Arsenal Women 0-2 Aston Villa Women: Rachel Daly claims Golden Boot as visitors record comfortable win

Rachel Daly equalled the Women's Super League goals record for a season as Aston Villa rounded off a fine campaign with a comfortable victory at Arsenal.

Daly drew level with Vivianne Miedema's tally of 22 from the 2018-19 season with a close-range finish on the stroke of half-time.

Swiss midfielder Alisha Lehmann doubled the visitors' lead shortly after the interval, driving a low effort through the legs of Arsenal goalkeeper Sabrina d'Angelo, after Kirsty Hanson's cross had deflected into her path.

It was no more than Carla Ward's side deserved and both Daly, twice, and substitute Simone Magill had excellent opportunities to make Villa's first WSL win over the Gunners even more emphatic.

Villa, who were already assured of fifth place, end their season seven points clear of sixth-placed Everton as the best of the rest, 10 points behind the big four.

Arsenal end their season in third behind champions Chelsea, with Manchester United in second.

While Villa were only able to name two outfield replacements among their three substitutes, this proved a game too far for Arsenal.

In recent weeks their title challenge has fallen flat and understandably so given the number of key long-term absentees to Jonas Eidevall's side.

Without the likes of Beth Mead, Miedema, Kim Little, Leah Williamson, Laura Wienroither and Lia Walti due to injury, Arsenal looked short on quality at times and rarely looked capable of piercing a resolute Villa backline.

Things may have been different had Villa left-back Mayumi Pacheco not prevented Katie McCabe from tapping in to an unguarded net early on.

Frida Maanum also twice tested Villa goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, though Dutch international midfielder Victoria Pelova should have done better when blasting over with time and space from 15 yards out.

However, the big consolation for the hosts was that they had pretty much secured a third-placed finish and Champions League football for a third season running in advance, due to their superior goal difference over Manchester City, who also finished on 47 points.

Meanwhile, Villa will be delighted to finish their season on a resoundingly positive note.

Their 11 WSL victories this term are more than they managed in their previous two seasons combined [nine] and they also reached the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time.

With expectations likely to increase, Ward's big challenge now will be to recruit well over the summer as they try to get closer to the four sides above them.