**FROM EMIRATES STADIUM: Arsenal’s second half purple patch saw the Gunners fly past Manchester United to secure second place in an instant Women’s Super League classic.**
Fresh off the back of back-to-back losses to Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion, Arsenal had a big point to prove heading into the final day of action.
Opening the score early through Chloe Kelly, Arsenal still had work to do after a 12th minute equaliser from Ella Toone. However, a superb block in the second half saw the Gunners bury three goals and ultimately secure second spot in the league standings.
Late goals from Elisabeth Terland and Maya Le Tissier weren’t enough on the occasion for the Red Devils, but the side will be cushioned by the fact that a Champions League qualification spot already awaits them in the locker room.
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The Lineups
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**ARS:** Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Mariona, Maanum; Foord, Russo, Kelly
**MUN:** Tullis-Joyce; Janssen, Le Tissier, Turner; Bizet, Miyazawa, Toone, Clinton, Sandberg; Malard, Galton
The Action
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A dream start for the Gunners was catalysed by Alessia Russo after a clever ball over the top was badly blundered by Phallon Tullis-Joyce and fell into the path of Chloe Kelly. Clever footwork allowed Kelly to afford herself some space before a looping finish gave Arsenal the lead inside of three minutes.
Grace Clinton tried to pull a rabbit out of the hat with a curling strike from distance, but a sensational stretching save from Manuela Zinsberger palmed the shot away from the top corner. However, the visitors capitalised on the resulting corner, as Ella Toone pounced on the scramble and levelled the terms in the 12th minute of play.
The Gunners grabbed the lead just five minutes into the second half as Grace Clinton’s dragging leg brought Caitlin Foord down in the box and a penalty kick was awarded Arsenal’s way. Stepping up to the spot with a level head, Mariona Caldentey slotted home her spot kick into the bottom corner with ease.
United’s hopes for second place fell a part just minutes later as Chloe Kelly’s long hopeful ball into the wide channel was chased down by Frida Maanum. A clever one-two with Katie McCabe set up a line-splitting ball from the Irish defender before Maanum buried her strike into the back of the net with thunder.
The Red Devils were completely unravelling at Emirates Stadium as the lively Gunners continued to sink their teeth in to the already open wound. Arsenal clinched another goal in quick succession as captain Kim Little slotted home a superb strike past the diving hands of Tullis-Joyce. Arsenal were eager to make it another, but Bizet’s clear handball was waved away by the referee.
[Embed from Getty Images](http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2214346131)
United were able to clinch one back as the clock ran down, as Elisabeth Terland’s strike took a helpful deflection on the way through to sail past Zinsberger between the sticks. The visitors piled even more pressure on the Gunners as McCabe recreated Clinton’s penalty foul, but this time to bring Bizet down in the area. Captain Maya Le Tissier sliced home the spot kick to make it 4-3.
Arsenal Player Ratings
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**GK: Manuela Zinsberger – 6/10 –** A shining save to stop Clinton was quickly shut down by Toone’s looping header. Not a bad display, and much improved to last week against Brighton and Villa.
**RB: Emily Fox – 7/10 –** Her opening half allowed Arsenal to get the better of possession, really working down the channel to aid her side going forward. That was clearly identified by United as an issue and she was given less time in the second half. Another workhorse display.
**CB: Leah Williamson – 6/10 –** A strong first half, but wavered as the game went on. Often either steps to her opponent too fast, so the player can weave around her, or too slow, so they can play the pass. However, strong in the air and good by foot.
**CB: Steph Catley – 6/10 –** Similar to Williamson, but slightly stronger when pressed. At the end of the day, Arsenal should be concerned by the fact that they have conceded 12 goals in three league games.
**LB: Katie McCabe – 6/10 –** Did very well on Bizet, but a silly challenge allowed United to receive a penalty late in the contest. Two lapses allowed United to get back in the contest.
**CM: Kim Little – 9/10 –** Terrorised the United midfield all afternoon, a standout showing from the Arsenal skipper. Just when you thought her glory years were behind her, Little continues to prove why she is one of the best to ever do it.
**CM: Mariona Caldentey – 9/10 –** Smooth always, Caldentey and Little ran the midfield show.
**AM: Frida Maanum – 7/10 –** Coughed up possession a few times and often looks shaky in the big moments, but made up for it with a stellar finish to give Arsenal their third of the afternoon.
**RW: Chloe Kelly – 7/10 –** A strong start allowed Arsenal to look the more lively side, but only 1 of her 7 crosses hit the target. A lively display, but not her best.
**LW: Caitlin Foord – 8/10 –**After an average first half, Foord was Arsenal’s best performer in the second half. Completely tore down the foundations built between Bizet and Le Tissier to bring a real pulse to Arsenal’s attacking third. Deserved her own goal.
**ST: Alessia Russo – 6/10 –** A quiet showing against her former side.
**Beth Mead (70′ for Chloe Kelly) – N/A**
**Lia Wälti (70′ for Frida Maanum) – N/A**
**Stina Blackstenius (88′ for Mariona) – N/A**
**Lotte Wubben-Moy (88′ for McCabe) – N/A**
**Laia Codina (96′ for Fox) – N/A**
Manchester United Player Ratings
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**GK: Phallon Tullis-Joyce – 4/10 –** Her worst game in a United shirt. When the Golden Glove was up for grabs, Tullis-Joyce crumbled. A terrible mistake for the opening goal and she clearly didn’t do her homework for Mariona Caldentey’s penalty, diving the wrong way against a player who always goes right.
**CB: Maya Le Tissier – 6/10 –** A strong opening half, but crumbled in the second. The back three took away from her usual dominance.
**CB: Dominique Janssen – 6/10 –** United’s best defender, but not a very high bar. Managed to clean up some of the mistakes made by the midfield.
**CB: Millie Turner – 6/10 –** Won the aerial duals and managed to stifle Russo, but several positional errors allowed Arsenal the space to get through.
**RWB: Celin Bizet – 5/10 –** Completely beaten down the right side, McCabe had the better of her and Foord managed to work her out of the contest. Struggled to help Le Tissier in the second half as Caitlin Foord piled on the pressure.
**LWB: Anna Sandberg – 5/10 –** Chloe Kelly caused her real issues in the opening half. Replaced at half time.
**CM: Hinata Miyazawa – 6/10 –** Not a bad performance by any means, but United’s midfield was simply beaten today.
**CM: Grace Clinton – 6/10 –** A strong physical performance but often wasteful in possession.
**AM: Ella Toone – 4/10 –** She may have scored the equaliser, but that was probably Toone’s only bright moment of the game. Kim Little showed her the level she is yet to reach. Replaced with Lisa Naalsund in order to aid United’s defensive woes.
**CF: Melvine Malard – 4/10 –** Struggled to make an impact.
**CF: Leah Galton – 4/10 –** Hardly got on the ball and failed to exploit Arsenal’s vulnerabilities in transition.
**Elisabeth Terland (46′ for Sandberg) – 8/10 –** Struggled initially, but worked her way into the game very well. Her goal gave United life in the closing stages and her off the ball work was impressive.
**Lisa Naalsund (69′ for Toone) – 7/10 –** A much needed change for United. Naalsund brought some composure into the central areas.
_The Halfway Line_ Player of the Match – Kim Little
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