Gutsy City earn opening day point at Arsenal | OneFootball

City were forced to settle for a share of the spoils in our opening Barclays Women’s Super League fixture after an entertaining 2-2 draw at Arsenal.

The hosts took an early lead through Frida Maanum’s close-range finish, but City responded through former Gunner Vivianne Miedema on the stroke of half-time.

A stunning Jess Park strike handed City the lead just before the hour mark, but the hosts earned a point when Beth Mead fired home late on.

Both teams will feel like they could’ve taken all three points at the Emirates, but put on a thrilling spectacle to show why they’re both considered as early-season title prospects.

What happened

Miedema’s return to the Emirates provided a thrilling sub plot to the main event, and she almost marked it with a spectacular opener inside seven minutes.

Picking up play off a loose pass, the Dutch international’s attempted lob over Manuela Zinsberger from all of 35 yards fell agonisingly wide of the post.

But the opener would follow in the next passage of play, with Maanum firing into the top corner after Stina Blackstenius’ heavy touch had inadvertently knocked the ball back into her path from a Caitlin Foord cross.

While City were tending to dominate possession, Arsenal continued to threaten and Blackstenius probably should’ve doubled the advantage when she rounded Ayaka Yamashita but could only find the side netting minutes later.

The Blues began to settle after that scare though, with Lauren Hemp forcing a save from Zinsberger after trying her luck with a stinging drive from distance.

We went even closer on 24 minutes when Hemp’s cross evaded everyone and found Aoba Fujino unmarked on the right of the box.

The Japan international steadied herself and pulled the trigger, but Katie McCabe recovered in the nick of time to block her goal bound effort.

But the pressure would eventually tell, with Miedema coming back to haunt her former Club on the stroke of half-time.

Huge credit must go to Laia Aleixandri in the build-up, but when the ball eventually fell to the Dutch international her quality told, slipping the ball through Lotte Wubben-Moy’s legs before her curling effort from the edge of the box deflected into the net.

City were full value for the equaliser but were thankful to Yamashita soon after when she stood strong to block Blackstenius’ effort after she’d been sent through one on one.

The hosts had the ball in the net early on in the second half when Foord tapped home Maanum’s cross, but the slightest of offside calls restored parity for City.

It was a let-off, but another moment of world class quality from the Blues handed us the lead for the first time ten minutes later.

It came when Park, who’d been relatively subdued beforehand, sprung to life with an early goal of the season contender, taking a touch before smacking a phenomenal half-volley in off the bar just before the hour mark.

The goal turned the tide, with Miedema forcing Zinsberger into two smart saves as the game ticked over the 70-minute mark.

Great work from Hemp down the left forced another opening for City, with Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw the player to this time be denied by Zinsberger’s reflexes.

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But City were always aware of Arsenal’s pace and danger when going direct, and substitute Alessia Russo should’ve levelled when sent through one on one, but once again Yamashita was equal to the effort.

Arsenal’s equaliser would come later on though, with Mead tapping home from close-range despite Chloe Kelly seemingly being fouled in the build-up.

The Gunners broke down the City right and, after substitute Rosa Kafaji’s near-post effort struck the woodwork, the England international was there first to tap home.

Both sides pushed for a dramatic winner, but ultimately had to settle for a point, with Shaw going closest when the ball was nicked off her toe in stoppage time by Laia Codina.

One final chance fell Aleixandri's way, but Zinsberger was one again equal to her drilled effort from distance at the death.

Player of the Match: Alex Greenwood

While Miedema and Park's goals will take the plaudits, Greenwood marshalled City's back-line excellently.

Registering more touches than any other player across the 90 minutes, her leadership and professionalism showed why she's been appointed as City's Club Captain to follow in the footsteps of Steph Houghton.

What it means

At time of writing, a point leaves City fifth in the WSL table after one match.

How we lined up

Gareth Taylor made one change from the side who beat Paris FC in midweek, with Bunny Shaw coming in for Mary Fowler at centre forward.

It meant Ayaka Yamashita's goal was shielded by a back four of Kerstin Casparij, Laia Aleixandri, Alex Greenwood and Leila Ouahabi, with Yui Hasegawa sitting in front of the defence.

Jess Park and Vivianne Miedema completed the midfield three, with Aoba Fujino and Lauren Hemp starting on either flank.

Shaw led the line for City at the Emirates Stadium.

City XI: Yamashita, Casparij, Aleixandri, Greenwood, Ouahabi (Kennedy 40'), Hasegawa, Park, Miedema (Fowler 74'), Fujino (Kelly 74'), Hemp, Shaw.

Subs: Keating, Layzell, Coombs, Blindkilde Brown, Prior, Murphy.

Arsenal XI: Zinsberger, Fox, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Caldentey, Little (C), McCabe, Maanum (Walti 74'), Foord (Russo 63'), Blackstenius (Mead 63'), Cooney Cross (Kafaji 74').

Subs: Van Domselaar, Kuhl, Wienroither, Godfrey, Reid.

Up next

City are back in European action in midweek, welcoming Paris FC to the Joie Stadium on Thursday 26 September.

Kick-off in the second leg of our UEFA Champions League qualifier is set for 19:00 (UK), with City taking a five-goal advantage into the contest.

You can follow the action live on CITY+. For more information on how to subscribe, click here.