Arsenal Women 1-0 Paris FC
by Layth Yousif 
at Meadow Park 

A SUPERB last-gasp winner by Olivia Smith was enough to seal a 1-0 victory for Arsenal Women against Paris FC in their pre-season friendly at Meadow Park this afternoon.

Smith’s excellent 91st-minute strike came after the talented 22-year-old Canadian cut inside to fire into the far corner, to ensure the Gunners clinched a hard-fought win against determined opposition, as Renee Slegers handed debuts to five new signings including decorated Lioness Georgia Stanway.

Summer arrivals Misa Rodriguez, Lisa Baum and Selina Cerci also featured for Arsenal’s first public pre-season clash, with Geraldine Reuteler also coming off the bench with a second-half return for Kyra Cooney-Cross.

Two-time European Championship winner Stanway dovetailed well with Mariona Caldentey in midfield, while youngsters Smilla Holmberg and Baum, who joined from RB Leipzig in July, impressed along the right flank.

Both sides made a raft of changes after the interval in a match that was a good run-out for Slegers’s WSL giants.

The Gunners will host WSL 2 newcomers Charlton Athletic on Wednesday evening in another friendly.