Arsenal 3-0 Birmingham City: Gunners ease past Blues to close in on WSL top spot

Arsenal moved within a point of the Women's Super League summit with a dominant display against Birmingham.

City keeper Hannah Hampton saved Kim Little's penalty as Arsenal missed a hatful of first-half chances.

Caitlin Foord finally broke the deadlock, stooping to head in off the post before Jill Roord chipped a second into the top corner.

Little made it safe from the penalty spot after Jordan Nobbs' shot struck Rachel Corsie's arm.

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The Gunners had fans watching on for the first time in more than nine months at Meadow Park, but grew increasingly frustrated in the first half as incessant pressure and a string of chances went unrewarded.

Harriet Scott made a superb recovery challenge as Foord bore down on goal, moments before Little's first spot-kick, while Vivianne Miedema curled a shot wide after a superb piece of skill, and then flashed another effort past the far post.

Birmingham rarely ventured out of their own territory in the first half and defended resolutely in numbers, in front of the impressive Hampton, as they looked to secure a fourth successive clean sheet on the road.

However, Arsenal last failed to score at home in September 2016, and after Foord and Roord broke Blues' stout resistance, the Gunners threatened more as Hampton produced more fine saves to deny Lisa Evans and Malin Gut.

Birmingham have lost to Arsenal more than any other WSL side, suffering a 12th defeat in total - and sixth in their past seven meetings.