**Arsenal:** Van Domselaar; Fox, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe; Little, Mariona; Mead, Russo, Smith; Foord
**Substitutes:** Voitkova, Williams, Codina, Williamson, Holmberg, Harwood, Pelova, Maanum, Kelly
Arsenal are up to third in the WSL after beating leaders Manchester City 1-0. City had won 13 games in a row, and had beaten Chelsea 5-1 last week but Olivia Smith’s 17th minute goal was enough to see off the leaders.
Renée Slegers made two changes to the team that beat Corinthians in last week’s FIFA Champions Cup final. Stina Blackstenius and Anneke Borbe both missed out with injury, so Caitlin Foord and Daphne van Domselaar came into the lineup, with Olivia Smith playing through the middle.
Both sides had opportunities early. After 20 seconds, Miedema flashed a shot just wide, while at the other end, Foord drove to the byline and played a tantalising ball across the box, but there was no Arsenal player to tap the ball in.
Arsenal had been on the backfoot, with City monopolising possession but Arsenal took the lead on 17 minutes. Mariona carried the balll through midfield and then passed through for Smith, who had the run on Knaak. She held Knaak off, took the ball around Yamashita and passed into the net. [1-0](https://streamin.link/v/03c334e4).
After a nice spell of possession, where Arsenal held off the City press, space opened up for Foord in the middle, who shot for the edge of the box but straight at Yamashita.
City countered. McCabe misjudged a long ball from Yamashita, allowing Kerolin to get in behind. She slipped in Shaw, but Shaw was well marshaled by Wubben-Moy and she was forced wide and crossed for no one.
On 33 minutes, Arsenal played through City, but Mead’s final ball was cut out. Miedema’s pass for Kerolin was intercepted by McCabe on the edge of the City box, and her shot flashed wide of the near post.
Hemp’s pass found Shaw behind Wubben-Moy, but she was again wider than she would’ve wanted. She checked back to shoot and couldn’t make good contact, with Van Domselaar gathering the effort.
Foord drove into the box, but her shot was blocked. The rebound come to Mariona, whose volley flew wide of goal.
Russo got first to a loose ball on the edge of the box, beating Miedema to the ball, before shooting sharply, with Yamashita pushing the shot just around the post as Russo got clattered into by Rose after getting the shot off.
From the corner, Russo met Mead’s delivery, beating Miedema again, and making good contact with her head but the header was straight at Yamashita who parried over.
There 4 minutes added on at the end of the first half.
Manchester City made a change at the break with Sam Coffey replacing Laura Blindkilde-Brown.
Coffey fouled Russo on 50 minutes about 25 yards from goal, but Arsenal made a hash of the free kick.
City won a corner, but Arsenal cleared the initial effort. City worked possession around to Shaw on the left, who tried to catch Van Domselaar out at her near post, but Van Domselaar saved.
Smith then rolled Knaak and drove into the box. She chopped back and shot but Hasegawa blocked the shot.
Little and Mariona exchanged passes and then Little drove into the space. She played wide to Foord, and Foord tried to beat Yamashita at the near post but found the side netting.
City broke and Hemp was played in behind. She was advancing on the box, and was caught by Mariona, who was the last player back. The referee, though, avoided making a call.
Frida Maanum replaced Beth Mead on 67 minutes. Smith went to the right, and Russo went upfront.
City threatened to break through Miedema but a superb recovery run and tackle from Little saw Arsenal regain possession.
On 78 minutes, Miedma broke through the Arsenal back line, getting behind Catley to run onto Hasewaga’s through ball. McCabe, though, tracked the run and got ahead of Miedema right before she was about to pull the trigger before getting fouled by Hemp.
A minute later, Hemp darted through the middle but shot over the bar under pressure from Wubben-Moy.
Arsenal made a triple change on 84 minutes. Smila Holmberg replaced Katie McCabe, Leah Williamson replaced Steph Catley, and Chloe Kelly replaced Olivia Smith.
Miedema got half a yard of space as the ball bounced. But Little and Williamson surrounded her, and she fouled Williamson.
On 89 minutes Laia Codina replaced Mariona, a Arsenal went to a back 5.
Van Domselaar came for a long ball for Knaak, dropped the ball, but grabbed it again before Shaw could get to the ball.
6 minutes were added on at the end of the second half.
Beney crossed for Shaw, but Shaw, under pressure from Wubben-Moy, didn’t make clean contact with her head.
Russo held possession up, and then Maanum won the ball and Arsenal won a throw-in in the corner flag.
City got a goal kick, played short and the referee blew for full time.