Mariona Caldentey scored a goal of the season contender as her stunning strike helped secure a 4-0 win for Arsenal against Liverpool in the Women’s Super League (WSL), maintaining the Gunners' push for a top-three finish. The match, held on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Emirates Stadium, not only boosted Arsenal's morale following recent defeats but also highlighted their offensive prowess.
Arsenal faced Liverpool coming off a tough week, having suffered a loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League and a previous FA Cup exit against the same Reds just under two weeks prior. Caitlin Foord opened the scoring for Arsenal within the first half hour of the match. “It has been a heavy week but off the back of a loss we had a point to prove. We were really looking forward to this game and putting on a show,” Foord told Sky Sports.
The Gunners made their initial mark when Foord slotted home from a bobbling Arsenal corner, finally breaking through multiple chances, including a near miss from Frida Maanum, who hit the post earlier in the game. Within a minute of that, Liverpool defender Jasmine Matthews inadvertently turned the ball into her own net while attempting to redirect Kim Little's cutback.
The standout moment of the match came when Mariona Caldentey curled a magnificent strike into the top corner after being found in space in the box, solidifying Arsenal's commanding lead. Maanum again threatened, this time hitting the woodwork before Matthews added a second own goal, unintentionally toe-poking a cross from Beth Mead into her own net, sealing the 4-0 victory for the Gunners.
Despite the emphatic scoreline, Arsenal's performance in the second half was more measured as they prepared for their Champions League home leg against Real Madrid just days later, buoyed by a comfortable cushion.
This victory is crucial for Arsenal as they chase a top-three finish in the league, helping to close the gap on Chelsea, who lead the table by five points. Arsenal now sits three points clear of Manchester United, who are also in contention for the Champions League spots. “We need to push. We can do whatever we can do. If the opposition slips, we want to be ready,” said Arsenal boss Renee Slegers, emphasizing the team's need to reclaim their form. “When we play as well as we can play, which we did at times today, it is important that they get back to knowing how that feels.”
In the aftermath of the match, Slegers acknowledged the need for intense preparation following the loss against Real Madrid. “A lot of things were said on how we want to prepare on the training pitch. We had two really high-level sessions. The intensity has been sky-high the past few days,” she added. “What do we do when things are against us? We spoke about suffering, but passion is about suffering for something you love.”
On the opposing side, Liverpool interim manager Amber Whiteley expressed disappointment in her team's performance. “I think it was the distances; if we were a little bit lower we would have been able to manage the space behind,” Whiteley noted. Her team had been enjoying a resurgence with three successive wins, but this match was a stark contrast. “In the second half, I thought we were a lot better at that and more difficult to break down. We needed to be braver with the ball too.”
Concerns were also raised about Matthews, who had been instrumental in Liverpool's recent successes. “Jas has been brilliant the last three weeks,” Whiteley highlighted, underlined the responsibility Matthews bore in a challenging match. “It’s something we’ll look at and we’ll work on for next week.”
Commentator Ian Wright posed critical reflections on Arsenal's future, suggesting they must maintain consistency if they aspire to reach the heights of women’s football again. “At some stage, you have to think about the future. Where do Arsenal want to be?” he remarked, cautioning that Chelsea's current dominance should not be used as an excuse. “There’s got to be a rebuild at some stage, maybe a culture change, and some younger players.”
In a positive note for Arsenal, Victoria Pelova made her comeback after recovering from an ACL injury, making an appearance in the 74th minute to a warm welcome from fans. “It is great to be back. When you are back on the bench, that is the hardest mentally,” Pelova emphasized her eagerness to contribute.
After this emphatic win, Arsenal hopes to carry this momentum into upcoming fixtures and secure critical points as they pursue a higher finish in the league standings. The performance against Liverpool not only restored confidence in the squad but also set a tone for their final push in the remaining matches of the season.
