The Lionesses star can't stop scoring at the moment, as she net an eighth in as many games to secure all three points on Sunday
On a weekend of shocks in the Women's Super League, Arsenal avoided suffering the same fate as Chelsea or Manchester City as they closed the gap to the top two with a 1-0 victory over Liverpool on Sunday. After watching the Blues drop points for the first time all season in a draw with Leicester, and then City follow suit with a surprise loss at Everton, the Gunners' final league game before the winter break felt like it was all about getting the job done, and they did thanks to Alessia Russo's eighth goal in as many games.
Liverpool were much more solid at the back and threatening in attack compared to last week's performance against Manchester United, in which they were soundly beaten 4-0, and Olivia Smith had a decent chance to give them the lead early on in this game. But once Russo broke the deadlock instead with 20 minutes on the clock, pouncing on some poor defending from Katie McCabe's corner, it rarely felt like Arsenal would lose that lead.
There were some great chances for the Gunners to add to that scoreline, not least when Russo won a penalty that Mariona Caldentey could only strike against the upright, while the in-form Frida Maanum also surprisingly missed the target from inside the box in the early stages of the second half. Fortunately, none of those misses came back to bite them as they moved to within a point of second-placed Man City, and closed the gap to leaders Chelsea to seven.
GOAL rates Arsenal's players from St Helens Stadium…
Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence
Daphne van Domselaar (6/10):
Had very few saves of note to make. Perhaps that lack of involvement played a part in her almost gifting Smith a golden chance to equalise, but fortunately the ball came back to her comfortably.
Emily Fox (7/10):
Near-perfect on the ball and battled well, too, with plenty of good defending on show.
Leah Williamson (6/10):
Had a few loose moments in possession but fortunately wasn't punished for them. Won most of her duels.
Steph Catley (7/10):
Great in possession and popped up with timely defensive interventions when needed. Solid all round.
Katie McCabe (6/10):
Not her tidiest performance. Committed quite a few needless fouls and nearly scored a bizarre own goal. Delivered the corner that led to Russo's goal, though.
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Kyra Cooney-Cross (7/10):
Contributed plenty to Arsenal's control of the game in a really neat display.
Mariona Caldentey (6/10):
Should've made it 2-0 from the spot but hit the post. A blot on an otherwise decent performance in which she was everywhere.
Frida Maanum (5/10):
Should've made it 2-0 early in the first half. That chance aside, she wasn't as much of an attacking threat as she has been in recent weeks.
Getty ImagesAttack
Beth Mead (5/10):
A quiet performance in which she struggled to really make an impact on the attack.
Alessia Russo (7/10):
Great reactions to put Arsenal ahead from McCabe's corner. Was needlessly caught offside a few other times though, which stopped some promising attacks.
Caitlin Foord (6/10):
Was nice and positive when she got on the ball, things just didn't always come off for her.
Getty ImagesSubs & Manager
Stina Blackstenius (5/10):
It was a game of few chances and as such, none fell her way once she came on before the hour. Couldn't really get involved.
Kim Little (6/10):
Came on with half an hour to play and helped Arsenal see the game out with her stability and consistency in the middle.
Lina Hurtig (N/A):
Caused a threat from set pieces after being introduced for the final 15 minutes.
Lotte Wubben-Moy (N/A):
A late sub in stoppage time.
Renee Slegers (7/10):
Made a few changes from the midweek win over Valerenga in order to keep things fresh and got a controlled performance from her team as a result. It wasn't Arsenal at their very best, but they weren't overly troubled either. Substitutions were early to keep the energy up and ensure Liverpool didn't get back into things.
