FT: Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa - Stina Blackstenius scores first-half hat-trick, Frida Maanum also on target for Gunners
Holders Arsenal reach 10th League Cup final
Man City face Chelsea in other semi-final on Thursday
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Arsenal 3-0 Aston Villa
Gilly Flaherty
Former Arsenal and England defender on BBC Sport
I can't see it staying 3-0. With the way Arsenal started this game, they are hungry for it and you can see them saying 'let's go for more' and really send out a statement. I think it's a positive for Villa if it stays 3-0 especially going into half-time.
Image source, Getty Images
Frida Maanum (18 mins)
Game over?
Arsenal cut the ball back to the edge of the Villa box and Frida Maanum cool as you like sweeps the ball high into the far top corner of the net.
Ruthless finishing. And the tie could well be beyond Villa already.
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal 2-0 Aston Villa
Another chance for Villa.
Kirsty Hanson breaks down the left hand side and fizzes a cross into the back post. Alisha Lehmann arrives seemingly in perfect time, but she cannot get her leg high enough and her shot bobble harmlessly wide.
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal 2-0 Aston Villa
Villa looked stunned, and understandably so.
Arsenal players look sharp and at the moment it only seems a matter of time before they score again.
Arsenal 2-0 Aston Villa
Gilly Flaherty
Former Arsenal and England defender on BBC Sport
Ten minutes in and she's already on a hat-trick. It's a great delivery in from Beth Mead. Again it's Blackstenius following her run. She's staying alive in the box and puts it in the roof of the net. From Aston Villa's point of view this is not how they will have wanted the game to start.
Image source, ReutersArsenal 2-0 Aston Villa
The visitors have a chance to respond straight away from a wide set piece.
Kenza Dali floats a cross towards the back post, but confident goalkeeping from Manuela Zinsberger sees her claim the cross above a crowded penalty area without much fuss.
Arsenal 2-0 Aston Villa
Wow.
Out of nowhere Aston Villa now have a mountain to climb if they are to qualify for a first major final in their history.
Stina Blackstenius (10 mins)
Two in two minutes for Stina Blackstenius!
Another break down the right from Arsenal through Beth Mead, who crosses the ball to the back post, it is headed back across goal and the Swede is on hand to tap home for her second goal of the game.
Image source, Getty ImagesStina Blackstenius (9 mins)
The hosts take an early lead.
After a bright start, forward Stina Blackstenius breaks the deadlock with her first effort on goal.
A break down the right sees Beth Mead play the ball into the channel, and after taking a first touch, Blackstenius fires high into the roof of the net.
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
A first break of note up field from the visitors.
They look to set Rachel Daly in behind but Arsenal full back Steph Catley is wary of the danger and clears the ball out for a throw in.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
Another dangerous through ball from Katie McCabe to Stina Blackstenius.
Villa shepherd the forward away from goal and eventually regain possession, but that seems to be an area the hosts will look to target this evening.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
After that early scare Villa are just about settling in possession, playing passes along the back line and getting those key early touches of the ball.
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
An early chance for the holders to take the lead.
Katie McCabe's long ball over the top is latched onto by Stina Blackstenius.
The Swede fires a low cross to the back post but her strike partner Alessia Russo can't get enough on the finish and Villa scramble the ball clear.
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
Returning Villa forward Rachel Daly gets us under way for the evening.
Arsenal v Aston Villa (19:15 GMT)
Gilly Flaherty
Former Arsenal and England defender on BBC Sport
I've been in the situation before with West Ham when you know you are one step away from a cup final. They [Aston Villa] have nothing to lose tonight. A lot will think Arsenal will get the result and in that sense it's a free hit. For Arsenal it's a big, big chance to get into the cup final.
Arsenal v Aston Villa (19:15 GMT)
Arsenal and Aston Villa met at the quarter-final stage of the League Cup last season, with a Frida Maanum double and a late strike from Caitlin Foord sealing the Gunners’ place in the final four.
The hosts will certainly fancy themselves as favourites to win again this time around, but can the visitors produce a shock result?
Arsenal v Aston Villa (19:15 GMT)
The teams are out on the pitch at Meadow Park with kick off just minutes away.
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Arsenal v Aston Villa (19:15 GMT)
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa will take plenty of heart from their last two away league visits to Arsenal ahead of their cup trip to Meadow Park this evening.
Back in October, the Gunners were forced to produce a remarkable second half stoppage time turnaround at the Emirates in order to claim the three points against Villa – goals from Katie McCabe and Alessia Russo eventually cancelled out Maz Pacheco’s first half opener.
Looking back a game further, Aston Villa emerged victorious from Meadow Park in May 2023, with goals from Rachel Daly and Alisha Lehmann condemning the Gunners to a 2-0 defeat on the final day of the 2022/23 season.
Arsenal v Aston Villa (19:15 GMT)
You can watch this evening’s League Cup semi-final action between Arsenal and Aston Villa live on BBC iPlayer or via the BBC Sport website and app.
Coverage begins at 19:10 GMT, and you can tune in via the play icon at the top of this live page.
