That, then is us; thanks for your company, and join me in a little bit for Spain v France in the Nations League final. Ta-ra.
That was a competent, assured performance from Arsenal, who picked Everton apart without having to find their top level. They look in excellent nick, have the strength in depth to handle injuries, and it’ll take something serious to stop them regaining the title.
Full-time: Arsenal 3-0 Everton
Arsenal make it five out of five and they lead Chelsea and Spurs at the top of the table by three points!
Updated
90+4 min Everton win a free-kick on the right touchline and Christiansen will stick it into the mixer ... but it flicks a head, runs away, and there we go!
90+3 min Ludlow gives McCabe player of the match and that seems a solid call to me – she’s been strong in defence and crucial in attack.
90+2 min
The sweetest of strikes!@FMaanum 🤯
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) October 10, 2021
Watch the #BarclaysFAWSL on @SkySports 📺 pic.twitter.com/rqOtWAYiUH
90+1 min Williamson, who has such a great range of passing, advances to pick out Mead on the left. She cuts inside, pokes a shot through Turner’s legs ... and Maciver saves with her feet.
90 min There’ll be three added minutes.
90 min Two more changes for Arsenal, the captain Little – who’s played well – replaced by Schnaderbeck.
88 min Arsenal will soo be three points clear at the top of the table and how crucial will that opening day win over Chelsea be, come the end of the season? It’s why there’s a gap now, but more than that, it established them as the team to fear.
WHAT A GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Everton (Maanum 87)
Maanum fights her way across the face of the box from right to left, battling by Christiansen before working the ball back onto her right foot and unleashing a screeching, howling drive that flies high inside the near post! Brilliant! It’s going to be five out of five!
Updated
86 min Everton have absolutely nothing for Arsenal, who are winning this in second gear. They’ve not played that well, but the way they move the ball and manipulate space is on another level.
84 min Another poor kick from Maciver falls to Mead, 25 yards out, and she advances, has a look, then from 20 yards absolutely dematerialises a shot that lasers just wide of the far top corner. She caught that absolutely beautiful [sic].
82 min Mead’s moved over to the right and again she teases her marker - this time it’s George – feinting before knocking back for Nobbs, who punches a first-time curler ... that flicks off Galli and batters the near post full in the face!
80 min Asked who’s going to win the league, Ludlow spends a while prevaricating without settling on anyone. It’s hard to see anyone besting Arsenal though – Chelsea have Harder and with her anything is possible, but overall they look a little past their best.
79 min No, the corner misses everyone, and when Sevecke nods Mead’s poor clearance back over the top, Duggan’s hook plops into Zinsberger’s arms.
78 min Dali has kept at it and she collects a throw-in for which no one else shows, hammering a cross into McCabe and behind. Can Everton find a livener?
76 min That’s our lot of Miedema today - she’s been quiet by her exalted standards – and Foord replaces her.
75 min Arsenal are pushing for the clincher, Miedema picking out Mead on the left of the box; she takes a touch, steadies, and clouts a low drive that Maciver saves with her foot, De Gea-style.
Updated
74 min Williamson powers through Duggan, who takes objection. Stern words are exchanged, then familiar laughter.
72 min Arsenal are moving the ball nicely and clearly have another gear should they need it, but I’d still have expected them to create more chances second half. But as I type that here they are, McCabe crossing well from the left – she’s been great today – and though Parris misses her near-post flick, Mead gathers at the back stick and tees-up Nobbs who has more time than she thinks, snatching at a swept shot that she misses almost entirely.
71 min Quinn has scored for Birmingham, who are now 1-1 with West Ham.
69 min Mead looks for Parris at the near post but Turner goes with her and runs her out of it while, at the back post, Wubben-Moy headbutts George; that’s quite an oversight, and she needs attention before play resumes.
68 min Arsenal counter and Maanum switches to Little down the left; her cross is blocked behind.
67 min Wubben-Moy beats Duggan to a ball over the top and lays back to Zinsberger, who wafts clear. Everton have created the cube root of nowt this half.
65 min McCabe finds Mead, who isolates Maier and teases her, feinting inside and out before laying back for McCabe ... whose drive zips just wide of the far post.
64 min Arsenal send on Mead for Iwabuchi and Nobbs for Heath.
63 min Goodness me Arsenal have Nobbs and Mead getting ready to come on.
