Leicester City 2-6 Arsenal: Gunners go second with thrilling win

Arsenal came from two goals down at half-time to thrash Leicester City 6-2 at King Power Stadium and move up to second in the Women’s Super League table.

And 54 seconds later, Janice Cayman doubled Leicester’s lead when she met Hannah Cain’s cross with a sliding finish.

But after the break Arsenal turned the match on its head with a stunning second-half performance.

Cloe Lacasse beat Courtney Nevin to the ball and halved the deficit with a cool finish in the 50th minute. Two minutes later Arsenal were level after an unmarked Alessia Russo placed a shot beyond Foxes keeper Janina Leitzig.

Caitlin Foord completed the turnaround by guiding home Russo’s cross, and Victoria Pelova scored Arsenal’s fourth with a 61st-minute tap-in following Lacasse’s square pass.

Arsenal’s dominance continued in the closing stages with substitute Stina Blackstenius adding the visitors’ fifth with a guided shot and Lina Hurtig rounded off the victory with a close-range injury-time strike.

Arsenal produce stunning second-half display

Arsenal were brilliant in the second half, benefitting from some suspect Leicester defending to create fruitful attacks at will.

They should have been ahead early in the first period when Pelova was put through on goal but chipped an effort wide with plenty of teammates in support.

At half-time the Netherlands international’s miss seemed like it could be costly, with Arsenal facing a third away defeat in six league matches.

But four goals in 12 second-half minutes completely changed that narrative.

Arsenal even had time to hit the woodwork three times in the second period as substitute Hurtig flicked a header against the bar and smashed a a shot from a tight angle against the post. Beth Mead diverted a cross against the base of the post in injury time.

Jonas Eidevall’s side have now won each of their past five matches in all competitions and are three points behind WSL leaders Chelsea.

The North London club are in fantastic form and face Brighton away in their next league match in seven days’ time.

More to follow.