Arsenal have taken another step towards qualification for the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals with a 5-1 victory over HB Køge this evening.
Nikita Parris missed a first half penalty for The Gunners but later made amends while there were also goals for Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Anna Patten and Jordan Nobbs in Denmark.
Arsenal started brightly and they were awarded a penalty kick in the 15th minute when Parris was caught late in the box by Cecilie Floe Nielsen. Parris stepped up to take the penalty herself but she hit the ball at a nice height for home keeper Kaylan Marckese and she was able to keep the shot out.
Marckese then picked a Vivianne Miedema header out of the top corner before Catley netted the opener, curling home a sublime free-kick.
Arsenal had a great chance to go in at half-time two goals to the good but the impressive Marckese stood tall to deny Leah Williamson what looked like a certain goal.
HB Køge had a first real opportunity to score 10 minutes into the second half but Maddie Pokorny lobbed both Lydia Williams and the Arsenal goal.
At the other end, Marckese denied Miedema with the Dutch international in a good position to score before Arsenal finally netted their second goal with Parris bundling the ball home from inside the area.
Miedema then again saw a shot blocked by Marckese before Foord struck a third Arsenal goal after Nobbs’ initial effort had hit the bar.
The hosts netted their first goal in the group stage with 19 minutes left. Some slack Arsenal defending allowed Pokorny to slot the ball beyond Williams into the net.
Arsenal were to end the match 5-1 winners after scoring two late goals. First, substitute Patten looped in a lovely effort before Nobbs added her name to the scoresheet at the death, hitting a shot low into the net.
Arsenal now turn their attentions to Saturday’s North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur at The Hive.
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