Manchester United Women secured a vital three points after beating Arsenal 3-2 in a five-goal thriller on Saturday evening. With the Gunners unbeaten in the league United came into the game after defeat against Chelsea, this game proved crucial for both sides at the top of the table. The Reds saw the return of Ona Batlle at right back. Hayley Ladd and Katie Zelem were the midfield pairing. There was a front four of Nikita Parris, Ella Toone, Leah Galton, and Alessia Russo.
United controlled the First Half
The first 45 minutes saw Marc Skinner’s team control throughout. Within the opening ten minutes, we had the chance to take the lead. Russo’s clever turn saw Ella Toone run in behind to pick up the loose ball. The pass to Leah Galton had slightly gone astray but the winger managed to produce a shot on target from a tight angle that was saved by Arsenal’s goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger.
United had a good chance to go 1-0 up five minutes later when Katie Zelem put a floating corner into the box that was met by the head of Maya Le Tissier. However, her effort went just above the top corner. The opposition were hardly threatening as they failed to create any clear-cut chances against us. Most of their attacks came via long balls over the top to Stina Blackstenius, who was unable to produce.
The breakthrough came in the 39th minute when Russo held up the ball on the right wing as Hayley Ladd made an overlapping run. Ladd put the cross into the box that Zinsberger was unable to collect and left Ella Toone to slot the ball home into the back of the net to give us the lead.
Dramatic Second Half SEES A UNITED COMEBACK
The start of the second half did not see the best from United allowing Arsenal to make their way back into the game. The opposition retrieved possession that saw Frida Maanum run into space and her effort on goal was deflected by Le Tissier that went passed our goalkeeper Mary Earps to level the game.
Arsenal were a completely different side from the first half and were starting to enjoy more of the ball. United looked nervous as we lost the momentum built in the opening 45 minutes. The opposition’s patience was rewarded in the 73rd minute when Laura Wienroither put them ahead. Katie McCabe’s cross into the United box had fallen perfectly to Wienroither at the back post with her guided shot going past Mary Earps.
It looked like the Reds would be leaving the capital with no points but a free-kick from Katie Zelem was about to change the status of play. Her ball into the opposition’s six-yard box was met by the head of Millie Turner who smashed home the equaliser to level the game at 2-2 with five minutes remaining.
United sensed that they could grab all three points having numerous chances to go in front. The 90th minute saw Lucia Garcia have a huge chance when her shot was saved by Zinsberger after a cross into the box by Martha Thomas.
Thomas moments later had her own effort saved. A minute later and the game took its final dramatic turn. Katie Zelem’s excellent corner into the box that set up Alessia Russo to head the ball into the bottom corner of the net sending the traveling away fans into sheer delight at what they had seen. United were able to see out the seven minutes of added time to inflict Arsenal’s first defeat of the league season. The result sees the Reds level on points with the Gunners.
Manager Marc Skinner praised the spirit shown by his team to come from behind to grab all three points against Arsenal.
“I’m surprised I can still talk. It was an amazing performance. I actually felt when we went 2-1 behind, that we would come back. I asked them before the game to show personality in these bigger games and I’ve had that in abundance tonight so I’m the happiest manager on the planet.
What we probably lose out on with the other teams is the experience we have, but nights like this give us that. When you become autonomous on the football field and make your own decisions you become a ruthless team and that is what we saw in the performance tonight.
Just believing you can get over the line is something hard to coach. You have to work with the individual to help them believe that. We know we have wonderful talent but if you have the experience like we had tonight to get over that and be successful. It will help us grow.”
Manager Marc Skinner speaking to Sky Sports
Match winner Alessia Russo described the second half as a whirlwind and was happy to come away with the win.
“The whole second half was a whirlwind, we come to these games and want to test ourselves and come away with three points so we’re really happy. The result reflects that belief; the moment we’d conceded we came in as a group and we had an honest conversation. We knew we wanted to win it and we knew we could so it’s just about finding that bit of extra motivation.”
When we’re on the pitch especially in front of 40,000 people we can’t hear what’s coming from the side so we have to take ownership as players and that’s what we did tonight. We go into every game hoping and ready to get three points. We know where we want to go as a team but we also know what it’s going to take and moments like tonight show that.”
Alessia Russo speaking to Sky Sports