Arsenal 2-1 Man City: Player ratings as Gunners pull off comeback WSL win
Arsenal came from behind to end Manchester City’s 14-game unbeaten run in the WSL and leapfrog them in the WSL table in an entertaining affair at Meadow Park on Sunday afternoon.
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw had open the scoring after just a few minutes, but a close-range finish from Frida Maanum and then a late screamer from Katie McCabe turned the score-lone on its head in the second half only days after the Gunners left everything on the pitch against Bayern Munich.
Shaw’s early goal, her 27th of the season in all competitions, was the dream start for City and it was an exceptional finish from the in-form striker, who left her feet to launch her head at Chloe Kelly’s inviting cross. The Arsenal defenders in the box were on their heels.
Already leading the golden boot race, ‘Bunny’ went close again early on when she charged down Leah Williamson in possession and fired a low shot that needed saving by Sabrina D’Angelo.
Arsenal seemed fatigued from their Champions League exploits as the game began, but finally strung together a few passes to make a chance midway through the first half when Williamson intercepted and Stina Blackstenius was played in. But Ellie Roebuck got there first.
With half an hour gone, City had another chance to extend their lead. It was more good build up play from the visitors, with Kelly’s ball into the box causing mayhem and Laura Coombs’ header deflected just wide – although, bizarrely, no corner was given.
An even better chance soon went begging when Lauren Hemp in space at the back post blazed over after another teasing Kelly ball. Hemp did hit the target in first half stoppage time after good work by Shaw, seeing it saved by D’Angelo, while Yui Hasegawa only just missed with a screamer. D’Angelo also had to parry to safety from a curling Kelly shot in a flurry of City attacks.
The visitors were made to rue those opportunities after the restart. Arsenal began the second half much better than they had finished the first and got back into the game when Maanum pounced in the box, firing in after City had failed to deal with a ball in from the left.
That goal gave Arsenal collective energy they didn’t seem to have earlier. Maanum in particular was suddenly alive after the equaliser and it needed a top save from Roebuck to deny the Norwegian a goal to put Arsenal ahead with a fierce strike. But it was from the resultant corner that McCabe popped up with a contender for goal of the season.
The Irish winger collected a short corner on the right, drove inside with the ball and unleashed an unstoppable strike that rifled into the far top corner. Roebuck got the slightest of touches on it. City threatened to hit back immediately but D’Angelo parried over from Laia Aleixandri.
City tried to get back into as the clock wound down and a free-kick on the edge of the box probably provided their best chance, but Steph Houghton disappointingly couldn’t clear the Arsenal wall.
Arsenal player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Sabrina D'Angelo - 8/10 - Made saves when it mattered, including a particularly crucial one right after Arsenal had taken the lead.
RB: Noelle Maritz - 7/10 - Having swapped to the left, she had a huge part to play in the Arsenal equaliser by driving forward with the ball.
CB: Lotte Wubben-Moy - 7/10 - Didn't get close enough to challenge Shaw for the early goal. Defended much better as the game progressed.
CB: Rafaelle - 7/10 - Bullied a bit by Shaw in the first 45 minutes. Improved later on.
LB: Katie McCabe - 8/10 - Took a needless early yellow card for bouncing the ball off Kelly's head, which could have been a problem. But she swapped to the wing and played a decisive role overall, including the stunning winner.
CM: Leah Williamson (c) - 8/10 - Pushed further forward than usual and provided a solid foundation for the second-half comeback by repeatedly winning the ball back.
CM: Lia Walti - 7/10 - Another experienced and disciplined performance.
RM: Victoria Pelova - 6/10 - Worked hard out of possession but not as influential with the ball as she has been in recent games.
AM: Frida Maanum - 9/10 - Stepped up the energy big time after half-time. Scored the equaliser and forced the corner that led to Arsenal's second.
LM: Caitlin Foord - 6/10 - Asked a couple of questions of the City defence before she was withdrawn due to injury in the first half.
ST: Stina Blackstenius - 6/10 - Always a willing runner looking for balls to chase. Saw her only real chance go begging when smothered by Roebuck.
Substitutes
SUB: Laura Wienroither (36' for Foord) - 7/10
SUB: Kathrine Kuhl (68' for Pelova) - 6/10
SUB: Jodie Taylor (68' for Blackstenius) - 6/10
SUB: Jen Beattie (69' for Maritz) - 7/10
Manager
Jonas Eidevall - 8/10 - Whatever he said to his team at half-time clearly worked because it was a different Arsenal team that re-emerged from the break.
Man City player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Ellie Roebuck - 6/10 - Made a top save to keep things level in the second half but was beaten by the winner from the resultant corner.
RB: Esme Morgan - 6/10 - Looked confident in her battle against an in-form Foord to begin with.
CB: Steph Houghton (c) - 6/10 - Struggled as Arsenal came more into it. Should have done better with a late free-kick that was hit straight into the wall.
CB: Alex Greenwood - 7/10 - Passed the ball out from the back and defended on the front foot to set the tone when City were in control.
LB: Laia Aleixandri - 7/10 - Limited Arsenal's ability to attack down the right.
CM: Yui Hasegawa - 8/10 - Picked passes for fun. Won the ball back often too.
CM: Filippa Angeldahl -7 /10 - Battled hard in midfield and won most of her tackles.
RM: Chloe Kelly - 8/10 - Put so many teasing balls into the box in the first half that her teammates just couldn' convert into the killer second goal.
AM: Laura Coombs - 5/10 - Didn't manage to influence things much, even when City were on top.
LM: Lauren Hemp - 5/10 - Missed a glorious first half chance to make it 2-0. Far too quiet after the break and not her best day by a long shot.
ST: Khadija Shaw - 7/10 - Made a clinical start to the game with a flying header and pressed well from the front. Was much quieter in the second half.
Substitutes
SUB: Hayley Raso (80' for Kelly) - N/A
SUB: Deyna Castellanos (81' for Coombs) - N/A
SUB: Kerstin Casparij (82' for Aleixandri) - N/A
SUB: Mary Fowler (88' for Angeldahl) - N/A
Manager
Gareth Taylor - 6/10 - Things were going right but would have been disappointed to see his teams miss chances. Then couldn't respond when Arsenal took the initiative for the first time.