Arsenal 7-0 Leicester City: Rout condemns visitors to bottom spot in WSL

Arsenal cut the gap to Women's Super League leaders Manchester City to eight points with a huge 7-0 thrashing of Leicester City, who will finish bottom of the league.

The Gunners played their first of three games in hand over City and put out a statement of intent at the Emirates, which condemned their visitors to the relegation play-off.

Arsenal's bright start was rewarded in the 25th minute as Frida Maanum got the scoring underway with a cushioned header across goal and into the bottom-left corner.

And just two minutes later, Maanum turned provider for Smilla Holmberg, who curled her shot from the right side of the box behind Olivia Clark and into the far side of the net.

Emily Fox then struck the woodwork before Stina Blackstenius made it 4-0 by half-time with a brace. She glanced Maanum's cross in from the edge of the six-yard box and then latched onto a loose ball to fire into an empty net on the stroke of half-time.

Holmberg was then on hand at the far post to turn in Olivia Smith's centre two and a half minutes after the break as Arsenal provided no let-up for Leicester.

The Foxes were slow to get out to Mariona Caldentey on the edge of the box in the 55th minute, and she drilled a powerful shot through the crowd and into the top-left corner.

Leah Williamson then added some more gloss to the scoreline eight minutes later, nodding in from close range to get Arsenal's seventh.

Alessia Russo, Maanum and Caitlin Foord all attempted to add more to their tally but could not find a way past substitute Katie Keane in goal, but Arsenal had already given their goal difference a vital boost ahead of their run-in.

Data Debrief: A stunning attack display

The WSL title race could come down to goal difference, and Arsenal have absolutely put out a statement, even if Leicester have lost their last 12 in a row.

The Gunners had 21 shots in total, with 12 of those hitting the target, and they accumulated 3.75 expected goals (xG), overperforming that by 3.25 xG.

Blackstenius led the charge, with a game-high six shots, 10 touches in the opposition box and two 'big' chances. 

But they were at the top of their game in the final third, with the likes of Victoria Pelova, Maanum, Holmberg, Caldentey and Foord all creating three chances apiece as they shared the load.