Arsenal's £1m Olivia Smith Scores Stunning Debut Goal in 4-1 WSL Win

Olivia Smith made a sensational debut for Arsenal, scoring a stunning long-range goal to help the European champions come from behind and defeat London City Lionesses 4-1 in their Women's Super League opener. Smith's £1 million transfer from Liverpool marked the first seven-figure fee in women's football, a record that was soon surpassed by Grace Geyoro's £1.43 million move to London City Lionesses. Despite an early penalty goal by Kosovare Asllani giving the newly promoted Lionesses a surprise lead, Arsenal responded strongly with goals from Chloe Kelly, Stina Blackstenius, and Frida Maanum to secure a commanding victory. The match was held at the Emirates Stadium before a crowd of 38,142, where Smith's confident and direct play earned her a standing ovation and player-of-the-match honors. The summer transfer window's unprecedented financial investment reflects the growing stature of women's football, with multiple players crossing the £1 million mark for the first time. Arsenal manager Renee Slegers also achieved a milestone by becoming the first coach to win each of their first nine home matches in the WSL.