Blackstenius and Little Fire Gunners Into FA Cup Fifth Round

Arsenal Women secured a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Meadow Park as second-half goals delivered safe passage into the next round.

Arsenal Women booked their place in the fifth round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup with a controlled 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Meadow Park on January 18, 2026. Goals from Stina Blackstenius and captain Kim Little after the interval ensured progression, as the Gunners turned first-half dominance into decisive second-half execution.

The result marked a professional start to Arsenal’s FA Cup campaign, even though the team needed patience before finding the breakthrough.

Buy Arsenal's 2025–26 Home Kit through the ArsenalTalks Shop

Click this link to buy the new 2025–26 Arsenal home kit through our ArsenalTalks Shop.

Arsenal dictated possession from the opening whistle but failed to convert pressure into goals during a scrappy first half. Early set-piece routines offered promise: Lotte Wubben-Moy narrowly missed Katie McCabe’s delivery, and Blackstenius teed up Alessia Russo, but defenders blocked Russo’s effort inside the area.

Midway through the half, Emily Fox left the pitch after an awkward collision, sparking concern on the sidelines. Smila Holmberg replaced her and quickly made an impact, whipping in a dangerous cross that Russo headed straight at the Villa goalkeeper.

Despite Arsenal’s territorial control, Aston Villa carried threat from set pieces. Anna Patten headed wide from a corner, while Kiko Hijikata missed a major chance with an unmarked header that sailed over. Beth Mead later struck the crossbar with a teasing delivery as the half ended goalless after lengthy stoppage time.

Second Half: Breakthrough Changes the Game

Arsenal emerged sharper after the restart and found the opener in the 52nd minute. Mead slipped Kim Little into space, and the captain calmly cut the ball back for Blackstenius, who smashed a close-range finish into the far corner to give the hosts a deserved lead.

Momentum stayed firmly with Arsenal, and the advantage doubled just ten minutes later. McCabe’s corner was headed across goal by Wubben-Moy, rebounded off the bar, and Little reacted quickest to slot home from close range.

The goal marked another milestone in Little’s extraordinary Arsenal career, with the midfielder now scoring in 15 different seasons for the club.

Aston Villa pushed briefly for a response and went close from another set piece, but Arsenal remained composed. Renée Slegers introduced fresh legs, with Frida Maanum, Caitlin Foord, Laia Codina, and Victoria Pelova all entering to maintain control.

Foord and Blackstenius both threatened in stoppage time, yet Arsenal were content to see out the closing stages and secure a clean-sheet victory.

Kim Little delivered a captain’s performance, combining leadership with a goal and an assist to earn Player of the Match honours. Blackstenius led the line intelligently and took her chance with authority, while Mead’s work rate and delivery proved crucial throughout.

Villa competed bravely and created moments, but missed chances ultimately proved costly.

Post-Match Reaction

Reflecting on her latest milestone, Little joked: “That’s a lot of seasons,” before praising the team’s patience and second-half improvement. Interim manager Renée Slegers expressed satisfaction with Arsenal’s control and ability to raise their level after the break.

Arsenal will learn their fifth-round opponents in the FA Cup draw on January 19, with the club aiming to build momentum in both cup and league competitions. The victory keeps alive hopes of lifting the trophy for the first time in a decade.

Want more Arsenal updates? Visit our homepage.