We finished second in the Barclays Women’s Super League, securing UEFA Women’s Champions League group phase football next season, with a 3-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.
Alessia Russo scored from a cross to open the scoring on Merseyside and Mariona Caldentey doubled our lead in emphatic fashion.
Russo got her second with half-time approaching, taking her tally up to 24 goals in all competitions this season.
Zara Shaw pulled one back for the hosts but we were able to hold onto our two-goal lead.
FIRST HALF
Katie McCabe led the team out to thousands of Arsenal supporters making all the noise at Anfield, Ireland flags held aloft and her name sung in unison.
And it was McCabe who had the first shot of the game, volleying wide of the post in the first minute of her final Gunners appearance.
Russo then put Stina Blackstenius through on goal but her shot was too soft and central to trouble Jennifer Falk, before the home side had their first sight of goal as Alice Bergstrom shot straight at Daphne van Domselaar.
Emily Fox was afforded time and space to charge into the 18-yard box and try to catch Falk out at the near post, but the Liverpool goalkeeper was equal to it. Fox then carried us forward and Caitlin Foord found herself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but Falk made a good save down to her right, the rebound falling to McCabe, whose shot is blocked.
In the 21st minute, the deadlock was broken. Russo’s cross from the left went all the way into the back of the net with Blackstenius’ run distracting Falk from the flight of the ball.
Moments later, McCabe flicked it through to Blackstenius, who forced another good save from Falk, stretching up to her left.
The latter was kept busy throughout the first half, denying Russo in the 32nd minute as our forward curled one towards goal from distance.
It was shortly 2-0 though thanks to a short corner, which led to McCabe finding Mariona. From a narrow angle, our super Spaniard picked out the top left corner with aplomb.
At the other end, Denise O’Sullivan tried her luck from long range, shooting high and wide of our goal, and we were immediately back in the final third for our next goal.
Beth Mead threaded Victoria Pelova through and she crossed for Russo, who converted for 3-0 with a first-time left-footed finish.
SECOND HALF
We made one change at half-time, Taylor Hinds coming on for Lotte Wubben-Moy.
13 minutes later, Mead went off and got a standing ovation as she was replaced by Olivia Smith, with Blackstenius also making way for Frida Maanum.
It took until the 69th minute for us to have our first real chance of the second half as Maanum switched the play out right to Smith and she got a shot away, low and hard, but it was wide of the bottom left.
Liverpool pulled one back with Shaw converting from a corner with just over 15 minutes left on the clock. We then made another substitution as Chloe Kelly came on for Foord.
Pelova, playing her final game for us, was in the mood for a goal and was provided an opportunity to get one by Fox. Vic went around Falk but fired over the bar with our supporters hungry for a fourth.
Fuka Nagano shot high and wide as Liverpool continued to pursue a way back into the game, before Steph Catley made her return from injury when she came off the bench in the 90th minute, replacing McCabe.
After Smith smashed a late effort into the side netting, we emerged victorious to end the season on a high.
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