Arsenal blew the WSL title race wide open with a courageous 2-1 comeback triumph over Man City. A scrambled finish from Frida Leonhardsen Maanum and a wonder strike from Katie McCabe saw the Gunners overturn the first half 1-0 deficit handed to them by Bunny Shaw’s athletic header and move back into the Top 3.
For Arsenal to be in this position at this point of the season is remarkable, and many fans would not have even believed it to be possible 2 months ago. In the reverse fixture, Arsenal were blown away in a blistering first half as Man City ran riot at the Academy stadium, ripping apart Arsenal’s poorly constructed back 3, building a 2-0 lead that arguably should have been more, and would ultimately prove insurmountable. It was a result that kicked Arsenal out of the top 3, and seemingly kicked playing a back 3 into touch.
At the time, Arsenal were trying to rebuild their team on the fly, as they tried to wrestle with two season ending injuries to Mead and Miedema, integrating their winter reinforcements into the side, whilst getting the team to be competitive enough to stay in touch, as Chelsea, Man United and Man City threatened to pull away.
And yet, it appears to have finally clicked. The Conti Cup triumph finally ended a 4 year wait for silverware, but it also looks to have triggered a resurgence in the team. Where once was confusion, now there is clarity.
The attack looks to have finally returned to life. with Stina Blackstenius now relishing the role of being the lead striker, instead of being inhibited by the pressure of being asked to be the main source of Arsenal’s goals, in the absence of Mead and Miedema. Her goal in the Conti Cup swung the momentum of the Final Arsenal’s way, but it also looks to have triggered a purple patch of form just when Arsenal needed it most.
However, they were not the only side suddenly finding form again. After losing their opening 2 matches, Gareth Taylor’s Man City side had gone on a 14-match unbeaten run (12 wins, 2 draws), to bring themselves back into contention. After a summer of devastating losses in the transfer market, Man City found themselves facing a rebuild job of their own. Yet it looks to have clicked for them also.
Bunny Shaw has taken up the mantle from Ellen White as the lead striker, and has powered to the top of the scoring charts with an impressive 15 goals in 16 games, prior to kick-off. Yui Hasegawa, brought in from West Ham after their nightmare start, has integrated herself well into the base of the midfield, as Taylor attempts to fill the vast chasm left by the departing Keira Walsh.
Matchday and it's a big one…
Arsenal v Manchester City ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/Cd83Sic08S
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) April 2, 2023
Both sides came into the contest brimming with confidence. Arsenal had trounced Spurs 5-1 in the NLD and completed a 2-1 aggregate win over Bayern Munich in the UWCL to secure passage to the Semi Finals.
Champions League semi-finalists.
WE ARE THE ARSENAL. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/pzdGgipMVl
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) March 29, 2023
In the sky-blue camp, Man City had stunned everyone defeating reigning champions Chelsea 2-0 to go joint top with Man United at the top of the WSL, signalling their intent to fight for the title as well.
It all had the marks of a ding-dong heavyweight clash, and it did not disappoint. The clock was only 5 minutes young when Man City made the first play. The quick passing and movement that has become the norm under Taylor wove its magic on the Meadow Park turf and left Arsenal chasing shadows.
From a defensive throw, Man City moved the ball through their midfield with ease and found Chloe Kelly free on the right. Katie McCabe failed to reach her in time, giving her time to send a cross for Shaw to meet. She lost her marker, Lotte, with ease, but the finish was anything but.
The PERFECT start, courtesy of Bunny Shaw. 🔵🐰 pic.twitter.com/RW296qOIJa
— MCWFC Xtra (@MCWFCXtra) April 2, 2023
An incredible, diving flicked header directed the ball into the far corner, beyond the dive of D’Angelo.
