Arsenal vs Manchester United. Photo by Charlotte Webber.
Arsenal’s 14 match winning run came to a screeching halt as they deservedly lost 3-2 to Manchester United in a thrilling counter at Emirates Stadium. A see-saw contest saw Arsenal overcome a dreadful first half to lead with 5 minutes to go, only to implode in the dying stages as Man United claimed their first ever ‘Big 3’ away scalp, blowing the title race wide open in the process.
Arsenal had only lost one WSL game under Jonas Eidevall, a disastrous 2-0 surrender at Birmingham City at the turn of the year that holed their title challenge below the waterline. The killer blow came in their home game against Man United, where 2 dropped points saw them finish a point below eventual winners Chelsea. Mark Skinner’s Man United has become something of a bogey team for Jonas Eidevall’s Arsenal side. 3 times they have now met at Arsenal’s ground, and on all 3 times Arsenal have failed to win. A shock Conti Cup loss thanks to a late Russo header was an omen of things to come, and only a worldie of an assist from Miedema denied them the chance of repeating the trick in the WSL just weeks later. Jonas should therefore have been under no illusion the threat this Manchester United side possessed, who up until their home defeat to Chelsea 2 weeks ago had won every game this season so far and not even conceded a goal.
And this time around, Arsenal were playing on their biggest stage. In a pre-match interview, Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham revealed the club’s long-term desire to migrate their Women’s Team away from Meadow Park and to have them play full time at Emirates Stadium instead. It’s an ambitious plan, one which, in order to be a success, needs to be backed up by a substantial number of the fanbase filling the stadium. Arsenal are implementing this process slowly, building upon last season’s run by increasing the games played. Manchester United have now been added to the Emirates roster, and an impressive 40,604 came to watch the late night show and support the late night show. In addition, a dedicated away stand was set up for the Manchester United fans, who came in their droves to see if their side could be the first WSL team to beat Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.
The build-up, the stage, the fans, everything was in place, apart from one key ingredient. In the opening 45 minutes, Arsenal simply didn’t turn up. Slow, lethargic, their attempts to play out from the back were easily snuffed out by Man United’s midfield. Their play was concentrated to passes between the centre-backs, as they struggled to open up the space and find the passing lanes to escape the domination Zelem, Ladd and Toone had over the midfield. And when Man United won the ball back, they looked devastating on the counter. A Leah Galton reverse was tipped wide by Manu in the opening 15 minutes, exhibiting the threat they possessed.
Arsenal could not escape, resorting to long balls for Foord and Stina to chase, only to be repeatedly caught offside by Man United’s disciplined high line. Man United were running the show, and Arsenal were giving nothing for the restless home crowd to engage with. Soon they were forced to find their own methods of entertainment, with Mexican waves and torchlight shows inspiring more joy then anything taking place on the pitch. The only thing absent from Man United’s impressive first half showing was a goal, but on 39 minutes, they got their just reward.
Manu had already looked suspect in the air when she failed to cleanly punch a corner clear, only to be saved by her defence. On 39 minutes, she had no such luck. Man United broke into Arsenal’s left channel, Hayley Ladd provided the overlap and dug out a cross from the by-line. Manu came, swung, and missed, gifting Toone the chance to side foot in an open goal and give Man United a deserved lead before the break.
Arsenal had been poor, arguably their worst home WSL performance under Jonas since his arrival last season. Once again, they would need to come from behind at half time to try and claim something in the this fixture. Whatever was said halftime however, seemed to do the trick, as Arsenal’s response was immediate, although benefitting from a huge slice of luck their first half display in no warranted. Almost straight from the kick-off, Parris, on her return to Arsenal, had the ball taken off her by Nobbs. The ball fell to Maanum, who found oceans of the space to drive into. The Man United went into full retreat as Stina and Foord offered her passing options to sustain the break. She opted for neither, storming up to the edge of the box and had a punt from distance. It was a tame effort, one that should have been an easy take for Mary Earps, were it not for a freak deflection off Maya La Tissier that saw the ball loop away from the rooted keeper and into the top corner. Arsenal, from nowhere, were now back in the contest, and the anxious crowd had at last had something to feed off.
