foord - 7/10 - Opened the scoring with a really well taken goal, cushioning the ball beautifully, before firing into the corner of the net with her second touch despite the tight angle. Replaced just after the hour.
Sub: Jordan Nobbs - 7/10 - Grabbed Arsenal's third with a stunning finish into the roof of the net.
Sub: Katie McCabe - 6/10
Sub: Nikita Parris - 6/10
Sub: Mana Iwabuchi - 6/10
Sub: Frida Maanum - 5/10