Arsenal Women's line-up (4-2-3-1): María Rivero, Ona Pascual, Leah Williamson, Stephanie-Elise Catley, Taylor Hinds, Georgia Stanway, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Géraldine Reuteler, Alessia Russo, Caitlin Foord, Olivia Smith. Substitutes: Emily Fox, Carlotte Wubben-Moy, Élisa De Almeida, Kim Little, Frida Maanum, Lisa Baum, Emma Blackstenius, Anneke Borbe, Smilla Holmberg. Manager: Renee Slegers.
Arsenal Women's line-up (4-2-3-1): María Rivero, Ona Pascual, Leah Williamson, Stephanie-Elise Catley, Taylor Hinds, Georgia Stanway, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Géraldine Reuteler, Alessia Russo, Caitlin Foord, Olivia Smith. Substitutes: Emily Fox, Carlotte Wubben-Moy, Élisa De Almeida, Kim Little, Frida Maanum, Lisa Baum, Emma Blackstenius, Anneke Borbe, Smilla Holmberg. Manager: Renee Slegers.
Arsenal have again failed to win at home in the WSL, drawing with Aston Villa 1-1. Aston Villa took the lead with their only shot of the match, with Alessia Russo rescuing a point in the 86th minute, This latest set back leaves Arsenal 6 points adrift of third place in the WSL, adding more pressure on Renee Slegers.
Slegers made one change to the lineup, with Leah Williamson replacing Élisa de Almeida. This meant Geraldine Reuteler made her first league start of the season, continuing on the right with Ona Batlle at right back.
Both sides could be pleased with their start, with Arsenal keeping the ball well but Villa keeping their shape well and threatening Arsenal’s left, with Grant and Vangsgaard. Arsenal had the first shot when Catley and Russo combined and played to Foord on the edge of the box. She drove into the box and shot low but straight at Okuma, who saved. Foord would have another go on 15 minutes. Reuteler’s cross came all the way through as Wilms misjudged it and it came to Foord, who drove a half-volley into the side netting.
It was a good period for Arsenal, as Russo, drifting to the left, played in Stanway, whose shot was parried by Okuma and went behind for a corner. The corner came to nothing, but Stanway would then play in Hinds, whose well-struck shot was saved by Okuma.
Arsenal broke quickly on 22 minutes, and Hinds played wide to Russo on the left. She drove into the box and shot from the edge of the box with her shot flashing just wide of the far post.
Arsenal had been fairly dominant but on 25 minutes Aston Villa took the lead. Villa played into midfield and Williamson was sucked in to midfield. The ball went quickly out to Wilms who played Grant into space, with Catley having drifted centrally to cover Williamson. Catley got back, but Grant chopped back and shot, with her shot nicking off Catley and into goal. 0-1.
Stanway, who equalised for Arsenal last week, shot from 25 yards on 41 minutes, with Okuma getting down and saving.
Two minutes were added on.
Cooney-Cross had a go from the edge of the box but the effort was wide of the far post.
Two changes were made at half time, with Emily Fox and Lisa Baum replacing Hinds and Reuteler. Fox went to left back.
Fox had the first real effort of the second half. Foord played inside to Russo who backheeled for Fox, but her shot was blocked behind for a corner.
On 63 minutes, Russo played into Stanway. She did well to get into the box and then shot with her left into the side netting.
Catley, coming back on after needing treatment, ran onto Stanway’s pass, drove inside of Wilms and shot with her right foot. The shot was blocked but came to Baum, whose effort was weak and straight at Okuma.
Arsenal made a double change on 70 minutes, with Kim Little and Élisa de Almeida replacing Smith and Catley.
Little, receiving the ball in the box, turned and tried to delicately chip Okuma, with Okuma saving with her fingertips. The corner, though, came to nothing.
Stina Blackstenius replaced Cooney-Cross on 83 minutes.
Blackstenius had instant impact, creating the equaliser on 86 minutes. Baum’s reverse ball found Blackstenius down the right and she crossed for Russo, whose header went in off the post. 1-1.
Right after the goal Foord shrugged off two and then shot from distance with her shot going well over.
Little took a corner, Okuma came for it and didn’t get the ball, but Russo couldn’t re-adjust and headed wide.
5 minutes were added on.
Stanway should’ve scored the winner in 92nd minute. She played a one-two with Little, but shot wide of the post.
Foord, collecting a long ball, played inside to Williamson, but her cross was aimless and went out of play, and the match came to an end, with Arsenal having again failed to win at home.
Match stats for Arsenal Women v Aston Villa W: Possession 65% - 35%, Total shots 26 - 1, Shots on target 8 - 1, Shots off target 13 - 0, Shots inside box 20 - 1, Big chances 2 - 0, Corners 10 - 0, Offsides 0 - 5, Fouls 3 - 5, Saves 0 - 7, Passes 583 - 336, Pass accuracy 91% - 77%, Tackles 16 - 21, Interceptions 20 - 11.
Match stats for Arsenal Women v Aston Villa W: Possession 65% - 35%, Total shots 26 - 1, Shots on target 8 - 1, Shots off target 13 - 0, Shots inside box 20 - 1, Big chances 2 - 0, Corners 10 - 0, Offsides 0 - 5, Fouls 3 - 5, Saves 0 - 7, Passes 583 - 336, Pass accuracy 91% - 77%, Tackles 16 - 21, Interceptions 20 - 11.