Smith scoring for Arsenal? It just feels right. There was a standing ovation for the women’s game first £1m signing, Olivia Smith, on 61 minutes as she exited after a phenomenal debut goal in Arsenal’s defeat of London City.
Smith is a different profile of forward to the legendary Kelly Smith, who is now part of the Gunners’ coaching staff, but at a club that lives and breathes its rich women’s football history it felt like a moment.
The 21-year-old delighted a crowd of 38,142 with her directness, speed and trickery causing problems throughout. Her goal, a wonderfully whipped strike from outside the box after she had evaded María Pérez, to cancel out Kosovare Asllani’s opener, was the highlight, before goals from Chloe Kelly, Stina Blackstenius and Frida Maanum finished the job. A volley which flashed past a post from Alessia Russo’s lofted pass, a header wide and an effort which forced a smart save from the goalkeeper Elene Lete showed Smith has settled into the side very quickly after joining early in the transfer window from Liverpool.
“It’s very special,” said the manager Renée Slegers on Smith’s goal. “It was a fantastic individual action, a lot of players had good individual actions but of course people come to the stands to watch good goals.”
