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Arsenal 2-2 Manchester City
by Christopher Heath at The Emirates for Impetus (22/09/24)
Beth Mead netted a 81st-minute equaliser for Arsenal as the Gunners drew 2-2 with Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in their opening match of the 2024/25 Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) campaign.
Arsenal – Focussing on the full–backs
Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius – in particular set an individual target on the backs of Manchester City’s two full-backs, Kerstin Casparij and Leila Ouahabi, almost immediately from kick-off. The game’s opening goal, after only eight minutes, saw Caitlin Foord’s run on the shoulder of Ouahabi (which caught out the visiting right-back), would ultimately allow Frida Maanum to beat Ayaka Yamashita.
Another trend-setting attack, this time on the opposite flank at the Emirates to where the Maanum’s goal was manufactured from, nearly exposed City yet again not long after, as Blackstenius inexplicably missed an open goal.
City’s unforeseen solution to the Gunners’ running riot down the wings was answered with five minutes left in the first half, as the injury-stricken Ouahabi was replaced by Alanna Kennedy – who admittedly looked more assured than Ouahabi throughout the remainder of the match.
However, Arsenal’s 81st-minute equaliser from the boot of Beth Mead came as a direct result of Katie McCabe’s defence-splitting pass down the left-hand side – that caught out Kerstin Casparij – which saw Rosa Kafaji provide an inadvertent assist – as her effort struck the outside of the post before falling into the path of the Lioness.
Manchester City – Showcasing their firepower further up the field
Despite looking extremely exposed defensively down both flanks throughout the first half; albeit going in at HT level at 1-1, City showcased their awe-inspiring attacking qualities in the final third after the restart, with arguably the most dangerous front-six (Jess Park, Yui Hasegawa, Vivianne Miedema, Aoba Fujino, Lauren Hemp and Khadija Shaw) in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
In particular, Park ran the show from the middle of the park (excuse the pun) in the second 45 – deservedly capping off her performance by netting her side’s second in the 59th minute with a stunning long-range effort – adding to her midweek brace against Paris FC in the UEFA Women’s Champions League 2nd qualification round.
The introduction of Alanna Kennedy – who replaced the injury-stricken Leila Ouahabi after 40 minutes – brought an aura of stability to the Citizens’ defence, which had previously struggled with Caitlin Foord’s numerous runs in behind, in turn, allowing Park and teammates to showcase their skills further afield in the second half.
Impact of Caitlin Foord against City’s full-backs
Arsenal’s Aussie Caitlin Foord undoubtedly emerged as the victor in her battle with both Kerstin Casparij and Leila Ouahabi in the first half. Every time the Australian international picked up the ball she looked to have the beating, admittedly she did on almost every occasion, of the Citizens’ first-choice full-backs.
Despite not being officially accredited with the assist for Frida Maanum’s goal, the Gunners would not have opened the scoring at the Emirates if not for her delivery into the danger zone.
However, give credit where credit is due, it’s well worth noting that following the introduction of Alanna Kennedy from the 40th minute onwards (following an injury to Ouchabi) Manchester City looked more stable, especially on the left. Foord did have her moments in the second half but admittedly did not have the impact that everyone gloriously witnessed in the first.
Teams: ARSENAL (4-3-3): Zinsberger (GK), Fox, Wubben-Moy, Codina, McCabe, Little (C), Cooney-Cross, Maanum, Foord, Caldentey, Blackstenius. Substitutes: Van Domselaar (GK), Godfrey, Kafaji, Kühl, Mead, Reid, Russo, Waiti, Weinroither
Scorers: Maanum 8′, Mead 81′
MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Yamashita (GK), Casparij, Aleixandri, Greenwood, Ouahabi, Park, Hasegawa, Miedema, Fujino, Hemp, Shaw. Substitutes: Keating (GK), Blindkilde-Brown, Coombs, Fowler, Kelly, Kennedy, Layzell, Murphy, Prior
Scorers: Miedema 42′, Park 58′
Referee: Abigail Byrne
Attendance: 41,818
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