The new year almost started on a disappointing note when Man United created an early chance through Fridolina Rolfo’s header. From then on, Arsenal’s possession became dominant as they repeatedly flooded the final third.
This dominance escalated when Jayde Riviere added to her earlier foul on Olivia Smith by committing a cynical challenge on Caitlin Foord to pick up a red card.
Phallon Tullis-Joyce managed to pick up a clean sheet, while Arsenal’s attacking depth couldn’t rescue them from dropping two costly points, despite retaining their unbeaten home record under Renee Slegers.
Story of the Match
20 days after their last game, Arsenal returned to the Emirates in search of three points to go second in the standings and make inroads into the growing gap to frontrunners Manchester City. Their opponents sat one place behind and nine points adrift of the leaders at the halfway stage of the WSL campaign.
Marc Skinner reached the commendable feat of 100 WSL games at the helm for The Red Devils, while in the home dugout, Renée Slegers was stepping out to 37,627 spectators fresh from signing a long-term deal, committing her future firmly to driving Arsenal’s project to reclaim the league title.
She made five changes from the 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace in December. Leah Williamson started her first game since last season’s seven-goal final day thriller against United, after a long injury layoff from the European Championships.
Long-standing servant Kim Little captained the Gunners and Anneke Borbe got her sixth straight start between the sticks, aiming for a third clean sheet in a row, with her fellow Arsenal goalkeepers still nursing injuries.
The winter break afforded both squads the luxury of resetting and recovering before a testing schedule spanning several competitions, including another meeting in the Subway Women’s League Cup semi-final later this month.
The visitors still came out of it with an injury to talisman and England international Ella Toone, while Skinner could turn to new attacking signing from Bayern Munich Lea Schuller, who earned a spot amongst the substitutes.
As Hannah Blundell moved on loan to Everton, Jayde Riviere returned to the lineup in defence and Melvine Malard also started on the front line.
The packed-out Emirates was eagerly awaiting the return of WSL action, yet the visitors started the better, catching Arsenal off guard. Jessica Park’s cross was met by Fridolina Rolfo’s testing header inside five minutes. Borbe tipped the effort onto the bar to spare Arsenal’s lack of concentration defensively.
To respond to the warning signs, Arsenal gradually began to turn the screw and take charge of the match with possession. Mariona Caldentey evaded the United defenders with some neat footwork before snatching at her shot.
United were camped in their own half as Arsenal threatened down both sides. Primarily, though, Olivia Smith was being fed the ball more on the left flank, which emboldened her to go toe-to-toe with United full-back Riviere.
Arsenal created a handful of clear-cut opportunities. Alessia Russo turned her defender intelligently and released her cross in due time. The ball ricocheted off Frida Maanum, and Smith was poised to prod home until Phallon Tullis-Joyce alertly smothered.
Katie McCabe also supplied great service, stemming from Arsenal’s advances down the left. Her cut back to Little yielded no rewards when the Arsenal veteran miscued her attempt from close-range, where she should have found the target.
Russo roamed around the final third, dropping deeper to find Beth Mead, who teed up Maanum. The Norway international’s strike was always rising, and this continued the persistent theme of the first half of Arsenal creating openings, but lacking execution in the final part.
Steph Catley also spurned the chance to put The Gunners ahead after Riviere’s rashly mistimed challenge on Smith warranted a yellow card and a certain free-kick.
From a United perspective, the pace on transition had threatened in the early stages led by their new addition this season Jessica Park, but faded once the away side retreated and Arsenal progressively limited those counter-attacks.
Arsenal pressed high and found some joy after the interval when Caldentey slipped in Maanum, who got the ball stuck under her feet.
Skinner’s first port of call for making changes would have expectedly been to replace his booked full-back Riviere, but he opted to hand his new signing a sizeable portion of the second half to make an impact.
Lea Schuller, who joined The Red Devils from Bayern Munich, came on for fellow striker Elisabeth Terland as United fought for the attacking territory they had largely been deprived of.
Indeed, Skinner did come to rue the decision to not take Riviere off, entrusting her to stay disciplined after the initial offense on Smith. She recklessly clattered into Arsenal substitute Caitln Foord and received a second yellow.
Arsenal had to capitalise for the remainder of the game and make their advantage count, as it would certainly be two points dropped if they couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Russo scrambled in the box to get a shot away. United failed to clear their lines, yet Tullis-Joyce, to her relief, could stoop down to pick the ball up on her goal line.
Hanna Lundkvist had also been called upon to make her debut as United had to soak up the pressure and adjust. The Swedish international started every game at the European Championships in the summer, and the 23-year-old was smartly positioned to prevent Russo from converting an easy tap-in.
Alongside Stina Blackstenius coming off the bench as Slegers threw the kitchen sink, her international colleague, Smilla Holmberg, also made her first appearance in Arsenal colours.
The former had time to pick her spot in a situation she often thrives in until Dominique Janssen averted the danger with a crucial block. It was backs against the wall for United, who had to fend off Arsenal’s ceaseless momentum with seven additional minutes.
The visitors seldom ventured forwards but Tullis-Joyce took the sting out of the game at the right moments. She denied Smith from scoring and saw Little’s strike whistle past her right post.
Both sides were unable to outwit each other once again this season, and their two draws could give a helping hand to Chelsea and Manchester City to pull away from the chasing pack, and they are both in action at home on Sunday.
Considering the circumstances, it seems a significant blow to hopes of the league title for Arsenal and Slegers.