Arsenal and Manchester City play out thrilling opening day draw at the Emirates | OneFootball

Barclays Women’s Super League title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon.

Frida Maanum’s early goal gave Arsenal the lead in North London but ex-Gunner Vivianne Miedema levelled against her former club at the end of the first period. Jess Park’s stunner then gave Manchester City the lead but Beth Mead’s 81st-minute goal rescued a share of the spoils for the hosts.

Arsenal fans had their hearts in their mouths after seven minutes when former forward Miedema was gifted possession 35 yards from goal. She took aim and while her effort beat Manuela Zinsberger, the ball crept the wrong side of the post.

Manchester City were made to rue that miss as Arsenal immediately went down the other end and scored. Caitlin Foord’s cross caused all sorts of problems in the Manchester City box and Maanum fired the loose ball home.

Stina Blackstenius should have made it 2-0 six minutes later when she rounded Ayaka Yamashita but she placed her shot wide.

Manchester City also looked dangerous on the attack. Lauren Hemp tested Zinsberger from distance before Aoba Fujino saw a shot excellently blocked by Katie McCabe.

The Cityzens levelled matters three minutes before the break. Miedema took aim at goal and the ball deflected into the Arsenal net off Laia Codina.

Arsenal should have regained the lead moments later when Blackstenius was put through on goal but Yamashita made a crucial block.

The Gunners thought that they had scored in the opening two minutes of the second half but Foord tapped the ball home from an offside position.

It was Manchester City who took the lead in the 58th minute. The ball fell to Park 20 yards out and she crashed her effort home via the crossbar.

After edging in-front, Manchester City went in search of a third goal. Miedema twice tried her luck without success before Zinsberger was required to push a Khadija Shaw effort behind.

With 15 minutes to go, Arsenal had a golden opportunity to get back into the game when substitute Alessia Russo was put through on goal but she fired straight at Yamashita. It was a poor effort from the forward.

The Gunners looked set to end their opening league fixture with a defeat but Mead netted from close range after Rosa Kafaji’s initial effort hit the post to rescue a point for the North Londoners.

Both sides now look towards their respective UEFA Women’s Champions League, Round 2, second leg ties in midweek. Arsenal play host to BK Häcken while Manchester City welcome Paris FC to The Joie Stadium.