62 min Heath pulls right and teases George, drawn out of the middle, but her cross is poor then, when the ball comes back, Maciver saves her curler and Arsenal maintain pressure, McCabe lamping a shot that the keeper blocks, before Maier does likewise with the follow-up.
Updated
61 min George slams into a block tackle and Parris screams – rightly so – but the challenge was fairly disbursed.
60 min Have a look! Claudia Walker has put West Ham ahead against Birmingham with this jazzer of a goal.
What a strike from Claudia Walker!
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) October 10, 2021
Watch the #BarclaysFAWSL on the FA Player 📺 pic.twitter.com/HjmDrmOAFn
59 min Galli, who’s been quiet, powers forward with the ball and finds Dali, who Williamson quickly introduces to the turf. Everton do nothing with the free-kick and are soon back under pressure.
58 min I guess the good news for Everton is that Arsenal haven’t scored again. That’s it.
56 min There’s such calm authority in Arsenal’s passing, but Dali counters, exchanging passes with Anvegard – but over distance, again not enough players close by. Eventually, Dali crosses, there’s no one on-hand to attack the ball, and Williamson sees it away.
55 min Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Arsenal’s performance so far has been the workrate. In particular, their pressing has been energetic and directed, but more generally, this is what you get when you’ve got such intense competition for places.
54 min Maciver botches a goalkick that falls straight to Maanum, but her first touch is off; just as well for Everton, because with the options either side of her, that might’ve meant 3-0.
53 min Arsenal move the ball really nicely, from left to right then front to back to front, before Maritz’s cross sails over the by-line.
52 min Arsenal are so well-organised, springing on Everton every time an attack materialises – they look to have an extra player or two, hunting in packs and running towards the ball, while their opponents run away from it.
50 min It’s a little dark out there now the sun’s gone down; I’m not sure why the lights aren’t on yet. In the meantime, Maier lies prostrate on the ground bang in front of the dug-out, but she’s up quickly.
48 min I’ve been trying to fathom a way Everton get back into this, and I guess what they need is to hit Duggan, hope she holds it up, and get Bennison in and around her. Or in other words, yeah, they’ve got problems.
46 min Elsewhere, Brighton have beaten Spurs 2-1, so it’s only Arsenal with a 100% record now, while Reading have beaten Villa 3-0 and Italy’s men have beaten Belgium’s men 2-1 to finish third in the Nations League.
46 min We go again!
Half-time: Arsenal 2-0 Everton
Arsenal can play much better than they are but they’re still much too good for Everton ... so far. Join me in 10 for the second half.
45+1 min There’s not much to show for it but Everton have been better these last few minutes and here’s Christiansen at the left corner of the box, flighting over a perfect cross for Duggan ... who doesn’t jump and can’t get a proper connection on it! That’s encouraging for the visitors, I guess, but so far they’ve been as toothless as a vacuum cleaner.
45 min There’ll be three additional minutes.
45 min Duggan sticks a pass in behind for Anvegard but she’s not got the pace to get away. trying a chip that Zinsberger catches easily enough.
45 min Everton force the ball across the face of the box and when it’s partially cleared to Christiansen, she drags a poor shot wide.
44 min Yup, George returns.
43 min Eesh, George is down, having collided with Anvegard not clearing that corner. She’s led off slowly, but I reckon she’ll be back.
GOAL! arsenal 2-0 Everton (Wubben-Moy 41)
Everton allow the corner across the face of goal towards the far post, where Wubben-Moy makes good enough contact to send the ball down and in, between the legs of Maciver. Everton are in all sorts because Arsenal are yet to get going.
Updated
40 min A ball over the top, seeking Miedema, persuades George to concede a corner; she looks every bit as terrified as she should.
40 min In commentary, they’re wondering if Maciver lost McCabe’s shot in the sun, which makes you wonder why she’s not wearing a cap.
38 min McCabe clips a clever reverse-pass down the lie for Heath, whose cross misses everyone and Sevecke clears.
38 min Arsenal are asserting themselves now, pinning Everton back inside their own half. Everton need to find an out-ball.
37 min Iwabuchi into Miedema, who has Heath outside her, but the pass sends Heath a little wide and the chance disappears.
36 min In co-comms, Jayne Ludlow is extolling McCabe, wwith whom she’d love to have played. Praise indeed.
