City Beaten By The Gunners In WSL
First-half goals from Frida Maanum, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley, assisted by a second-half strike from Stina Blackstenius, saw LCFC Women fall to a WSL defeat on Filbert Way.
There were three changes to the Leicester side that lost to Reading last weekend. Molly Pike, Carrie Jones and Shannon O'Brien all dropped to the bench with Demi Vance, CJ Bott and Abbie McManus coming in as the replacements.
In an attempt to fill any available gaps for Arsenal to expose, the Foxes lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with McManus as the holding anchor between the defence and midfield line.
As kick-off loomed, the rain started to fall in substantial quantity, but it didn't stop Arsenal's play as they took an early lead through Maanum, as a right-field cross into the City box was fired goalwards by the forward after being initially parried by Kirstie Levell.
The home side did look to cause problems of their own and support the lone striker of Natasha Flint, but Arsenal would soak up the pressure well before finding the net again themselves.
On the counter, England international Beth Mead worked her way into the box before playing a low cross to the back post where Foord was sliding in to tap home.
With 35 minutes gone, City created their best chance of the half through Bott, whose brilliant run and skill allowed the defender a chance inside the Arsenal box.
Bursting into the Gunners half, she tapped the ball round the defender and took aim at goal, but as the Leicester supporters raised their voices, Manuel Zinsberger got down low to turn the effort behind for a corner.
Moments later, the missed opportunity would come back to bite the home side as Arsenal added a third when a Catley corner travelled all the way into Levell net.
Leicester would create a second opportunity shortly afterwards as Flint switched the ball across to Jemma Purfield, who struck the ball first time from the edge of the box, but the effort didn't trouble Zinsberger and the Foxes would head into half time 3-0 down.
Shortly after the restart, Arsenal found a fourth when Blackstenius broke through the City defence, before rounding Levell and guiding the ball into the goal nearest the travelling supporters.
To prevent any further damage and possibly regain more of the football, the Foxes switched to a back five formation, and introduced Molly Pike into the midifield.
Over the next 20 minutes, there were few chances for either side as Arsenal looked happy to control the ball, whilst Leicester made sure to fill any further openings for the Gunners.
That was until the 75th minute when Leicester produced their third shot at goal in the game through substitute O'Brien. Pressing from the striker allowed her to pick up a loose ball and take a shot from just inside the Arsenal box, but could only find the side netting.
With little over five minutes to go, Mead found an opportunity for herself, but tried to find the net from within the box with an audacious curling strike and saw her effort glide wide of the post.
Looking more stable, City searched for a consolation goal and looked to have found one through Missy Goodwin when the forward hit a left-footed effort towards goal, but the Arsenal keeper was there was once again to tip over the effort.
Unable to find a response to Arsenal's impressive first-half display, the final whistle brought an end to proceedings, and the points would be heading back to north London, as Leicester continue to search for their first win of the season.
Major moment…
Arsenal's talented squad found the net on four occasions today, and despite scoring direct from a corner, each goal was produced by clever build up play, usually from the right-hand side and Beth Mead in particular.
Who impressed?
CJ Bott provided the loudest cheer of the afternoon from the Leicester supporters when her solo run, through the Arsenal defence, opened up an opportunity inside the box. On another day, the defender finds the net, and she certainly deserved it from her move today.
Where do we stand?
LCFC Women remain 12th in the Barclays Women's Super League, three points behind Reading.
Coming up...
Up next for the Foxes is a trip to West Ham United, when they face off against the Hammers in the WSL on Sunday 20 November with a 3pm GMT kick-off.
The details…
City: Levell; Simon (Goodwin 69'), Howard, Plumptre, Vance; McManus (Pike 62'); Bott, Whelan, Tierney, Purfield (C. Jones 69'); Flint (O'Brien 69').
Subs not used: Lambourne, Brougham, E. Jones, Baker, Scofield.