Report: Arsenal Women 1-0 Paris FC

We beat Paris FC 1-0 in a pre-season match at Mangata Developments Stadium in Borehamwood on Sunday thanks to Olivia Smith’s 91st-minute beauty.

PUTTING ON THE PRESSURE

We got our first sight of goal in the fifth minute as Lisa Baum’s cross from the right was met by Smilla Holmberg, who got a first-time shot away towards the bottom left, but the danger was cleared off the line.

It took until the 28th minute for our next chance to come by way of Baum and Selina Cerci linking up well, before the latter put Georgia Stanway through on goal, but her effort went just wide of the bottom left.

Indeed, we seemed to find joy when we showed the courage to play the ball forward into small pockets of space through the middle.

Next up, Cerci stung the palms of Mylene Chavas with an effort from the edge of the box after she was found by Emily Fox, who was alert to win the ball back well in the final third.

At the other end, a Paris FC ball over the top for Evelyne Viens was flicked over Misa Rodriguez and wide on the volley, as the flag was raised for offside.

Our hunt for an opener resumed in the 38th minute, Baum setting up Mariona Caldentey just outside the 18-yard box, and she fired over the bar with power.

We broke down the left with half-time approaching courtesy of Cerci, who turns back and went inside to Kim Little. She played it out right to Fox, who teed up Holmberg, and she curled over the bar.

Clara Mateo had a chance on the brink of the break, but her left-footed strike was too soft to trouble Rodriguez, who got across and caught it with ease.

HALF-TIME TWEAKS

Renée Slegers made two changes at the break as Alessia Russo and Taylor Hinds came on for Cerci and Holmberg.

In the 54th minute, Baum drifted in from the right and went for goal, shooting straight at Chavas on her left foot, before Russo curled the ball into the back of the net after Stanway found her through the middle, but the flag went up for offside.

Just beyond the hour mark, Baum’s free-kick hit the wall and went out for a corner.  That was followed by our next flurry of changes, with Lotte Wubben-Moy, Stanway and Little making way for Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Geraldine Reuteler.

There was a tidy passage of play between Catley, Mariona and Baum that led to another corner moments later, before Mariam Toloba puts Viens through on goal, but Leah Williamson tracked back to clear the danger.

Our next change came with 13 minutes left on the clock as Stina Blackstenius and Caitlin Foord replaced Mariona and Fox.

Olivia Smith stood over a free-kick in the game’s dying embers, but her inswinger resulted in a looping header from Williamson that was caught by Chavas. Russo then had a shot blocked having been picked out by Blackstenius.

Smith made no mistake with her next involvement, cutting in from the left and curling spectacularly into the top right for a late winner.

WHAT’S NEXT

We’re back in Borehamwood for our final pre-season match against Charlton Athletic at 7pm on Wednesday. Join us to cheer the team on ahead of the 2026/27 campaign by getting your tickets!

Then, the Women’s Super League season begins against Brighton & Hove Albion at 12pm on Sunday, September 6. Tickets have sold out for that match, but the match will be shown live on Sky Sports.

Looking forward to our return to Emirates Stadium? Tickets remain on general sale for our first WSL home game against Crystal Palace at 2.45pm on Sunday, September 13.