34 min Arsenal are just so dangerous down their left and McCabe gives them such impetus from full-back.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Everton (McCabe 32)
She’s done it again! out on the left, McCabe picks up a headed clearance, controlling on the half-volley before stepping into the drive that flies through Maciver’s hands. The keeper should make the save but that’s a lovely effort nevertheless.
Updated
32 min McCabe advances down the left and finds Miedema, who can’t get by Maier, her cross blocked behind. The corner comes to nothing.
31 min Arsenal need to get Iwabuchi and Miedema on the ball; both have been peripheral so far.
30 min Duggan chapeaus Maanum in centrefield, Vieira-style, but can’t turn on the ball so has to go backwards.
28 min Christiansen is down accepting treatment, but she’ll be fine. Eidevall takes the opportunity to huddle his players, if huddle is a verb.
27 min With 72 minutes gone, Brighton still lead Spurs.
27 min Everton has defended well so far, but I daresay Eidevall wants more from his team, whose passing hasn’t been as rhythmic as usual.
26 min Maritz ventures forward and finds Heath, wide on the right, but her cross has too much on it.
25 min And Zinsberger drops the cross with players around her, but she recovers before Bennison can pounce.
24 min Dali, on the ball 25 yards out, looks up, and with nothing much on she tries a shot, deflected behind. Everton need to come up with something good here.
23 min We’ve not seen much of Everton going forward, but they are looking to get forward when the opportunity presents itself.
21 min Better from Arsenal, McCabe crossing from the left and George hurling herself in front of Midema’s shot as the ball bobbles about inside the Everton box. This time, Arsenal keep their opponents pinned inside their own box, but can’t find a free shooting lane.
Updated
20 min Arsenal haven’t got their passing going yet, Little running the channel as McCabe lumps down the line. But Turner and Sevecke are awake, dashing over to see her away.
19 min And now Everton build, George sending Turner away down the left, but he cross sails behind.
18 min Maier hammers the ball clear and Everton are doing a decent job of ruining Arsenal’s rhythm – they’re struggling to sustain their attacks.
16 min Miedema pulls left then dips inside, welting a low shot that’s blocked. Meantime, Duggan and Anvegard are high – no, not like that – waiting to profit from any counter.
15 min These last few minutes have gone well for Everton, Arsenal reduced to scrapping for the ball in midfield. That’s sort of what happened last weekend in the City-West Ham game: the first few minutes were hairy for the outsiders, but they settled and did well thereafter.
14 min In the Nations League, Niccolo Barella has thundered in a volley to give Italy the lead over Belgium.
12 min ...and Wubben-Moy will head clear.
11 min Maier makes ground down the right so Heath and Iwabuchi combine to unload her only for one of them to be penalised. Christiansen will curl in the free-kick from the right...
11 min His journey to national treasure is one of the very best things about this miserable island.
Uncle Wrighty in the house today pic.twitter.com/QUn9WqqMxM
— Tim Stillman (@Stillberto) October 10, 2021
9 min Everton are playing a 4-4-2 here, but could use a striker dropping off because they’re struggling to earn any decent midfield possession.
9 min Miedema finds McCabe hitting the line and she’s got Heath in the middle ... but her cut-back misses everyone!
7 min An Arsenal opener won’t be long and when Miedema sets Maritz, she flights a measure shot seeking the far side-netting ... but Maciver dives to shove away.
6 min Arsenal are hammering at the door here, Miedema again coming deep to clip a tremendous ball over the top for Parris, who takes it down beautifully! But just as she looks certain to score, she opts to chip Maciver instead of lashing by her and the effort sails over the bar. Should’ve scored.
6 min Williamson cruises forward and clips into the box, but George is there to clear.
5 min Dalli finds Maier who finds Duggan, but her cross is clumped away by Little.
4 min Arsenal are first to every ball here, McCabe charging forward to block Turner’s clearance and hand Everton a throw, but deep inside their own half.
Updated
3 min Miedema comes deep and moves infield, cracking a scooshing low pass in behind for Parris, coming off the opposite flank. But Maciver’s paying attention so runs out to hump clear.
1 min It’s a nice, sunny day and as the game noses into life, we’re reminded that Eidevall said he was surprised by how good Barcelona were. Unless he’s been living in a cave this past year, he might be misdirecting.
1 min Off we go!
The players take a knee, Nikita Parris raising her fist. Black lives matter.