Visions of their earlier trouncing at the Academy Stadium loomed large, as an early goal of a similar nature then set the tempo of a contest Arsenal were never in. And a repeat showing looked to be on the cards once again. Arsenal simply had no answer to the midfield of Coombs, Hasegawa and Angeldahl, who applied a vice like grip on the game, squeezing the life out of any attempt by Arsenal to play forward, their press generating turnovers and mistakes.
Shaw almost profited from just such a moment, robbing Leah of the ball in her own box, forcing D’Angelo into a smart stop at her near post. The crowd did their best to draw Arsenal back into the contest, but they were still swaying from the early blow. Man City were in full control and did their utmost to cash in on their momentum. However, they failed to do so, thanks to some goalkeeping heroics by D’Angelo and some more finishing.
Jonas made the point pre-match about Man City’s sole point of attack in Bunny Shaw. Whilst Taylor appeared to take it as an insult, the stats spoke for themselves. Shaw was now leading the way with 16 goals, but Coombs and Hemp were next up with only 4.
For Lauren Hemp, it was a nightmare afternoon, failing to convert 2 glorious chances at the back post which would have clinched the game. One was saved by D’Angelo, but the other was inexcusable.
Another Kelly cross found Hemp free, but with time to control and the goal to aim at, she rushed her effort and sliced it horribly over the bar. Kelly fared no better when they switched wings, as her curler was again tipped wide by D’Angelo. The Canadian shot-stopper, in for Zinsberger, was keeping Arsenal in the contest with a fine individual performance.
At the other end of the pitch, Man City were untroubled by Arsenal’s rare forays forward. Their task did appear to be made even easier when Foord, who had been in electric form going into the match, was forced to limp-off midway through the first half. It necessitated a major re-jig, as Wienroither arrival shifted McCabe to left wing, and Maritz shifted over to left back to accommodate Wienroither at right back.
Such drastic changes could unsettle most teams, but it has in fact been one Arsenal’s strengths this season, particularly since the Conti Cup final. With the injuries piling up, players have been forced to become more versatile and play in positions beyond their norm. In the absence of the injured Kim Little, Leah Williamson had taken her position, both in the midfield, and her role as captain. Maritz is a normally a right back but had already spent time playing on the opposite flank during her time at Wolfsburg.
McCabe had been walking a disciplinary tightrope after attempting to enact a level of personal vengeance on Chloe Kelly at a throw-in shortly after the goal, leading to a ludicrous, though not unexpected, booking. The shift freed her from her defensive duties, and allowed her to apply her aggression further forward, where the real battle was.
Despite the shuffle, it failed to impact the game. The half time whistle came as a relief, as Arsenal not only got to the bell still in touch, but also had 15 minutes to take stock and try and find a way into a contest they had barely been in. Man City had been in full control, it would take a defensive mistake or a wonder goal to swing the tie Arsenal’s way. As it happens, they would get both.
In the first half, Arsenal had looked short, tired, with fears the exertions midweek had taken too much out of the side. Not so after the restart. There was a greater hunger and fight about the team, as they attempted to wrestle the game from out of Man City’s grip.
The primary focus was pressing Hasegawa, who up until then had been dictating Man City’s play from the midfield base. In the penalty area, Arsenal swarmed their defenders on Shaw as Man City tried to continue to utilise her aerial presence. The tide of the battle was starting to shift, Arsenal had taken Man City’s two key players out of the game, and suddenly the imperious passing machine began to cough and splutter.
Man City are a very good side, but only when they are allowed to be. They rely on a select few individuals to play in a specific way. Once those players are stopped, and their Plan A falters, they lack anything in reserve. Now cracks were starting to appear at the back, and Arsenal exploited them ruthlessly. As strong as their attack had looked, it catered for glaring weakness at the back. Steph Houghton is a legendary defender, Lioness, and captain for Man City. But at 34, the pace of the game is starting to catch up with her, and errors are sneaking into her game. She failed to deal with Maritz’s low cross into the box properly, her stray leg out instead diverting the ball into Blackstenius’ path. Stina burst bast her and swung the ball into the 6-yard box before Steph could rectify her error.
