Alessia Russo at the double as Arsenal see off Everton in WSL

Arsenal bounced back from their FA Cup disappointment with a 3-1 win against Everton in the Women’s Super League.

The Toffees had won three of their last four matches at Walton Hall Park but could not emulate rivals Liverpool, who stunned Arsenal last weekend.

Alessia Russo put Arsenal ahead midway through the first half, but it was all square at the break after Toni Payne netted her first goal for Everton in the 36th minute.

Arsenal dominated proceedings, though, and an own goal from Maren Mjelde in the 63rd minute and a late second from Russo set them up for their Champions League clash with Real Madrid in midweek.

Chloe Kelly was back in the Arsenal line-up after being ineligible against Liverpool, while Manuela Zinsberger started in goal in place of the absent Daphne van Domselaar.

By making her 158th WSL start for Arsenal, Leah Williamson moved clear of Jordan Nobbs in first place on the Gunners’ all-time list.

The visitors were almost caught on the counter-attack in the eighth minute when Kelly Gago broke away, but Honoka Hayashi’s shot was smartly kept out by Zinsberger.

Having been camped in Everton’s half, Arsenal finally created a clear opportunity and took the lead in the 24th minute, working the ball down the right for Kim Little to cut back for Russo in the centre of the box.

The lively Kelly shot just over on the turn 10 minutes later as Arsenal looked to double their advantage, while Little shot just past a post.

Gago and Payne had something of a thankless task up front for Everton, but both were heavily involved when they equalised against the run of play.

Katja Snoeijs’ pressing of Lia Walti paid off when the Arsenal player gave the ball away, Gago drove down the left and played it back for Snoeijs. Her shot was blocked but fell kindly for Payne, who tucked away the leveller.

It was a frustrating scoreline for Arsenal, but they stepped up the pace at the beginning of the second half and they would have gone ahead in the 51st minute but for a fine save from Courtney Brosnan to prevent Snoeijs scoring an own goal.

Frida Maanum and Russo also went close before boss Renee Slegers turned to her bench just after the hour mark.

Beth Mead, Stina Blackstenius, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross all came on and, within seconds of the restart, Emily Fox’s cross was put into her own net by Mjelde under pressure from Foord.

It was no more than Arsenal deserved and they came agonisingly close to increasing their lead twice soon after, with Steph Catley heading against the bar before Cooney-Cross struck a fine shot against the inside of a post.

Everton were grateful to Brosnan for keeping them in contention with saves to deny Katie McCabe, Mead and Blackstenius, but she was beaten by Russo again in injury time.