Arsenal seal Champions League spot for 2025-26 season
Russo scores double and provides fine assist for Maanum
Aston Villa slip to eighth defeat in 11 WSL games
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That's all we have to bring you on this live text. Short and sweet, particularly if you're of the Arsenal persuasion.
My colleagues will be back with you tomorrow to bring you full coverage of the FA Cup semi-finals: Brighton v Liverpool (12:15 BST), and Chelsea v Man City (15:30 BST).
I'll leave you with the table, almost complete for 2025-26.
Cheerio!
Image source, BBC SportFT: Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
Aston Villa boss Natalia Arroyo speaking to the world feed: "I think the fact of conceding the goal so early kills the dream and the energy. It allows them to feel more calm and then the game was perfect for them. We were trying to find the right moment, the right time to press and we were maybe a bit open in the pocket areas and they were really good.
"We were not finding enough solutions to turn the game and run in behind. With this hot day we were not as fresh and did not have too many options to kill the game or bring freshness. In general some positives but they were too good for us today.
"I think if you play more then you get the rhythm. Miri [Tayor] can play centre back, and if you give her ten games she can play better, better, better but she has been centre-back, on the left, right back. She did a good enough job, the players all did, but today we were against Arsenal who are really good."
Click 'Get Involved' on this page to have your say
All I can say is not good enough from Aston Villa, did not pose any threat in the game I'm hoping that next season will be better
Richard
FT: Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal boss Renee Slegers speaking to Sky Sports after her side secured Champions League qualification: "That's the bare minimum to achieve at Arsenal. I am so happy we're there now but we want more. We want to go for second.
"This was an important win today. It was our shortest turnaround of season as played Wednesday night and then on Saturday morning again. It was really good of the squad to be this ready, to put on this professional performance, nullifying Villa's threats and creating a lot going forward so I'm happy with that."
On hopes of finishing second: "That's the least we can expect. There are always things we want to improve but we wanted to get back in rhythm after two heavy hits this week. We're back in it and we want to stay in the rhythm."
On the mentality of her side: "Yes, we bounce back. In adversity and when things are challenging and hard, we step up. I see how individuals did that today and I am so pleased."
On Alessia Russo: "She is one of the players that will always step up, that wants more and to be better. She bounces back after challenges. She's been leading in the squad, she has mastered the nine and the 10 role and she brings goals, assists and so much more.
FT: Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
Today's win marks the first time Renee Slegers has bested Villa boss Natalia Arroyo in the WSL, at the third time of asking.
She's now beaten all 20 of the managers she has faced in the top flight.
Let's head over to hear what she's got to say.
FT: Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
More from Arsenal forward Alessia Russo speaking to Sky Sports: "It's really important to get back into Europe. We want to go for that second spot, that's the minimum. It's been a tough week as well. We were disappointed with the results so it's nice to bounce back with a win today.
"I always find motivation on game day. I love playing games. It's tough when know have got no trophy to lift at the end. That's reality but for now, it's about winning, scoring goals and setting up momentum for next season and coming second makes a big difference for Champions League progression. I just love playing football."
Reflections on the week: "A lot of reflections. We've had to do it quickly, the schedule at the back end of the season has been crazy. We've not had too much time to dwell. It's all been learnings and you can tell by our reaction today we're trying to flip that momentum."
Assist: "I like to turn with outside of my boot. Players that play with me know that. If I can get on the turn I will. I saw Frida's [Maanum] run, we try to work off each other in nine and 10, whoever's playing. Once she made the run, I knew had to get it to her somehow and luckily it snapped through."
FT: Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
Renee Slegers will be very happy with what she saw from her side today. They bested Aston Villa in every single metric going.
FT: Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
Arsenal forward Alessia Russo speaking to the world feed: "We had a tough week of results so we wanted to come out here and flip the momentum, play our football and we did that today. It was the perfect response.
"We have come here in the past at this end of the season and struggled, Villa always put up a really strong game against us. It was important that we came here with high standards."
