From
Arsenal.com
When Lianne Sanderson set herself a target of 50 goals at the start of the season , she kept it a secret. Understandably , the England star didn't want any flak if she failed to scale those dizzy heights.
She needn't have worried. Sanderson reached her half century as long ago as April 16 in the County Cup Final win against Millwall and , after the rarity of two games without a goal , has since taken her tally to 52. Not bad for someone who was still a teenager at the start of February.
Sanderson's most recent strike came in a rather more prestigious Final as
Arsenal LAdies beat Leeds 4-1 to lift the FA Cup on Monday. She had already set up one goal for Jayne Ludlow before finding the net in the second half. Of all the goals she has plundered this season , it was arguably the most special.
" It was an FA Cup Final and obviously it's a dream as a youngster to score in one of them , " Sanderson told
Arsenal.com.
" I've been fortunate enough to score in two now but obviously I got an assist as well and that is just as good , setting up Jayne for her goal.
We should of have scored in the first half but we knew that if we were patient the goals would come and they did. We had a lack of composure in the first half but ( manager ) Vic ( Akers ) told us to keep going , we were playing well and passing well. We knew that when we scored one we put them to bed.
" I set myself the target of 50 goals before I started the season but I kept it to myself because I thought i'd shoot myself in the foot if I told anyone. But fortunately I was able to reach that. It was only a personal goal of mine but for the team to play well and win is most important ".
Monday's comprehensive win secured a domestic double for the ladies. This season has not lived up to last year's quadruple success but , after a gruelling World Cup experience , another clean sweep could hardly be expected. Sanderson thinks
Arsenal will be better equipped to challenge in Europe next season.
" I said before the season that it would feel like a failure if we only won two trophies but it doesn't feel like that now ", she said.
" We still won the double and even though we went out of the Uefa Cup early on we came back well.
[b]" But those European games are the kind of games you want to be involved with. The Uefa Cup is the pinnacle of our careers so hopefully we can win it again next year "
If Sanderson can maintain her incredible scoring standards ,
Arsenal will have every chance.
Hope Powell should take notice , 51 goals for her club this season and Aluko is not even in double figures.
