Arsenal have claimed an important victory against Manchester City with The Gunners winning 2-1 in an end-to-end match at the Mangata Pay UK Stadium in Borehamwood.
It was a difficult afternoon for young Manchester City goalkeeper Khiara Keating who gifted the hosts the winning goal with less than five minutes remaining.
Arsenal absorbed some pressure from Gareth Taylor’s Manchester City side in the early stages of the contest. In the first minute, Khadija Shaw’s left-footed effort from inside the box whistled past the post. It was a warning sign of the attacking threat posed by The Cityzens. The visitors looked set to be the first team on the scoresheet but there was a second near miss moments later from Chloe Kelly, their early dominance failing to produce a result.
Arsenal then went ahead just before the quarter-hour mark through a special Steph Catley strike. The Gunners left-back linked-up with fellow Matilda Caitlin Foord and she blasted the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net from close range.
Less than five minutes later, Arsenal looked sure to double their lead. Cloé Lacasse was brought down in the box by Keating and Arsenal were given a penalty. However, Kim Little failed to convert as Keating cancelled out her earlier mistake by pushing the ball onto the post.
Manchester City piled on the pressure once again after the half-time interval and they grabbed themselves an equaliser through Kelly with 18 minutes to go. Jamaican international Shaw pounced on a deflected Arsenal clearance to square the ball neatly back to a waiting Kelly, who blasted her shot into the net from the edge of the six-yard box.
With less than five minutes to go, Keating gifted the hosts the winning goal when she came off her line to head the ball clear, but failed to make contact, leaving the net wide open for Stina Blackstenius to slot the ball home.
The visitors almost drew level with a long-range effort from Mary Fowler but the ball was tipped over the bar as Arsenal held on.
The win sees Arsenal draw level on points with Manchester City in the Barclays Women’s Super League table, as both teams have taken 10 points from their opening five fixtures. Arsenal’s next game is away at Leicester City on Sunday while Manchester City are at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.