On her best goalscoring season for Arsenal: "I'm just enjoying my football but also playing and training with the best players in the world every single day, both at Arsenal and England. You improve when you are tested every day and I definitely get that from players and staff, so hopefully it continues."
On aiming for a second placed finish: "That is the standard that we want to set. We've got two games left and it is in our control if we win them both, especially after a tough end to the season and knowing we are not going to get any of the trophies we were left in."
FT: Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
Let's hear from the player of the match shall we?
FT: Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
In news that will surprise absolutely nobody, Alessia Russo has been awarded player of the match on Sky Sports.
Two goals (well one and a deflection), and an assist in an all-round top class display.
She was at the heart of everything good in an attacking sense for the Gunners.
Image source, BBC SportFT: Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
It's all smiles on the pitch between the teams, with former England colleagues Alessia Russo and Rachel Daly catching up among many chats in the centre circle.
FT: Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
Izzy Christiansen
Former England and Man City midfielder on Sky Sports
Very poor from Aston Villa. Very disappointing Defensively they were poor, they didn't really have a plan in terms of going forward. They picked upa bit in the second half but Arsenal were in third gear.
FT: Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
Izzy Christiansen
Former England and Man City midfielder on Sky Sports
A professional performance from Arsenal. They knew that they had to get a job done and bounce back from disappointment in midweek. Russo in particular was outstanding, showing high performance levels all season.
Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
A comfortable afternoon for Arsenal in the end. Three goals, three points and Champions League qualification secured for next season.
Aston Villa who end their home campaign with another goal-filled defeat.
Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
Image source, Getty ImagesEbony Salmon tries at the very last to get a Villa consolation goal on the scoresheet but it's in vain as Lotte Wubben-Moy is back there to preserve an away clean sheet.
Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
Sabrina D'Angelo fumbles Beth Mead's centre under pressure from Victoria Pelova but atones immediately with a sharp stop to deny Chloe Kelly. Her defenders then hurry to scramble away.
Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
Caitlin Foord does her best to find joy on the right but again shes made to settle for a corner.
Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk
Former Liverpool forward on Sky Sports
A professional, clinical performance from Arsenal.
They have done what they needed to do without coming out of third gear.
Now they've got two games to cement second place.
Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
We'll have four additional minutes here.
Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal
Beth Mead's delivery is a routine clear up job for Villa before Gabi Nunes' diligent defensive work prevens Lotte Wubben-Moy from turning Emily Fox's diagonal in at the back post.
Arsenal secure Champions League spot with Russo-inspired win over Villa
At a glance
Alessia Russo opens Arsenal scoring before setting up Frida Maanum for second goal
England striker adds third to seal dominant victory
Gunners move a point behind second-placed Chelsea and guarantee Champions League football for 2026-27 season
Only Leicester City (zero) have won fewer points than Aston Villa (seven) since start of year
Arsenal rounded off a difficult week by comfortably beating Aston Villa to seal a place in the 2026-27 Women's Champions League.
The Gunners were knocked out of this year's competition by Lyon in last Saturday's semi-final second leg and had their Women's Super League title aspirations ended by a draw at Brighton on Wednesday.
That result against the Seagulls ensured Manchester City were crowned champions for the first time in a decade.
However, Arsenal duly bounced back at Villa Park as two goals from Alessia Russo and another from Frida Maanum ensured fourth-placed Manchester United can no longer catch them for a place in Europe next season.
Now a point behind second-placed Chelsea with a game in hand, the Gunners are still in a strong position to finish runners-up and secure automatic progression to the group stages of the Women's Champions League rather than having to navigate qualifying.
"Champions League is the bare minimum to achieve at Arsenal," boss Renee Slegers told Sky Sports. "I am happy we are there but we want to finish second."
An eighth defeat in 11 WSL games this calendar year left Villa in ninth spot before next Saturday's final fixture of the season at London City Lionesses (13:00 BST).
Arsenal looked jaded in midweek but were ahead in only the fourth minute here when Villa goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo flapped at a Smilla Holmberg cross and Russo headed home from six yards.
