#FAWSL: Nobbs nets 50th goal for Arsenal Women

Jordan Nobbs celebrates after scoring for Arsenal against Liverpool. (Photo: Kate Green for FA)

Jordan Nobbs brought up her half-century of goals for Arsenal in fine fashion as the Gunners downed Liverpool 3-0.

After an evenly matches first-half, Arsenal kicked on as Nobbs bagged a double and Katie McCabe also fired home.

The result moves Arsenal just one point behind Manchester City in second place but have played a game more than Nick Cushing’s side.

KEY MOMENTS

The visitors started the game on the front foot, with ex-Gunner Caroline Weir particularly influential when dropping deeper to supply Ash Hodson and Bethany England.

But Arsenal gradually got their fluid passing game going as a break involving Nobbs and Kim Little supplied Beth Mead, who stung the palms of Siobhan Chamberlain.

Little and Emma Mitchell also came close for Arsenal, but neither team could break the deadlock before half-time.

The Gunners came out firing after the break, with Nobbs, Dominique Janssen and Mead all forcing Chamberlain into action.

McCabe then opened the scoring for the home side with an unstoppable drive into the top-left corner from the edge of the area.

Nobbs doubled the lead, tapping in at the back post after the home side had got in behind Liverpool’s right wing.

Arsenal added a third when Chamberlain, under pressure in a congested penalty area, could only parry a Nobbs corner into her own net.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The game became all about Jordan Nobbs with 15 minutes to go. The attacker tapping in at the back post to double Arsenal’s lead and bring up strike number 50 in an Arsenal shirt.

Nobbs wasted no time adding to her tally late on to make 3-0 and fine evening’s work.

WHAT THEY SAID:

Scott Rogers, Liverpool manager, said: “In the first-half we took time to get to grips with their system. We had to tweak how we were pressing against them.

“I felt we had the better chances in the first half, and we didn’t take them.

“In the second half, unfortunately, we just didn’t have enough. That’s not a criticism of our players.

“I thought we were well in the game in the first half and created some good chances, but just didn’t take them. In the second half, they were the better team.

“What you have to give my players credit for is, when there’s a setback, we tend to respond. I can’t fault their effort and their workrate.

“If we go in at half-time 1-0 up, it’s a completely different mentality for them. We we’re quite clinical enough, they were, and that’s football.”

Arsenal’s Heater O’Reilly added: “We were disappointed not to get a goal last weekend. We came out as expected but had a hard time getting the ball in the back of the net in that first half.

“We showed a lot of character coming out of the locker room at half-time, and played good football. We grew into the game, which is a good thing to see.

“Liverpool made it difficult at times, but we played between the lines well and created opportunities.

“Liverpool have some quality players, but today was Arsenal’s day, and we just put our stamp on the second half.

“We have mature players, and a mature manager. We let our heads get to us in the Yeovil game, so the priority for us was not to let that happen again.

“We learned a tough lesson in that game, but we put it behind us, and I’m happy we were able to turn it around.”

By Sportsbeat

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