“A quick look at the Spanish women’s league shows that Barcelona have scored 38 goals and conceded just the one,” emails Charles Antaki. “Here, Arsenal have scored 16 and conceded two so it looks like they’re only half as good, but that game the other night suggests a less charitable fraction. They did make a better showing in the second half, but by then Barcelona could afford to be snoozing and doing some light exercise. Fortunately for Arsenal, nobody in the WSL looks like Barcelona apart from, in fact, themselves, so on the domestic front at least things won’t quite look so ugly.”
Agreed, Barcelona are an astoundingly brilliant outfit. What can you do?
Here come the teams, London Calling banging out the PA. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m Joe Strummer - I’m not – I’m binning the “live by the river refrain”.
At back in the WSL, it’s Reading 3-0 Villa at the break.
In the Nations League third-place playoff, it’s Italy 0-0 Belgium – also at half-time.
Elsewhere, follow the reaction to another dramatic Grand Prix here...
At half-time, it’s Brighton 1-0 Spurs. I don’t suppose anyone expected a title challenge from the visitors, and increasingly it looks a two-horse row between Arsenal and Chelsea.
Arsenal’s strength in depth is just ridiculous. It wasn’t long ago that Beth Mead was dazzling in that opening-weekend win over Chelsea, and now she’s stuck on the bench. And midfield competition is also intense – Jordan Nobbs, on the bench again today, is working her way back – but in the meantime, Iwabuchi is a lovely player and Everton daren’t give her time on the ball.
Eindevall tells Sky that Heath has looked great in training and he’s excited to see how she does ... and, er, that’s it
Willie Kirk, meanwhile, confirms that Emslie is injured, but bringing in Bennison doesn’t lower the quality. She’s still settling in to Liverpool life, never mind the team, but he’s sure she’ll put in a performance today and is a brilliant talent.
Hello! Lee Geum-min has given Brighton the lead against Spurs. There’s plenty of time – 48 minutes – for things to change, but if they don’t a win for Arsenal here takes them clear at the top.
Everton, meanwhile, are without the injured Emslie, replaced by Bennison. The rest of their side is the one which won 3-0 at Reading last weekend.
Arsenal make four changes to the side undressed in Barcelona: Beattie, Catley, Waiti and Mead drop out, with Wubben-Moi, Iwabuchi, Parris and Heath coming in; this is Heath’s first league start for Arsenal, and as she showed at Manchester United last season, the WSL is very much to her liking.
Updated
Chelsea have beaten Leicester 2-0, Fran Kirby wrapping up the win in injury-time. As such, the Blues join Arsenal on 12 points, one behind Spurs but having played a game more.
Teams!
Arsenal: Zinsberger, Maritz, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, McCabe, Maanum, Little, Iwabuchi, Parris, Miedema, Heath. Subs: Williams, Goldie, Beattie, Schnaderbeck, Catley, Houssein, Nobbs, Mead, Foord.
Everton: Maciver, Turner, Sevecke, George, Dali, Christiansen, Duggan, Anvegard, Maier, Galli, Bennison. Subs: Brosnan, Gauvin, Finnigan, Clinton, Pattinson.
League leaders Spurs, meanwhile, are still locked at 0-0 with Brighton – but there are only 22 minutes gone there.
After her injury-time goal earned Chelsea a 3-3 midweek home draw with Wolfsburg, Pernille Harder has bagged again, this time as early as the 83rd minute. Consequently, Chelsea now lead Leicester 1-0 with time almost up.
Preamble
Afternoon all, and welcome to what should be another – yet another – terrific WSL match. Arsenal have started the season at a frantic clip, Jonas Eidevall quickly assessing a phenomenally talented team before arranging it to extract the most from it. Though they experienced a chastening midweek, clattered by the reigning champions of Barcelona, there’s no shame in that, and for now, at least, they look by far the best of the WSL.
On the face of things, Miedema & Co should have far too much for an Everton side who are improving but aren’t there there yet. Last year’s fifth-placed finish was pretty much their height of their potential and to that squad they’ve added Toni Duggan, Aurora Galli, Kenza Dali, Anna Anvegard, Nathalie Bjorn, Hanna Bennison and Leonie Maier. Things haven’t quite got going yet – they were spanked by both Chelsea and Man City – but if they’re on it today, Arsenal are in for a tricky 90.
Kick-off: 2pm BST
