Arsenal exorcised the ghost of two back-to-back draws and a week of speculation about their squad harmony as Stina Blackstenius’s late strike gave them all three points against Liverpool. They had taken an early lead through Olivia Smith, but they shrank into themselves after Beata Olsson’s equaliser until Blackstenius delivered in the 87th minute.

The home team had got off to a blistering start after a full-voiced rendition of North London Forever. The breakthrough came in the 16th minute, when the former Liverpool forward Smith shrugged off three challenges as she drifted towards the edge of the area and lashed in.

Arsenal exorcised the ghost of two back-to-back draws and a week of speculation about their squad harmony as Stina Blackstenius’s late strike gave them all three points against Liverpool. They had taken an early lead through Olivia Smith, but they shrank into themselves after Beata Olsson’s equaliser until Blackstenius delivered in the 87th minute.

The home team had got off to a blistering start after a full-voiced rendition of North London Forever. The breakthrough came in the 16th minute, when the former Liverpool forward Smith shrugged off three challenges as she drifted towards the edge of the area and lashed in.

Arsenal exorcised the ghost of two back-to-back draws and a week of speculation about their squad harmony as Stina Blackstenius’s late strike gave them all three points against Liverpool. They had taken an early lead through Olivia Smith, but they shrank into themselves after Beata Olsson’s equaliser until Blackstenius delivered in the 87th minute.

The home team had got off to a blistering start after a full-voiced rendition of North London Forever. The breakthrough came in the 16th minute, when the former Liverpool forward Smith shrugged off three challenges as she drifted towards the edge of the area and lashed in.