Arsenal Ladies secured their first WSL victory of the new campaign Wednesday evening, with first senior league goals for the Gunners, from midfielders Vicky Losada and Carla Humphrey.
Following a 1-1 draw at Notts County Ladies in the WSL, and a home Women's FA Cup quarter-final loss to Chelsea Ladies, the North Londoners were looking to kick-start their season and duly did so, as they ran out 2-0 winners at Boreham Wood against Bristol Academy, through strikes from Losada and Humphrey.
Spanish international Losada joined fellow Spaniard Pedro Martinez Losa's side during the winter off-season, and has already shown early signs of her passing ability which has drawn comparisons to Barcelona playmaker, Xavi, from Gunners boss Losa. However, it was Losada's shooting ability on show during Tuesday evening's WSL encounter, as, just after the half-hour mark, a half-volley from the former Barcelona player found the top corner to put Arsenal Ladies 2-0 ahead.
From there on in it was a fairly comfortable night for the North Londoners at their Meadow Lane home, as they could and should have put the game further out of sight against their South-West visitors.
Before the Gunners found themselves in command of the league tie, youngster Humphrey broke the deadlock for Arsenal after 15 minutes, smashing home from close range after Danielle Carter squared within the Vixens' area.
Humphrey's early strike and opener was her first WSL strike for Arsenal Ladies, following signing her first professional contract and promotion to the senior side at the start of the season. The young midfielder scored in the North Londoners fifth round FA Cup win at Millwall Lionesses, and was recently part of the England Under-19's squad that qualified for the Women's Under-19 European Championship.
The midfield starlet returned from international duty as an unused substitute in the Gunners cup loss to Chelsea last weekend, but was rewarded with a starting berth and WSL debut against Bristol Academy, in which she wasted little time to make her mark.
Seemingly, Humphrey intends to start off where she left last season in the WSL's Southern Division Development League, as she was awarded the Players' Player of the Year after finishing as the division's top scorer with 22 goals in 20 games.
The young midfielder looks set to become a highlight of the Gunners youth setup during the campaign ahead and alongside fellow promising youngster, Leah Williamson, Humphrey adds fresh dynamism and pace to Losa's Arsenal Ladies side, as she swiftly looks to assert herself consistently within the Gunners' starting line-up, just like teammate Williamson.
Arsenal climbed to second in the early stages of the WSL campaign following their victory yesterday evening, and England vice-captain Jordan Nobbs was encouraged by the North Londoners display after recent poor results.
Nobbs said: "We didn't put in the performance that we were hoping for the other day so to get a win here today was a nice confidence-booster. We showed a lot of sparks of what we've been doing in training and in pre-season, and we're still bonding as well as second in the table so there are a lot of positives coming from Arsenal this year."
Up next for Nobbs, Humphrey and co is a league trip to Manchester City Women this Sunday, as the Gunners look to exact revenge on City for their Continental Cup final defeat last season.