Manchester City came from behind twice to beat Arsenal 4-2 in a dramatic Women’s Super League contest, leaving the Gunners with one win from their opening five matches and 10 points behind the leaders.
The champions’ victory at the Etihad Stadium strengthened their position at the top of the table, while increasing the scrutiny on Arsenal manager Renee Slegers and her team after another match in which they failed to protect a lead.
Arsenal controlled much of the first half and created the clearer opportunities. Lisa Baum was denied by Ayaka Yamashita after three minutes, before Mariona Caldentey’s header was saved from Baum’s cross.
City also threatened, with Bunny Shaw shooting straight at Anneke Borbe after a run into the area. Shaw then had a goal disallowed for a foul on the Arsenal goalkeeper.
Georgia Stanway later struck the side netting after Yamashita saved from Emily Fox, but Arsenal took the lead in the 44th minute. Yamashita kept out a header from Leah Williamson’s defensive partner, Lotte Wubben-Moy, but Baum reacted first to prod the rebound over the line. Replays suggested Baum may have been offside.
City were level just three minutes later in contentious circumstances. Caldentey had asked to be substituted and went down injured, but play continued. Thirty-five seconds later, Lauren Hemp’s effort deflected in off Fox, prompting an angry reaction from Arsenal.
City turn the game around
Arsenal restored their advantage early in the second half after a costly mistake from City goalkeeper Yamashita. Shaw had broken through one-on-one moments earlier, but a heavy touch allowed Borbe to collect the ball.
Forty-five seconds later, Russo curled the ball beyond Yamashita after City attempted to play out from the back.
City responded through substitute Kerstin Casparij, who needed only one touch and 65 seconds after coming on to bend a superb effort into the far corner.
Hemp then put the hosts ahead in the 72nd minute. She controlled a ball over the top brilliantly before poking it through Borbe’s legs, after Arsenal’s defence failed to deal with the danger.
Shaw came close to a fourth when she narrowly missed Mary Fowler’s cross, while Arsenal substitute Olivia Smith was unable to beat Yamashita after cutting inside.
With Arsenal committing players forward, City finished the match on the counter-attack. Shaw rolled the ball into the bottom corner in the 84th minute to complete the scoring.
The result leaves Arsenal’s title challenge in serious difficulty after only five games of the 26-game league season. With a lengthy international break now ahead, attention will turn to what comes next for Slegers and the Gunners.
