By our man at the King Power at Den Dreef Stadion
ARSENAL’S European heavyweights turned on the style in Belgium last night, putting one foot firmly in the Champions League quarter-finals with a 4-0 demolition of OH Leuven.
On a night where the North Londoners shimmered under the floodlights, it was Frida Maanum who stole the show, bagging a clinical double to leave the hosts chasing shadows.
But the headlines didn’t stop there, as midfield general Kim Little came off the bench to rack up a staggering 400th appearance for the club—a milestone befitting a true Arsenal legend.
The Gunners, fresh from their recent Champions Cup heroics, didn’t take long to find their groove. After just 22 minutes, the breakthrough arrived.
Caitlin Foord, a constant thorn in the side of the Leuven defense, whipped in a tantalising cross that Maanum met with a stooping header to silence the home crowd.
Leuven struggled to cope with the visitors’ tempo, and by the 37th minute, the lead was doubled.
Olivia Smith—who continues to look like a bargain despite her record summer price tag—showed predatory instincts to sweep home Chloe Kelly’s low delivery.
The second half was more of the same “Gunner-ball.” Six minutes after the restart, the Maanum-Foord connection clicked again.
Foord turned provider for the second time, squaring the ball for Maanum to tap in from point-blank range.
With the game effectively over, Renée Slegers rang the changes, handing the stage to Alessia Russo. The England star didn’t disappoint.
Showing the sharp movement that has made her a fan favourite, Russo reacted quickest to a deflected cross to fire home the fourth and final nail in the Leuven coffin.
”We have learned from the tough moments this season,” captain Kim Little said after her landmark appearance. “Tonight was about being professional and clinical.”
MATCH FACTS
SCORE: OH Leuven 0 – 4 Arsenal
GOALS: Maanum (22′, 51′), Smith (36′), Russo (71′)
STAR PLAYER: Frida Maanum (Arsenal) – Two goals and a dominant display in the hole.
NEXT STOP: The return leg at the Emirates on February 18.
