Holmberg rescues point for Arsenal but Manchester United off the mark

Arsenal were mightily relieved as a 95th-minute equaliser from Smilla Holmberg rescued them a point at home to a much-improved Manchester United side, but the draw will not be enough to eradicate concerns about how far behind the leaders Manchester City they are slipping already.

A defiant Manchester United stunned the north Londoners as Eva Olid’s side claimed the first point of her tenure with a performance that defied all of the pre-match scripts, but it was very nearly a victory, had it not been for Holmberg’s last-gasp back-post finish from Leah Williamson’s deep, diagonal ball into the box, which finally broke the visitors’ stubborn resistance.

Widely criticised for their dismal displays in their opening two defeats against London City Lionesses and Chelsea, Manchester United were heavily tipped to struggle again at the Emirates but an encouraging defensive effort and an against-the-run-of-play Julia Zigiotti Olme strike gave them a precious lead in a display that will buy the former Hearts manager Olid plenty of time to continue working on her style on the training ground and quieten those doubting her.

Instead it will be Arsenal now facing major scrutiny as they failed to win at home for a second straight game and slipped four points behind the defending champions Manchester City after just three rounds of fixtures. Last term, Manchester City only dropped points in four games and the early-season leaders have a 100% record so far.

Chelsea and London City Lionesses climbed the Women’s Super League table with respective victories over Birmingham and Charlton .

After thumping Manchester United 5-0 last weekend, Chelsea won again as Lexi Potter and Melvine Malard secured a 2-0 win. Potter found the roof of the net in the eighth minute (the celebrations pictured above) and in the 71st minute the France star Malard made a quick impact from the bench with her first goal at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea moved up to second and with their goal difference were likely to stay there.

London City lost 2-1 to West Ham last time out but impressed in a 4-1 triumph at promoted Charlton. Isobel Goodwin’s double had London City two goals ahead after 15 minutes and, despite Jodie Hutton halving the deficit in the 39th minute with a fine finish, Jana Fernández restored their advantage before half-time. The German forward Nicole Anyomi made sure the outcome was no longer in doubt with the Lionesses’ fourth after 76 minutes. They sit third, a point behind Chelsea. Press Association

Despite their late leveller, this, therefore, was a result that Arsenal could ill-afford, especially after last weekend’s goalless draw at home to the newly promoted side Crystal Palace, where the north Londoners were surprisingly wasteful in the final third. Renée Slegers’ team had scored just one goal from 43 shots across their opening two league fixtures. Surely, therefore, a home match against a side who conceded five goals last time out was the perfect opportunity to banish any concerns of a lack of clinical quality in the final third? Think again.

The hosts did create good openings and looked to have control of the midfield. Their winger Lisa Baum, an inspired summer signing from RB Leipzig who, at only 19 years old, had scored their only goal of the campaign so far, shot straight at Phallon Tullis-Joyce early on and was providing dangerous crosses from the left. Mariona Caldentey also went close, curling just wide and Tullis-Joyce made a fine save to keep out Stina Blackstenius’ header shortly before the interval. Nevertheless, it had been Manchester United’s Elisabeth Terland who went closest to scoring in the first half, being thwarted by two excellent Misa Rodríguez saves in quick succession.

Arsenal stepped up the pressure after half-time but Georgia Stanway, one of Arsenal’s better performers for the rest of the game, made a costly error as she tried to play a simple pass back towards the centre-back Steph Catley that carelessly rolled the ball into the path of Zigiotti Olme instead. The grateful Manchester United midfielder confidently stepped the ball around Catley and slotted the opening goal home through the legs of Rodríguez. The Emirates was astonished. The United bench, jubilant.

From then on, it was ‘backs to the wall’ for the visitors, much like it was during the majority of this fixture last term, which ended goalless. Tullis-Joyce dived low and strong to keep out a Cailtin Foord effort and United battled well to clear the danger from several set-pieces as the home side grew increasingly frustrated. The crowd eventually erupted as the substitute Holmberg earned them a point and Manchester United’s players fell to their knees.

But with back-to-back away trips to face Chelsea and Manchester City coming up next in the league for Arsenal, in among the start of the Women’s Champions League campaign, they are certainly making things difficult for themselves in their quest to win a first WSL title since 2019.