Wonder Kid Goal

December 06, 2025

Emirates Stadium, London

The international break brought mostly favourable returns. Australia won, with Cooney-Cross striking a thunderous goal; Blackstenius scored for Sweden, and Mead and Russo for England. Caldentey claimed a second Nations League title after Spain’s victory over Germany. Yet the optimism faltered on the medical front: Chloe Kelly returned with a ligament injury, and Daphne van Domselaar was ruled out of starting duties. The psychological landscape darkened further when The Athletic published a detailed report outlining structural failings inside Arsenal Women. Slegers denied the claims, but the season’s lapses lent them an uncomfortable plausibility.

Liverpool arrived with their own burdens. Their opening eight fixtures had yielded only two points, a start bordering on ruinous, though a recent draw with Chelsea hinted at a hardening resilience.

The match opened with unexpected ferocity. Within five minutes, Silcock clattered into former teammate Olivia Smith—a confrontation that would thread through the evening. Liverpool’s audaciously high line invited Russo to sprint into the spaces behind, allowing Arsenal to carve the early chances. Yet fragility surfaced quickly: a simple long ball released Olson, who stumbled at the decisive touch. Russo’s relentless pressing recovered the initiative, winning corners and forcing errors, one of which ended with a Mariona delivery that Wooben-Moy headed narrowly wide.

Then came the moment that ignited the Emirates. In the fifteenth minute, Smith drove down the left, slipped past three defenders, and from eighteen yards arrowed a precise shot into the far corner. No celebration—only acknowledgment—against the club that formed her.

Arsenal pressed their advantage as Fox surged forward with abandon, repeatedly stretching Liverpool’s lines. But a lapse in communication undid the momentum: three defenders stepped up, one lagged behind, and a straight pass found Olson free to finish without pressure. A familiar self-inflicted wound; the Emirates fell quiet. Liverpool pressed harder, anxiety creeping into Arsenal’s defensive shape. Russo rallied late in the half but sent two promising efforts wide.

Smith remained Arsenal’s sharpest blade after the interval, her deliveries repeatedly threatening. Yet the breakthrough came late: in the 87th minute, Fox’s long ball found Blackstenius, who turned and lashed in the winner with ruthless clarity.

Arsenal 2 – 1 Liverpool

(O. Smith 16’, B. Olsson 30’, S. Blackstenius 87’)