Arsenal, finally, had arrived, and looked the better side. A loose pass from Toone was intercepted by Foord, but Stina could only blaze the ball over the bar. Sensing the moment, Eidevall doubled down, bringing on returning Miedema for Nobbs, hoping to increase Arsenal’s impetus in attack. The plan worked, as Arsenal took the lead with their best move of the match. The ball was played into Foord down the left, she fed it back to McCabe, who sent an outswinger into the box. Suddenly, out of shot stormed Laura Wienroither, who connected with the cross with the sweetest of volleys, smashing it past Earps and pushing Arsenal ahead in the contest. It looked as though the game was heading in one direction, but Arsenal just could not find that killer third. Mead almost deflected a wild clearance into the Man United net. Miedema jinked her way into the box, only to blaze over. However, Arsenal were not in control of the game. Man United were still receiving plenty of the ball, even if they had failed to threaten since half time. All they needed was an invitation, and with 5 minutes to go, they received it.
There looked little danger when Lotte Wubben-Moy attempted to control the ball in her own half. However, the bounce deceived her, flying up and hitting her on the arm. It was a cheap free-kick to conceded, and due to its nature, a goal from it seemed inevitable. In the Conti Cup last season, a Katie Zelem free kick saw Man United steal all 3 points. She repeated the trick again, as Millie Turner rose to head the ball in off the crossbar and set up a grandstand finish. Man United now smelt blood, and Arsenal fell to pieces. They were indebted to Manu, who made two fine saves at her near post to repel Garcia and Thomas. But it was in vain. Last season, a Zelem corner and a Russo header had given Man United the lead at Meadow Park. Arsenal had escaped that time, however, this time, there would be no escape. As 7 minutes of injury time was being declared, Russo nodded Zelem’s corner past Manu once again to send the away corner into ecstasy, and condemning Arsenal to their first defeat of the season and their first home WSL defeat under Jonas Eidevall.
It was a thrilling end to a thrilling contest, and a wonderful advert for the WSL, as it looks to capitalise on the Lionesses Euro success and the lack of Men’s football during the Qatar World Cup. For Jonas however, there will be only concern. Mead ended the game in tears, limping off with what looked like a serious knee injury (now confirmed as a ruptured ACL, likely ending her season and putting her World Cup hopes in major jeopardy), adding to the growing numbers accumulating in the treatment room. Injuries and Man United seem to be permanently intertwined for Arsenal, in their last 4 home games against the Red Devils (3 WSL, 1 Conti Cup), they have been unable to field their first choice centre halves, having to piece together a defence with the likes of Walti, Beattie, Wubben-Moy, Schnaderbeck and Catley. Without the aerial presence of Leah and Rafa, it’s no surprise Arsenal have shipped 4 goals from set pieces at home against Man United, and that the last 5 goals have all come from crosses. Even before this game, the warning signs were there. Arsenal were fortunate to see a similar goal to that of Russo’s winner disallowed in their game against West Ham. Just as bad as their defence though, was their inability to impose themselves upon Man United, particularly in the first 45 minutes. Patchwork defence aside, there was enough quality in the starting XI to make more of an impact on the game. With Juventus away up next, Jonas needs to ensure that it doesn’t take 45 minutes for his Arsenal side to turn up and start playing football.
Man United and Mark Skinner, on the other hand, deserve huge praise. This is a result long in the post, they have been threatening the higher order since their arrival in the WSL, achieving some credible draws against Chelsea and Man City at home, and even beating Arsenal at Leigh Sports Village. This result though, was a major step forward. Coming to Emirates Stadium, and for the majority of the contest, playing the home team off the park, it showed that this season could well be their moment. Mark Skinner was not seen as an ambitious appointment when he was brought in as Casey Stoney’s successor, despite the wealth of WSL and NWSL experience he possessed. But he has sustained Man United’s position in the WSL and it looks as though his side are ready to have a proper crack at the top. With Arsenal, Chelsea and Man United all locked together on 18 points, and Man City just 3 points behind, it looks as though we could have a title challenge for the ages, something the WSL has badly needed after years of 1 & 2 horse races. Could we be seeing a new name on the WSL trophy this season? Jonas may have thought he was the sole challenger to Emma Hayes’ crown, but based of this result, and this performance, it looks like we might now have a third runner in the race for WSL glory.
Arsenal (4-3-3): 1 Zinsberger, 26 Wienroither, 3 Wubben-Moy, 7 Catley, 15 McCabe, 13 Walti, 12 Maanum, 8 Nobbs, (11 Miedema), 9 Mead (Agyemang), 25 Blackstenius, 19 Foord (5 Beattie)
Man United (4-1-4-1): 27 Earps, 2 Batlle, 15 Le Tissier, 21 Turner, 6 Blundell, 10 Zelem, 22 Parris (9 Thomas), 12 Ladd, 7 Toone, 11 Galton (72 Garcia), 23 Russo
Written by Adam Salter.
