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Arsenal were mightily relieved as a 95th-minute Smilla Holmberg volley rescued a point at home to a much-improved Manchester United side, but the draw will not be enough to eradicate concerns about how far behind the leaders Manchester City Renée Slegers’ team are slipping already and how frequently they seem to struggle to break down a low block.
A defiant Manchester United stunned the north Londoners as Eva Olid’s side claimed the first point of her tenure with a performance that defied all of the pre-match scripts, but it was very nearly a victory, had it not been for Holmberg’s last-gasp back-post finish from Leah Williamson’s deep, diagonal ball into the box, which finally broke the visitors’ stubborn resistance.
Widely criticised for their dismal displays in their opening two defeats against London City Lionesses and Chelsea, Manchester United were heavily tipped to struggle again at the Emirates but an encouraging defensive effort and an against-the-run-of-play Julia Zigiotti Olme strike gave them a precious lead in a display that will buy the former Hearts manager Olid plenty of time to continue working on her style on the training ground and quieten those doubting her.
Instead it will be Arsenal now facing scrutiny as they failed to win at home for a second straight game and slipped four points behind the defending champions, Manchester City, after just three rounds of fixtures. Last term, Manchester City dropped points in only four games and the early-season leaders have a 100% record so far. Arsenal’s next two WSL games are away to Chelsea and Manchester City.
“It’s not ideal, it’s not what we wanted at all, four lost points,” Slegers admitted, reflected on consecutive home draws, but she added: “It’s round three in the WSL, there are a lot of games left to play. Let’s see in May, how it ends. Not converting dominance into wins, that’s something we have to look at. We believe in the quality of the squad. When that starts clicking, it’s going to be really good.”
In truth, this was a result that Arsenal could ill-afford, especially after last weekend’s goalless draw at home to the newly promoted side Crystal Palace, where the north Londoners were surprisingly wasteful in the final third. Slegers’ team had scored just one goal from 43 shots across their opening two league fixtures. Surely, therefore, a home match against a side who conceded five goals last time out was the perfect opportunity to banish any concerns of a lack of clinical quality in the final third? Think again.
The hosts did create good openings and looked to have control of the midfield. Their winger Lisa Baum shot straight at Phallon Tullis-Joyce early on and was providing dangerous crosses from the left. Mariona Caldentey also went close, curling just wide and Tullis-Joyce made a fine save to keep out Stina Blackstenius’ header. Nevertheless, it had been United’s Elisabeth Terland who went closest in the first half, being thwarted by two excellent Misa Rodríguez saves in quick succession.
Arsenal stepped up the pressure after half-time but Georgia Stanway – one of Arsenal’s better performers for the rest of the game – made a costly error as she tried to play a simple pass back towards the centre-back Steph Catley that carelessly rolled the ball into the path of Zigiotti Olme instead. The grateful Manchester United midfielder confidently stepped the ball around Catley and slotted through the legs of Rodríguez. The Emirates was astonished. The United bench, jubilant.
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From then on, it was ‘backs to the wall’ for the visitors, much like it was during the majority of this fixture last term, which ended goalless. Tullis-Joyce dived low and strong to keep out a Cailtin Foord effort and United battled well to clear the danger from several set pieces as the home side grew increasingly frustrated. The crowd eventually erupted as the substitute Holmberg earned them a point and Manchester United’s players fell to their knees.
WSL roundup: Chelsea's Potter and Malard sink Birmingham
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Chelsea and London City Lionesses climbed the Women’s Super League table with respective victories over Birmingham and Charlton.
After thumping Manchester United 5-0 last weekend, Chelsea won again as Lexi Potter and Melvine Malard secured a 2-0 win. Potter found the roof of the net in the eighth minute (the celebrations pictured above) and in the 71st minute the France star Malard made a quick impact from the bench with her first goal at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea moved up to second and with their goal difference were likely to stay there.
London City lost 2-1 to West Ham last time out but impressed in a 4-1 triumph at promoted Charlton. Isobel Goodwin’s double had London City two goals ahead after 15 minutes and, despite Jodie Hutton halving the deficit in the 39th minute with a fine finish, Jana Fernández restored their advantage before half-time. The German forward Nicole Anyomi made sure the outcome was no longer in doubt with the Lionesses’ fourth after 76 minutes. They sit third, a point behind Chelsea. Press Association
Photograph: Yaroslav Dunka/Shutterstock Editorial
Olid was pleased with their display, though, explaining: “After losing 5-0, the focus this week was the defensive shape, because I think the attack will come. Implementing a new style of play needs time. But the effort, the hard work, the intensity, that can never be missing. It was so important to see that today. That is the minimum. Now, from here, little-by-little, we will improve the attacking style.”
