Vivianne Miedema’s six goals and four assists help Arsenal Women to record-breaking 11-1 win
Arsenal 11-1 Bristol City: The Dutch superstar helped her side to a record FA WSL score with a magnificent individual performance
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Vivianne Miedema scored six goals and assisted four more as Arsenal eviscerated winless Bristol City for the second time in ten days at Meadow Park.
The Dutch star, top scorer in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League last season, teed up goals for Lisa Evans and Leah Williamson before scoring three herself in a relentless first-half display.
Miedema added a further treble after the break, going on to assist Jordan Nobbs and a second for Evans.
Emma Mitchell was the other Arsenal goalscorer with Yana Daniels adding a late consolation goal. It was a FA WSL record score, surpassing Liverpool’s 9-0 win over Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2013.
“I think we played well for the whole 90 minutes, and we wanted to score more goals throughout, which I think says a lot about the team today,” Miedema said of her side’s performance.
“We want to win the league again and qualify for the Champions League. The last few games have been really difficult for us, so it was important to raise the goal difference.
“I felt really good. I was probably happier with the assists than with the goals. We’ve still got three more games and we need to focus and make sure we get six more points in the league and win in the cup.
“We created more space with three-at-the-back. We knew where we could get at Bristol having played them recently. We’ve got the players to play three or four at the back which really helps.”
Arsenal took the lead inside seven minutes, Danielle Van de Donk freeing Miedema down the left, whose cross was nodded in by Evans.
Another sensational delivery from the 23-year-old led to the second three minutes later, with Williamson diving to add a second.
Miedema put Arsenal 3-0 up inside 15 minutes, working the ball into the box and rifling home before converting again from close range just after the half-hour mark.
Miedema secured her hat-trick four minutes later, converting the rebound after her own shot was parried weakly, and she picked up where she left off after half-time with a wonderful fourth from out wide.
The striker’s fourth goal was a wonderful strike from the corner of the box five minutes into the second half.
And she turned provider again three minutes later, Nobbs converting from close range.
Miedema turned in Evans’ cross two minutes later to net her fifth inside 56 minutes and the returned the favour as she found Evans for a cushioned volley to make it nine.
In the 65th minute, Miedema scored her sixth, finishing well from a tight angle before substitute Mitchell fired in from inside the box with ten minutes left.
A tough afternoon for Bristol ended when Daniels tapped home the rebound from her penalty for a late consolation.
To follow the action, buy tickets and sign-up for The FA Player’s live Barclays FA Women’s Super League coverage visit womenscompetitions.thefa.com
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments