Arsenal 4–3 Manchester United
Above: Arsenal celebrate their win. Photo: Arsenal Women on X.
On the final day of the WSL season, Arsenal welcomed Manchester United to London. Despite being at opposite ends of the country, the two were neighbours in the table, both aiming to be league runners-up. For Impetus, Arsenal fan Ella McShane and United fan Catherine MacKenzie break down the action.
The context
Although the most important positions in the WSL were already determined – Crystal Palace were to be relegated, Chelsea champions, Arsenal and Manchester United completing the top three – there was still a lot to play for at the Emirates Stadium in London on Saturday afternoon.
Arsenal were one point ahead of United at kick off, and by avoiding a loss would clinch second place. This is important because it gives them an extra week off ahead of the new season; the third-placed team will play an extra qualifying game ahead of the Champions League. This game is scheduled to take place soon after the conclusion of this summer’s European Championships, meaning players would get less recovery time.
Both teams also have a major final to play soon – Arsenal will face Barcelona in the final of the Champions League, and United will face Chelsea in the FA Cup.
The United Analysis – the importance of Jade Riviere
By Catherine MacKenzie (10/’05/2025)
United came into the game off the back of a 2-all draw with neighbours Manchester City; a result that cemented a top three finish next season for the reds. Team news ahead of Saturday’s match was concerning, as right-back Jade Riviere was ruled out of the trip to London after sustaining an ankle injury against City.
Riviere has been a revelation this season, playing in every game and making two assists since the start of the year. Her link-up play with winger Celin Bizet has been particularly joyous to watch, and fruitful; Bizet has six assists this season, mostly for Elisabeth Terland.
With Riviere out of contention and left-back Gabby George also suffering a knock, United changed formation. Normally opting for a back four of Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, and George, the players who form part of the league’s best defence were forced out of position. The back four became a back three (and at times in the second half, a back two) of Janssen, Turner and Le Tissier.
The back three struggled to cope with Chloe Kelly, and it was obvious that the formation was new to the team, particularly at the back. Janssen normally plays as a central defensive midfielder for United – and has been a solid presence protecting the backline and controlling the ball.
The Janssen-Turner partnership has not really been tested, and there were numerous times when they seemed to think the other would claim a ball or shut down an Arsenal attack.
In the first half, United also missed Elisabeth Terland – the club’s top goal scorer enjoys defensive work – and, as Phallon Tullis-Joyce put it last week, “can be terrifying”. Whilst United had their chances in the first half and looked more clinical than Arsenal, in Terland’s absence Galton and Malard left more space behind them for Arsenal to play into.
The unusual formation held out for the first half, however this changed when Arsenal received a penalty early in the second half. This seemed to flick a switch for both teams. Whilst Arsenal looked substantially more dangerous, United became sloppy and seemed fatigued. Efforts to play out from the back often went awry so United opted for the long ball, of which only eight (29%) were accurate (compared to Arsenal’s 14 for 44%).
The scoreline at 70 minutes was 4-1, due to a rampant early second half from Arsenal. Elisabeth Terland made it 4-2 on the 70th minute, and Maya Le Tissier converted a penalty six minutes later. This set up a nervous final twenty minutes for both sides and seemed to provide United with the impetus to get back into the game. A full comeback was not to be, however, and both sides had a few minor chances to change the scoreline before the fulltime whistle.
For United fans, the concerning part of the game is not the loss, or the fact that we conceded four goals (conceding more than three for the first time since the six-nil demolition at the hands of Chelsea in the final game of the 2023-24 season).
The concerns are twofold: one, that there seemed to be such a capitulation in the opening period of the second half, a time that Arsenal are known to dominate (they are sometimes called ‘second half-enal’ after all), and secondly that the injuries sustained to Riviere and George seemed to disrupt the team so greatly.
There is a week until the FA Cup final, and United fans will certainly be hoping that both will be back fit by then.
The Arsenal Analysis – Starring Chloe Kelly
By Ella McShane (10/05/2025)
The fruit of a second-place finish to the WSL season weighed on both Arsenal and Manchester United. Chloe Kelly’s cracking opener of a goal set the tone for an ultimate 90 minutes of hot and cold.
The spark ignited by Kelly’s creativity was quickly extinguished in the quarter of an hour following. United’s backline starved the gunners of possession. Manuela Zinsberger refusing to take her foot off the gas, tipped Grace Clinton’s on target shot away from the Arsenal goal 11 minutes in.
Arsenal attempted to cool down the Red Devils, playing potential forward chances back, in an attempt disperse United’s organised defence.
Although both sides were level at the halftime break, Arsenal’s eventual attempts to play the ball forward, came much closer to securing the goals required for a comfortable second place finish.
Arsenal introduced the second half with the composure required to maintain possession. The term “composure” used solely when referring to the maintenance of possession.
Today’s matchup recorded a total of “30 fouls” (BBC sport). Referee Melissa Burgin’s efforts in keeping the match up fluid, being extremely commendable.
One of said fouls was committed inside the Arsenal box. A penalty and Mariona Caldentey’s trademark composure ensured the score line was raised. Instilling a confidence in the gunners not seen since the second leg of Champions League Semi Final.
Arsenal’s confidence kept the ball in their favourable side of the pitch, for a healthy portion of the second half. With forward balls courageously continuing momentum. Although not all chances were promptly capitalised on, resulting in frustrating missed chances.
Teams: ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Zinsberger, Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe, Little, Caldentey, Kelly, Maanum, Foord, Russo. Substitutes: Mead (for Kelly 72’), Walti (for Maanum 72’), Wubben-Moy (for McCabe 89’), Blackstenius (for Caldentey 89’), Codina (for Fox 90+7’), Williams, Nighswonger, Pelova, Cooney-Cross.
Scorers: Kelly 2’, Caldentey 50’, Maanum 56’, Little 61’
MANCHESTER UNITED (3-4-1-2): Tullis-Joyce, Janssen, Turner, Le Tissier, Bizet, Miyazawa, Clinton, Sandberg, Toone, Malard, Galton. Substitutes: Terland (for Sandberg 46’), Naalsund (for Toone 71’), Awujo (for Miyazawa 89’), Middleton-Patel, Rendell, George, Hill, Griffiths.
Scorers: Toone 13’, Terland 70’, Le Tissier 76’
Attendance: 46,603
Referee: Melissa Burgin
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