Report and reaction as Albion beat Arsenal 4-2 in WSL

Albion 4 Arsenal 2: Jelena Cankovic scores twice with Fran Kirby and Kiko Seike also on target as Albion stun the Gunners.

Bruce Talbot

2025-05-05T17:45+01:00

What a moment for Jelena Cancovic after she scores the first of her two goals. 📷 Kyle Hemsley.

Albion enjoyed one of the best days in their WSL history as they beat Arsenal for the first time with a superb performance.

Fran Kirby set the tone by finding the top corner after 15 minutes and although Caitlin Foord levelled, Jelena Cankovic restored the lead with a stunning volley just before the break.

Albion then floored the Gunners with two goals in three minutes at the start of the first half. Cankovic chipped keeper Manuela Zinsberger to make it 3-1 before Kiko Seike raced through for the fourth. Arsenal got a second in stoppage time through Mariona Caldentey but Albion weren't to be denied.

Fran Kirby's delight there for all to see after she put Albion ahead. 📷 Kyle Hemsley.

Albion were just as impressive in defence while behind them Sophie Baggaley, who was called into the team just before kick-off, made some superb saves, particularly in the first half and was deservedly named player of the match.

Victory in our final home game virtually makes sure of a best ever WSL finish with a game to go – Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa. Albion are three points ahead of Liverpool in fifth with an 11-goal better goal difference.

Jelena Cankovic's left-foot volley flies into Arsenal's net. 📷 Kyle Hemsley.

It was a great afternoon for a crowd of nearly 5,000 and both sides could have scored in an incredible opening three minutes that set the tone for a breathless, brilliant first half.

Arsenal keeper Zinsberger tipped a powerful shot from Cankovic over the bar after 35 seconds before Maisie Symonds tested her from the resultant corner.

Arsenal then tried to play out from the back and Mariona Caldentey almost put the ball into her own net, but Zinsberger got back to clear off the line.

The visitors broke and but Caitlin Foord somehow fired wide of an open goal after latching onto Alessia Russo’s cross and rounding Sophie Baggaley, who was a late call-up into Albion’s line-up after Melina Loeck hurt a finger in the warm-up.

Jelena Cankovic chips Manuela Zinsberger for her second goal. 📷 Kyle Hemsley.

Albion’s pressure was rewarded in the 15th minute. Caitlin Hayes won the ball back on the left, Marit Auee’s sideways pass found Kirby with time and space to line up a curling a superb right-foot effort into the top corner. Watching England coach Sarina Wiegman and Fabian Hurzeler would have been impressed.

Straight away Arsenal nearly levelled but Baggaley pushed Russo’s header onto the post. Baggaley made another fine save to deny Frida Maanum but was beaten on the half hour. She did well to parry Foord’s header but Foord hammered the rebound into the net.

Kiko Seike smashes Albion's fourth goal into the net. 📷 Kyle Hemsley.

Baggaley was having a fine game. She produced two more brilliant saves to deny Caldentey and Maanum before Albion regained the lead with another brilliant strike two minutes before the break when a corner was cleared to Cankovic on the edge of the box and her powerful left-foot volley flew past Zinsberger.

Kirby had to go off at the break but there was no loss of momentum by Albion, who stretched their lead with two goals in three minutes.

Cankovic’s second was, in a different way, as good as her first as she adroitly lobbed Zinsberger after being found by Auee. Then on 55 minutes Seike fastened onto a loose ball, outpaced Katie McCabe and fired into the top right-hand corner to make it 4-1.

Sophie Baggaley made several fine saves after being called into the team just before kick-off. 📷 Kyle Hemsley.

Arsenal were stung and pushed more players forward in search of a goal. They left spaces at the back as a result and Nikita Parris and Seike could have grabbed a fifth on the break.

The Gunners did get one back in the third minute of stoppage time and this time Baggaley had no chance as Caldentey's powerful shot from the edge of the box. Baggaley produced another fine save seconds later to keep out Russo's effort and Guro Bergsvand headed off the line moments later as Albion dug deep to claim a statement success.

Albion: Baggaley, Thorisdottir, Bergsvand, Hayes, Olislagers, Auee, Cankovic (McLauchlan 89), Seike, Symonds (Rule 89), Kirby (Noordam 45), Parris (Stefanovic 89).

Subs not used: Masaka, Rayner, Vilamala, Marshall-Miranda.

Referee: Amy Fearn

Attendance: 4786

Dario Vidosic's post-match reaction...

"A great crowd came out to see us off for season and to give them that win was special. We had to stay together, be resilient and tough and we did all that.

"We lost Melina in the warm-up with a dislocated finger and Fran at half-time so we had to adapt. I would have liked us to have had the ball a bit more and that's something for us to learn, that we can stay calm and keep possession well even against a good team like Arsenal.

"Going forward we were always a threat, and we scored some fantastic goals. You won't see better finishes than Fran and Jelena's all season. And Sophie Baggaley was outstanding. We know her quality and to be called in less than ten minutes and play against Arsenal like that was phenomenal. We were clinical against a world-class team."