Arsenal prove too strong for lively Göteborg

Arsenal LFC will have a 3-1 lead to take to Göteborg FC for next Wednesday's quarter-final second leg after coming from behind for a hard-earned UEFA Women's Champions League win.

Lisa Ek's tenth-minute free-kick raised the competition debutants' hopes of extending their 100% record in Europe. But Jordan Nobbs soon equalised and in the last quarter of an hour Kim Little's penalty and an Ellen White strike put the 2007 victors in the box seat as they aim to repeat their elimination of another Swedish side, Linköpings FC, 12 months ago.

While Arsenal were unable to field Kelly Smith due to an ankle injury, fellow signing Alex Scott was deployed in midfield and the Gunners were brighter in the early stages. So it was out of the blue when Göteborg won a free-kick on the edge of the Arsenal box and Ek's strike bounced in off Emma Byrne's right-hand post.

Ciara Grant then twice had to put in saving tackles when Christen Press, like former Arsenal midfielder Anita Asante making her Göteborg debut, broke clear, the second time Byrne having to prevent an own goal. Now the visitors were on top but Arsenal fashioned a 25th-minute equaliser, White's long cross headed down by Jayne Ludlow for Nobbs to turn in.

Göteborg were so nearly back in front on 55 minutes when Press, always a threat, played the ball across to Anna Ahlstrand, who hit the bar from close range. At the other end Stephanie Houghton's cross was goalbound but White was offside as she applied the finishing touch.

With 15 minutes left Little was brought down in the box by Marlene Sjöberg and the Scotland forward stepped up herself to convert. Little then turned provider, slipping White through to put Arsenal in control of the tie.