Last update on. From the section Women's Football
After beating Chelsea in the opening match, Arsenal won this second major victory over title rivals.
Arsenal won a convincing 5-0 victory over Manchester City at Meadow Park, confirming their title credentials. They are now the top team in Women's Super League.
Vivianne Miedema scored the first goal in the 10th minute. Kim Little's brilliant strike doubled the lead for the home team.
Katie McCabe scored a thunderous third, just before Little's second spot.
Leah Williamson concluded the rout with an end-of-the-line header, as Arsenal moved to the top in emphatic fashion.
They are now above Tottenham in goal difference with both sides taking a maximum of nine points. City, however, is eighth after their worst ever loss as a professional soccer team.
The runners-up last season have lost two of their three games and were knocked out by Real Madrid in the Champions League. But boss Gareth Taylor says it's too early to exclude them from the title race.
He stated, "It's too early. Although it was not ideal to lose our two previous league games, I believe it is too early. We'll see.
"We will have to rely on other teams, and we must put points on our own board. It's not worth focusing on other teams right now. We must look within."
After their win at Reading on the opening day, Arsenal pressed in numbers to make it a comfortable victory.
Jonas Eidevall, Arsenal's boss, was aggressive in his tactics. Beth Mead took advantage of an under-hit backpass by Alanna Kennedy and beat Karima Taieb, City's goalkeeper, to the ball. Miedema then sent a flawless shot into the corner.
City ignored that warning and ended up two down after Miedema played at Little, just outside the city. The Scot, despite being surrounded by blue shirts made space and shot an unstoppable shot past Taieb.
The away team, which was without many injured players, including England stalwarts Steph Hyton and Lucy Bronze had a difficult time gaining traction against Arsenal's relentless pressing. Lauren Hemp and Ellen White were among those who were kept quiet by Arsenal's defense.
City attempted to increase the pace after the restart but Arsenal had more success, with McCabe pushing the game past the visitors at the hour mark.
Tobin Heath, a forward from the United States, made her Arsenal debut
The Republic of Ireland captain seized on to a long ball, evading Georgia Stanway and Kennedy, before hitting her left-footed shot into a net.
Ellen White was the closest to pulling one back in City's favor when she clipped the bar after Vicky Losada found her. However, Gareth Taylor's side failed miserably to keep Arsenal under pressure until Alex Greenwood fouled Little inside.
Little took the initiative and thumped her penalty in the top corner. A few minutes later, there was another roar as Tobin Heath, a two-time World Cup winner, made her debut.
Arsenal refused to let go of the gas pedal and were rewarded when Leah Williamson returned home to give a five-star performance, and to secure their first victory over City in four attempts.
Arsenal beat Chelsea, and this win reinforces the belief that they will struggle to keep the title from Chelsea. After outplaying City from beginning to end, Arsenal has outplayed City.