Suddenly it was panic stations at the back, limbs everywhere, as Man City tried to cut off Arsenal’s potential route back into the game. But it was in vain. Frida Leonhardsen Maanum exhibited a level of calmness and composure that was absent from everyone else in the moment, to take the touch and roll the ball past Roebuck. Cue bedlam in the stands.
An instinctive finish from Frida Maanum means Arsenal are back on terms with Man City in the @BarclaysWSL! 🔴 pic.twitter.com/Qv1sbkzPzH
— 90min (@90min_Football) April 2, 2023
Arsenal were jubilant, and the confidence of the goal brought them a second wind. They look revitalised, enthused with belief that they could even go one better. For Man City, their struggles in front of goal continued as they tried to regain the initiative. Maritz missed a low cross though the box and the ball fell to Kelly’s feet. Yet her touch was poor, the exaction of the shot was too slow, and Martiz was quick to intervene and force her to shoot wide. It would prove to be a costly miss.
McCabe and Maanum were proving to be Arsenal’s chief tormenters against Man City, as they struggled to deal wioth their combination player. A McCabe pass over the top for Leonhardsen Maanum was fortunately flagged offside. Yet they were able to repeat the same move moments later, and this time the flag stayed down. Leonhardsen Maanum raced onto the bouncing ball, controlled it, then sent a fierce volley goalward that Roebuck did well to tip over for a corner. McCabe had teed up Maanum for her equaliser, and now the Norwegian would return the favour.
Man City only sent one player out to the corner, gifting the pair of them the opportunity to play short which they could not resist. Leonhardsen Maanum sent McCabe on her way, who had the freedom to take the ball into the box unopposed. With Man City blind to the imminent danger, McCabe assessed her options and wound her left foot back. 4 days ago, she had limped off against Bayern Munich after getting crunched near the end of the game, leaving the game with a protective boot.
Call an ambulance…
BUT NOT FOR ME! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/rCDYdQXWxd
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) April 2, 2023
But she had recoved in time to play, and so had that same left foot. A left foot that was about to clinch the match. The connection was true, and the ball, like a heat-seeking missile, arced its way towards, the top corner. Roebuck dived in vain to prevent the inevitable, but there was too much power behind the shot, only able to tip it into the side netting. The North Bank went berserk at the sight of the wonder goal scored in front of their eyes. McCabe sprinted to the bench, enveloped by her joyous teammates.
For Man City, desolation and despair hung around. For 60 minutes, they had been near perfect, exhibiting why they had rightly stood at the summit of the WSL. And yet in 12 minutes, it had all been taken away from them.
Still watching this goal on repeat, wby?
Watch the full highlights right here 👇
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) April 3, 2023
With the win now in sight, Jonas switched to a back 3 and brought Jen Beattie on, as they looked to close out a valuable 3 points. Arsenal had already blown winning positions like this twice already this season, against Man United and Chelsea, and Jonas was not about to let it happen a third time. With Beattie marshalling the defensive line, Arsenal stood firm against the Man City response, as they desperately tried to steal back the 3 points that had once been theirs. But Arsenal now had them under lock and key, and there they remained at the final whistle.
Arsenal had done it. Through sheer force of will, through grit and determination, they had found a way to win when all looked lost, and now found themselves firmly in the reckoning of not only Top 3, but also the Title Race.
For Man City, they will look back of what might have been. For the majority of the contest, they were the better side, they played the better football. But as they often do in these contests, particularly away from the comforts of home, they found themselves coming up short. It’s an all too familiar refrain for Gareth Taylor and his team, and it is a mental hurdle they will need to overcome if they want to claim a first WSL title since 2016. For Arsenal, the revival continues. Hard tests remain, but if they combine the quality the possess with the belief they exhibited here, a WSL title could well be in the offering.
Written by Adam Salter
