Arsenal are up and running after the Women's Super League's winter break, with Leah Williamson, Alessia Russo and Beth Mead on target in Sunday's 5-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Renee Slegers’ side dominated throughout in their first game since her appointment as permanent manager, but were made to wait before turning sustained pressure into a glut of goals.
It appeared as though a big win could be on the cards when Williamson bundled home a corner from close range in just the sixth minute, but the floodgates took a while to open. A second finally arrived in the 63rd minute, with Russo – who has netted seven times in her last six WSL outings - producing a poacher’s finish as she reacted quickest to spilled shot and fired into the roof of the net.
Mead then got in on the act four minutes later - with Russo turning provider on this occasion - as she swept home, before Mariona Caldentey converted from the penalty spot and stroked home a fifth deep into stoppage-time.
GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Meadow Park...
