Gunners ace Williamson says Arsenal are fired up for final stages of title battle with Chelsea after hammering Villa
LEAH WILLIAMSON says Arsenal’s disappointing FA Cup semis loss to Chelsea has put fire in the Gunners’ bellies.
The Meadow Park centre-back was speaking after her side directed that heat towards Aston Villa in a 7-0 demolition.
The Gunners’ hefty victory ensured the title race will go to the wire ahead of the leaders’ away clash with Birmingham.
And the team took their goal tally under Jonas Eidevall to 106.
Williamson said: “The Chelsea loss really disappointed us because we were playing well, and then it just exposed us a little bit.
“Since then you can see we’ve got a little bit of fire in our belly to put things right.
“And we’re keeping the pressure on. We want to do it convincingly and that’s what we did against Aston Villa.”
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The game was preceded by a guard of honour for Anita Asante.
The ex-Gunner and Lionesses heroine was presented with a framed photo portrait celebrating her achievements.
Williamson added: “Anita is a believable footballer.
“When I was younger, she was somebody that I was told to look at quite a lot because of the way she played and the way that I had the potential to play.
“For England, it’s a shame we didn’t see her in a Lionesses shirt more than we did because she’s an unbelievable talent and somebody that I really looked up to and enjoyed watching.”
“We want you to stay” were the chants that greeted Vivianne Miedema during Arsenal’s demolition of their rivals, with speculation surrounding her future at the club.
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The chants were hardly surprising given the lethal form the Netherlands forward is in along with the Gunners’ frontline.
The WSL ace netted Arsenal’s first two goals inside 13 minutes before a Rachel Corsie own-goal made it 3-0 in the 52nd minute.
Beth Mead walloped in Arsenal’s fourth with a stunning top corner effort nine minutes after with Lotte Wubben Moy netting at close range moments later.
And Stina Blackstenius made it six in the closing stages of the game, moments before Nikita Parris buried a 90th-minute penalty.
Arsenal’s victory was overshadowed by a fitness blow with Jordan Nobbs going off in the second half.
The player appeared to be in discomfort before leaving the pitch looking emotional and receiving a standing ovation from fans.
And there are fears this could be a concern ahead of the Euros with the player having been included in Sarina Wiegman’s most recent Lionesses squad.
Ex-Arsenal ace Leanne Sanderson told Sky Sports: “It’s really sad because Jordan has had her fair share of injuries.
“And she seems to pick them up as soon as there is a major tournament coming up.
“Fair play to Jordan. She tried to play on (against Aston Villa) but it didn’t look good.
“It looked like a non-contact injury, it looked like her knee.
“She tried to play on and I know Jordan very well, she is an old team-mate of mine and she has that fight in her.”
Carla Ward reckons Villa’s loss to Arsenal was one of the biggest she had ever endured as a manager.
And she vowed her side would dust themselves off ahead of their end of season clash with Birmingham.
Ward said: “I think it was our worst performance of the season.
“But we’ve got to pick ourselves up and go again because we’ve got one big week now leading to Blues.”