It ensured the England striker reached double figures in the WSL for the fourth straight season and she could have had another goal moments later only to mis-kick when well placed.
She did though play a huge part in Arsenal's second, showing stunning skill to escape the attentions of a Villa defender before sending Maanum clear with a flick of her right boot.
The Norway international was typically clinical in scoring for the third successive game.
D'Angelo then made two brilliant saves to deny Olivia Smith and Maanum as rampant Arsenal sought to wrap the points up before half-time.
They did not have to wait long after the break, however, with Maanum's defence-splitting pass allowing Russo to round D'Angelo and slot home the game's final goal in the 52nd minute.
"It's tough when you know we have got no trophy to lift at the end of the season," Russo said on Sky Sports. "But, for now, it's about winning, scoring goals and setting up momentum for next season.
"Coming second makes a big difference for Champions League football."
Despite boasting the WSL's second top scorer in Kirsty Hanson, Villa posed little threat. They came closest when Ebony Salmon's scuffed cross confused Gunners goalkeeper Anneke Borbe and hit the post.
Alessia Russo scored her 10th and 11th goals of another fruitful Women's Super League season
Since the middle of March, Arsenal have played 10 games as opposed to their hosts' four and that match sharpness was evident throughout a dominant performance.
While Slegers' side ran out of steam on the south coast in midweek, they had far too much for a Villa side in freefall.
Shorn of the pressure of having to win to keep up the title chase, Arsenal played with freedom and, in Russo, had the game's outstanding talent.
After Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw was named winner of the Football Writers' Women's Footballer of the Year award on Friday, Russo gave a reminder of her comparable ability, with the outrageous skill for Maanum's goal just one example of how she tormented the Villa defence.
Even after the Lionesses forward was substituted after an hour, Arsenal continued to rack up the chances, managing 28 shots to Villa's one in total.
They could have had a penalty when Miri Taylor seemed to block Smith's shot with her elbow, before substitute Stina Blackstenius fired over when clean through and the supporting Beth Mead unmarked.
Natalia Arroyo's Villa team nicked a late equaliser at Emirates Stadium in September but against the WSL's stingiest defence, they showed no sign of mounting a comeback.
Retiring Villa midfielder Lucy Staniforth was given a guard of honour by both sets of players on the final home appearance of her career and was handed the armband when she replaced captain Rachel Daly in the 78th minute.
But as the 33-year-old former England international leaves, this performance from her side shows they have much to ponder as the summer approaches.
Arsenal host Everton on Wednesday, 13 May (19:00 BST), for their final game in hand on the rest of the Women's Super League before closing the season at Liverpool on Saturday, 16 May (13:00 BST).
Meanwhile, Aston Villa have one match remaining and travel to London City Lionesses next Saturday at the same time.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Manchester City | 21 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 58 | 18 | 40 | 52 |
|
2 Chelsea | 21 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 43 | 20 | 23 | 46 |
|
3 Arsenal | 20 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 49 | 13 | 36 | 45 |
|
4 Manchester United | 21 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 38 | 21 | 17 | 40 |
|
5 Tottenham Hotspur | 21 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 33 | 37 | -4 | 33 |
|
6 Brighton & Hove Albion | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 26 |
|
7 London City Lionesses | 21 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 26 | 34 | -8 | 24 |
|
8 Everton | 20 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 24 | 36 | -12 | 20 |
|
9 Aston Villa | 21 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 27 | 46 | -19 | 20 |
|
10 West Ham United | 21 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 19 | 41 | -22 | 19 |
|
11 Liverpool | 21 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 20 | 31 | -11 | 17 |
|
12 Leicester City | 21 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 11 | 51 | -40 | 9 |
|
Manager:Natalia Arroyo
Formation:4 - 4 - 2
Manager:Renee Slegers
Formation:5 - 3 - 2
Manager:Natalia Arroyo
Formation:4 - 4 - 2
Manager:Renee Slegers
Formation:5 - 3 - 2
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