Arsenal Women ended their pre-season campaign with a convincing 5-1 victory over Charlton Athletic after recovering from a goal down at Meadow Park.
Lucy Fitzgerald gave the newly-promoted Women’s Super League side a surprise first-half lead, but Georgia Stanway and Mariona Caldentey turned the game around before the interval.
Kyra Cooney-Cross then produced the outstanding moment of the night with a spectacular long-range strike, before late goals from Olivia Smith and Frida Maanum completed the rout.
Arsenal Women recover after Charlton take shock lead
Renée Slegers made four changes to the team that beat Paris FC on Sunday, with Alessia Russo among those brought into the starting XI. Arsenal confirmed the changes ahead of Wednesday night’s final pre-season fixture.
The Gunners controlled much of the early possession but found themselves behind after 24 minutes.
A defensive misunderstanding allowed Fitzgerald to take advantage and finish beyond Misa Rodríguez.
Arsenal responded strongly.
Lisa Baum’s deflected cross eventually found Stanway at a tight angle, with the summer signing somehow squeezing the ball beyond Sophie Whitehouse to level the match.
Mariona then completed the turnaround shortly before half-time.
Stanway was fouled inside the penalty area following a corner and Mariona converted from the spot to send Arsenal into the break 2-1 ahead.
The performance followed ReadArsenal’s pre-match look at the remaining selection decisions facing Slegers before the WSL opener.
Kyra Cooney-Cross scores stunning Arsenal third
Slegers made seven changes at half-time, but Arsenal continued to control proceedings.
Cooney-Cross produced the goal of the night in the 57th minute.
Charlton initially cleared Baum’s delivery, only for the Australia international to meet the loose ball around 25 yards from goal and send a powerful strike into the top corner.
Smith then continued her excellent finish to pre-season.
The 22-year-old, who scored Arsenal’s 91st-minute winner against Paris FC on Sunday, came off the bench and smashed home Arsenal’s fourth late on.
Maanum quickly added a fifth with a curling finish into the top corner.
Charlton’s own match report confirmed the 5-1 scoreline after Arsenal turned the contest around following Fitzgerald’s opener.
Arsenal head into WSL opener in strong form
The result brings Arsenal’s friendly programme to an emphatic conclusion.
Slegers’ rebuilt side have now produced encouraging results against several different opponents, while new and established players have continued to compete for places.
Arsenal have undergone an extensive summer overhaul, with ReadArsenal previously examining the 18-player squad transformation designed to end the club’s WSL title wait.
Attention now turns completely towards competitive football.
Arsenal begin their WSL campaign away to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, 6 September, with Slegers having one final period on the training ground to decide the team that will start the new season.
A five-goal comeback is a strong way to enter it.
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