Arsenal lifted the FA Cup
for the 13th time on Sunday after beating Everton 2-0 at Milton Keynes. It was manager Shelly Kerr’s last game in
charge following her resignation last week and while her team may be bottom of
the WSL 1 they certainly didn’t look like a team that will be involved in the
relegation battle at the end of the season.
Captain Kelly Smith fired a
free kick from outside the box straight past Rachel Brown-Finnis to put the
Gunners in the lead. Smith’s experience showed and she remained influential
throughout the game, later setting up Japanese star Yukari Kinga to make it
2-0.
Everton did have a few
attempts on goal but Arsenal dominated this match and their determination paid
off. Rachel Yankey, who lifted her 11th
FA Cup, hit the post and Alex Scott forced Brown-Finnis to pull off an
excellent save.
Danielle Carter arguable
deserved a goal after her many attempts to find the back of the net but it just
wasn’t her day.
After a number of players
left Arsenal before the start of the season and a new manager on their way,
this is both an exciting and interesting period for England’s most successful
women’s football club. This FA Cup could well be the turning point this season.
