Beth Mead’s early goal earns Arsenal a Champions League win against Twente

Beth Mead’s early goal earned Arsenal a 1-0 win against FC Twente at Meadow Park and boosted her side’s hopes of a top-four finish in the Champions League.

England striker Mead struck in the 10th minute and that was enough to secure the dominant Gunners a third group-phase win of the season and lift them up to sixth in the table.

Arsenal, who beat Liverpool 2-1 on Saturday to stay fourth in the Women’s Super League, twice went close when Mariona Caldentey and Mead had shots cleared off the line before the latter gave them an early lead.

Twente, winless after four matches in this season’s competition, gave up possession deep in their own half and following good work from Caldentey and Alessia Russo, Mead curled a fine finish inside the far post.

The Gunners carved out further first-half chances, with Caldentey’s effort brilliantly blocked on the line by Twente defender Anna Knol and Russo heading narrowly wide from a corner.

Twente’s appeals for a penalty shortly before half-time, when defender Imre van der Vegt went down under Olivia Smith’s challenge, were waved away by referee Michalina Diakow.

Arsenal substitutes Kim Little, Frida Maanum and Caitlin Foord replaced Caldentey, Smith and Victoria Pelova just before the hour before Lotte Wubben-Moy’s header was well saved by Twente goalkeeper Diede Lemey.

Katie McCabe, making her 50th Champions League appearance for Arsenal, crashed a shot wide after a short free-kick as the hosts continued to carve openings without capitalising on them.