An impressive turnout of 41,818 Arsenal and Manchester City fans arrived at the Emirates Stadium, each faction hoping their women’s team would set the tone for the day, with their respective men’s team playing the same opposition later in the day. Neither were able to deliver victory on the opening weekend of the Women’s Super League season but they certainly put on a show, the Gunners’ scoring first and last in a thrilling 2-2 draw, in which the hosts’ record goalscorer, Vivianne Miedema, was on the scoresheet for her new club.
Gareth Taylor said he was happy with the point but “would have been happier with the three given the context of the game”. The City manager added: “It’s the season opener, at the Emirates, in front of a big crowd, people have to understand what that does to players … We have to be fairly content.”
Jonas Eidevall made three changes to the Arsenal side that suffered a 1-0 defeat at BK Häcken in their Champions League qualifier first leg on Wednesday, with Stina Blackstenius, Caitlin Foord and Frida Maanum coming into the starting XI. Leah Williamson remained absent, with the club announcing before kick-off that they were following concussion protocol.
For City, who earned a 5-0 first-leg win against Paris FC in midweek, there was one change, with Khadija Shaw back in the starting XI after the club had failed to make a visa application for her to play in France.
Arsenal had not hosted City at the Emirates in recent years, despite their increase in fixtures at the main stadium. With City’s wide threat so dangerous, condensing them on to the narrower Meadow Park pitch has seemingly been preferred.
Much was made in the buildup of Miedema’s return. It was somewhat inevitable that she would brutally expose the team she knows so well within minutes, robbing Kim Little and trying to exploit Manuela Zinsberger being off her line, but her effort went just wide.
The response to the error was instant, though, with Foord’s ball in from the right behind Blackstenius but perfect for the arriving Maanum, who fired in.
Despite City’s dominance in possession, Arsenal had the better chances in the first half but they would be made to pay for their profligacy. The equaliser could have only one scorer, Miedema evading Little before nutmegging the Scotland midfielder and Lotte Wubben-Moy, her shot taking a deflection off Laia Codina to wrongfoot Zinsberger. The Dutch forward did not celebrate, but she rarely does anyway.
“It was a big day for her and a tough one to get through,” said Taylor. “There would have been some nice moments but I’m sure it’s one she is probably happy is put to bed now.”
How did Eidevall feel about it? “Nothing,” he said. “It was a player scoring a goal against us, for me it doesn’t make a difference.”
The home side were in the ascendancy after the break and soon had the ball in the net, with Laia Aleixandri fortunate that Foord was judged to have been narrowly offside when she turned the ball in from close range.
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City were patient, though, and took the lead in style just before the hour. A headed clearance was met by Jess Park, who brought the ball down with one touch before hitting it on the turn. The effort flew towards the top left corner, deflecting down off the crossbar and in. The pocket of City fans roared as a block in the corner nearest the effort, the rest of the stadium stunned into silence.
Taylor missed the goal. “I knew you would ask me what I thought of it, but I didn’t actually see it,” he said, sheepishly – the manager regularly preferring to have a higher view of the pitch in the first half. “I was coming down from upstairs, but I heard it was good.”
Miedema was among the two changes apiece that came around the 73rd minute, given a warm ovation from both sets of fans as she exited the pitch.
Quick GuideWSL roundup: Liverpool draw with Foxes, Spurs thrash Palace
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Liverpool started life in their new home at St Helens Stadium with a 1-1 draw against Leicester. The Reds started well in their new surroundings as they reached half-time 1-0 ahead courtesy of Sophie Román Haug's header.
However the Foxes – playing their first competitive match under new manager Amandine Miquel – equalised eight minutes after half-time when Jutta Rantala produced an exquisite finish.
Newly-promoted Crystal Palace suffered a 4-0 defeat to Tottenham at Brisbane Road on their WSL debut. Fresh from her arrival from Real Madrid, Hayley Raso needed just 19 minutes to get on the scoresheet to give the hosts the lead at the break.
Jessica Naz, Drew Spence and Olga Ahtinen struck in the second half for Spurs, with Palace seeing Brooke Aspin sent off late on. PA Media
If Arsenal had been unlucky with the offside, then they were fortunate with the leveller, McCabe bringing down Chloe Kelly, who tangled with Little, allowing McCabe to flick the ball over the pair and play in Rosa Kafaji, who clipped an effort off the bar that Beth Mead turned in.
Taylor was unhappy with the decision in the buildup. “I haven’t seen the potential foul from Katie McCabe, but I was informed by the fourth official that they indicated to the referee it was a foul and so did the linesman. She decided to go against it, which is her prerogative.”
After seven minutes of added time the final whistle confirmed the spoils would be shared. The happiest side? Chelsea.
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