Arsenal forward Vivianne Miedema has broken Nikita Parris’ record to become the all-time top scorer in Women’s Super League history.
Miedema found the back of the net for the Gunners in Sunday’s north London derby against arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur, marking her 50th WSL appearance with her 50th goal to make history as Arsenal emerged 6-1 winners.
The 24-year-old then added two more before half time, her achievement made all the more impressive by the fact that she has averaged over a goal per game.
Former record holder Parris, the Lyon forward formerly of Manchester City and Everton, netted 49 goals in 110 games.
Miedema put Arsenal 2-0 up against Tottenham to reach half a century, after Katie McCabe had broken the deadlock with a stunning free kick in just the fourth minute of the first north London derby of the season.
She completed her hat-trick before half time, continuing her fine individual form to hit 10 goals for the WSL season in just five games.
The Dutch international, who was crowned a European champion with her country back in 2017 and reached the Women’s World Cup final last summer, started the campaign with a brace against Reading on the opening weekend, as part of a 6-1 Arsenal win.
She then netted twice more the following week, as the Gunners demolished 10-player West Ham United in a 9-1 victory.
Miedema added another goal in a 3-1 win over Bristol City and bagged her third brace of the season last weekend in a 5-0 win against Brighton.
Since arriving in England back in 2017, Miedema has helped Arsenal win the WSL title and the Continental Cup, finishing as top scorer at the end of both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 campaigns. During that time, she has also racked up an impressive number of assists, with 21 in her 50 appearances in the league.
Last year, the Gunners finished third in the standings after the season was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic and decided on points per game.
However, they currently sit top of the table this season, boasting a 100 per cent record from the first five games and a goal difference of plus 20, which places them in first, above an Everton side who dropped points today for the first time in a draw with Brighton.