Everton vs Arsenal LIVE: WSL score, stats & updates
Alessia Russo scored on her 100th Women’s Super League appearance as Arsenal beat Everton at Goodison Park to go second in the table.
The England striker deflected captain Kim Little’s volley towards goal with her chest to fortuitously put the visitors back in front in the 15th minute.
Everton goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan had tried in vain to keep out Russo’s unintentional finish, which was later confirmed Russo’s effort had crossed the line. Caitlin Foord had scored the rebound from two meters anyway.
Second-half substitute Olivia Smith kept the points safe late on, hitting a 25-yard volley that bounced off Brosnan’s flailing arm.
Arsenal had dominated proceedings from the kick-off, and their early pressure was rewarded after 11 minutes. Katie McCabe headed towards Rion Ishikawa’s superb goal-line clearance from the edge of the area to curl a half-volley across goal and into the far corner.
Yet, with the Gunners’ jubilation still fresh in the air, the hosts equalized.
Honoka Hayashi, winner of the match against Chelsea last weekend, advanced from midfield, before curling high into the top corner from distance.
Everton’s celebrations were also short-lived, as Arsenal restored their lead through Russo moments after the restart to complete a four-minute scoring flurry.
The Toffees had Brosnan to thank for staying just one goal ahead at the break, with the highlight of her string of saves late in the first half a spring save to her left to deny Russo a second goal.
The second half played out in a similar fashion to the first, with Everton pinned in their defensive third by a relentless attacking effort from Arsenal, before Smith allayed any fears of an Everton fightback.
The standout moment in an otherwise tame half was the introduction of Leah Williamson to play her first minutes of the season after a four-month injury absence. The England captain had not played since the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 final triumph over Spain in July.
The defeat leaves Everton ninth in the table as they close the first half of the season without gaining a single point at home.