Arsenal 3-1 Zurich: Lena Hurtig scores two in win that maintains perfect Champions League start

Jordan Nobbs made her archetypal commencement of the play for Arsenal, marking it with the archetypal goal

Arsenal firmly established their pb astatine the apical of Women's Champions League Group C with a comfy triumph implicit Swiss champions Zurich astatine Emirates Stadium.

A thumping onslaught from Seraina Piubel gave Zurich anticipation successful the 76th infinitesimal but Hurtig doubled her tally to seal triumph for Arsenal conscionable 2 minutes later.

Jonas Eidevall's broadside person made the cleanable commencement to their European run with 2 wins from 2 games.

Last week's impressive 5-1 triumph implicit holders Lyon enactment Arsenal successful a beardown presumption successful their radical and this triumph enactment them 2 points wide astatine the apical up of second-placed Juventus, who drew 1-1 with Lyon earlier connected Thursday.

It was not rather the "beautiful" nighttime Arsenal experienced successful France but it was a regular triumph connected location ungraded arsenic they broke down a stubborn, antiaircraft artifact from Zurich.

Defender Jen Beattie came adjacent aboriginal connected with a header, but the visitors held retired for 38 minutes earlier a infinitesimal of existent prime acceptable Arsenal connected their way.

Steph Catley's curling transverse from the near picked retired Nobbs, making her archetypal commencement of the season, and the England midfielder finished perfectly with a sidefooted volley successful disconnected the underside of the crossbar.

Arsenal rapidly doubled their pb erstwhile Mana Iwabuchi's instauration set-up Hurtig.

Japan planetary Iwabuchi has had to bide her clip for minutes this season, coming connected for conscionable seconds successful past Sunday's Women's Super League triumph implicit Liverpool, earlier making her archetypal commencement successful this game, but she dazzled successful patches and was heavy involved.

She had an effort saved successful the 2nd fractional earlier being substituted successful the 74th minute.

Zurich had small possession but did trial Arsenal goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese, making her debut, with efforts from Naomi Megroz and Nadine Riesen successful the archetypal half.

Their champion accidental anterior to scoring fell to Piubel seconds aft the restart but she dragged the changeable inches wide. She made up for it aboriginal on, chesting down an fantabulous Eleni Markou pass, firing it past goalkeeper Marckese and sprinting distant to the touchline successful chaotic celebration.

Zurich's celebrations were abbreviated lived, however, arsenic Arsenal went up different cogwheel to spot the crippled disconnected - substitute Stina Blackstenius' onslaught rebounded consecutive into Hurtig's way and she tapped it in.

Arsenal are present unbeaten successful 8 matches successful each competitions this season, winning 7 of them, and they are successful a beardown presumption to advancement from the radical stages of the Champions League.

Hurtig astatine the treble arsenic Nobbs takes her chance

Sweden striker Hurtig joined from Juventus successful August but has faced beardown contention for a starting spot fixed Arsenal's attacking quality.

She has shown her quality successful spells this play but yet got her archetypal Gunners goals here.

The 27-year-old was lively from the start, linking up with Iwabuchi and Beth Mead, but was incapable to find the finishing touch.

It yet came aft Iwabuchi weaved into the container with neat footwork but Hurtig inactive had plentifulness to bash arsenic she readjusted her caput to flick the shot implicit the goalkeeper from a choky angle.

She grew into the crippled adjacent much successful the 2nd fractional excessively arsenic compatriot Blackstenius acceptable her up for her 2nd extremity and the 2 combined connected respective occasions - Blackstenius should person scored precocious connected erstwhile she was done one-on-one with the keeper but chipped it implicit the bar.

Hurtig's show showed the level of squad extent disposable to Eidevall this season, with Nobbs different subordinate who sparkled connected a uncommon start.

Her sublime volley was the catalyst for Arsenal to physique assurance successful the crippled and she was originative throughout.

She volition beryllium keen to support the aforesaid levels of show successful the coming months arsenic she tries to unit her mode into Sarina Wiegman's England squad for the World Cup successful 2023.