Stina Blackstenius shoots during Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Manchester United in the WSL [Liam Asman-SPP]

JONAS Eidevall says he wants to see the number of fans flocking to watch women’s football “keep growing” after a record Women’s Super League crowd packed out the Emirates Stadium on Saturday to witness Arsenal thrash Manchester United.

Bellowing cheers rang out from the stands as it was announced that 60,160 supporters had turned out in force for the lunchtime kick-off, surpassing the previous WSL record of 59,042 which saw the Gunners trounce Chelsea 4-1 on the same pitch back in December.

Yet again the home fans had plenty to get excited about as an early own-goal from Geyse da Silva Ferreira, accompanied by a well-placed header from Cloe Lacasse and a penalty from captain Kim Little, earned Arsenal a resounding 3-1 victory.

Afterwards Eidevall was quick to praise the “special atmosphere” at Ashburton Grove. It’s a subject that the Gunners boss is well versed on, with Arsenal now holding the top five attendances in WSL history.

He said: “It was a special day for the team, for me and for our supporters. I think it’s another brilliant memory that we can share together.

More than 60,000 fans at the Emirates Stadium made it a new record crowd for Women’s Super League [Liam Asman-SPP]

“It’s a movement. It’s a snowball rolling and it’s a movement. I think the atmosphere that we create, and the supporters and the team create together, I think it’s special. And you can see that with the following. We can see how it grows every day, so let’s keep growing and let’s keep making each other better.”

Arsenal’s statement win over United certainly puts them back in the title race, especially after Manchester City had won at Chelsea less than 24 hours earlier. The Gunners are now just three points off the pace with eight league games remaining, including two titanic away days: Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in mid-March, and Manchester City in early May.

[Liam Asman-SPP]

Many had written Arsenal out of the title race earlier this month after they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat away to West Ham. Eidevall, however, insists that his team have always been contenders. “People were saying after the West Ham game it was impossible for us to reach the top spot, but if I’m not reading it wrongly here it’s three points with eight games to play,” the Swede told Sky Sports. “It’s very much a race.

“The way I see it, we’ve never been in or out of it. We’ve played one game at a time, we’ve still got to play both teams ahead of us, and that would give us a good opportunity.”

Stina’s space mission

SHE might not have been on the scoresheet on Saturday, but Stina Blackstenius still put in a stellar performance leading the line for Arsenal against Manchester United.

The forward met Katie McCabe’s corner, flicking the ball on to Geyse, who inadvertently diverted it through Maya Le Tissier’s legs and beyond goalkeeper Mary Earps.

Praising Blackstenius for all her effort, Eidevall said: “She’s constantly trying to be in the right position, and she creates a lot of space that we can exploit with other players.”

Leah out for Lionesses

LEAH Williamson has been forced to pull out of the England squad ahead of friendlies against Austria tomorrow night (Friday) and Italy on Tuesday after suffering hamstring injury.

It’s a disappointing blow for the 26-year-old Arsenal defender, who only returned to action in January following a nine-month spell on the sidelines with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. She could be back in time to face Tottenham.