Heath’s late equaliser rescues a point for Arsenal against Manchester City | OneFootball

Tobin Heath scored an injury time equaliser as Arsenal rescued a point in a 1-1 draw against Manchester City at The Academy Stadium this evening.

Khadija Shaw delivered the goods for the home side, breaking the deadlock 20 minutes into the second half. Her effort looked like it would secure all three points for Manchester City but Heath’s late equaliser earned Barclays FA Women’s Super League leaders Arsenal a point at The Academy Stadium.

Gareth Taylor made three changes from the Manchester City side that beat Bristol City 3-1 in the FA Women’s Continental League Cup in midweek, as Demi Stokes, Jess Park and Keira Walsh all came into the starting XI to replace Laura Coombs, Filippa Angeldahl and Janine Beckie. City came into this fixture thriving on a good run of form which had seen them record six straight victories in all competitions.

Barclays FA Women’s Super League leaders Arsenal came into this fixture off the back of three successive defeats in all competitions. Head coach Jonas Eidevall made two changes from the side which were defeated 1-0 by Manchester United in their last outing as Lotte Wubben-Moy and Leah Williamson returned to the starting XI.

A mix-up at the back for the home side between goalkeeper Khiara Keating and Steph Houghton allowed the visitors to get in-behind after only nine minutes but Vivianne Miedema was unable to capitalise from close range as her effort was kept out on the line by Alex Greenwood.

Lauren Hemp went close with a header for the hosts after 15 minutes before Jess Park fired over from a tight angle on the right after being played through by a cross-field pass from Hemp.

In what was a tight opening at The Academy Stadium, Hemp went close again with a header which went just over from a Lucy Bronze delivery before Bronze headed over herself from a free-kick into the area from Greenwood.

The first chance of the second half fell to the home side and they went close through Vicky Losada who drove a shot inches wide of Manuela Zinsberger’s right-hand post from the edge of the area.

The league leaders had struggled to get the ball into the final third but they managed to threaten through Beth Mead. The forward turned Bronze onto her left foot in the penalty area and fired a low left-footed effort towards goal but Keating stood strong at her near post to deny the Arsenal attacker.

Miedema went close for Arsenal with a curling effort from the left on the hour mark before Zinsberger did well to keep out a fierce drive from Park after a swift counter attack from the home side several minutes later.

At the other end, Taylor’s side continued to waste chances in front of goal with Park volleying over the bar from a Stokes cross from close range.

The Cityzens finally took their chance though and broke the deadlock on 65 minutes through Shaw who steered home a low cross from Hemp after a brilliant break into the final third.

Taylor’s side looked to double their lead and they nearly did through Hemp but she was denied by Zinsberger after being played through by a perfectly-timed through-ball from Georgia Stanway.

Substitute Caroline Weir went close with a long distance strike with just under 10 minutes to go but the home side were to be punished for not taking their chances as the visitors found a way back into the game late on.

With six minutes added on, the home side failed to clear the ball from danger in their own penalty area and substitute Heath drilled an effort beyond Keating in the penalty area to secure Arsenal a late point.

The result sees Arsenal stay at the top of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League table while Manchester City remain fifth.

Attentions will now turn the Vitality Women’s FA Cup fourth round for Taylor’s side who travel to Nottingham Forest next weekend. Meanwhile, Arsenal take on Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday evening at Meadow Park in the league before hosting London City Lionesses in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup fourth round on Sunday.