Cloé Lacasse cups her ears in the direction of the away fans and sticks out her tongue after heading home from Katie Zelem’s attempted clearance. The score is Arsenal two, Manchester United nil, and Arsenal fans have another opportunity to sing Lacasse’s ABBA-inspired chant.

“Twenty-four… Lacasse!” had been ringing round Princes Park on Wednesday night as the Canadian forward scored twice against London City Lionesses to help Arsenal reach the Conti Cup semi-finals.

Had Lacasse done enough, though, to force Caitlin Foord out of Arsenal’s starting lineup when the Gunners came up against Manchester United in a crucial Women’s Super League meeting at Emirates Stadium?

Jonas Eidevall thought so, with Foord dropping out of Arsenal’s starting eleven for just the second time in the WSL this season. Lacasse offers variety on the wing- whereas Foord will frequently cut onto her stronger foot from the left flank, Lacasse can prove to be more of an unpredictable attacker, and she caused Hannah Blundell problems from the get-go.

In what was always going to be a tough game for Manchester United’s full-backs (Marc Skinner was without Jayde Riviere as well as long-term absentee Gabby George), Arsenal targeted right-back Blundell and left-back Gemma Evans, and found plenty of joy in doing so.

Steph Catley looked back to her best for the Gunners and found space playing wide, whilst Lacasse came inside to occupy Blundell. United right-winger Geyse was not tracking back to support Blundell, so Arsenal doubled up on the full-backs and exploited space in behind.

Lacasse was an outlet for Lotte Wubben-Moy’s accurate passes out from defence, and always knew exactly what her next move would be upon receiving possession. The winger exhibits something of a trademark skill move in which she performs a stepover to dummy the ball, and then feints away from her marker. Look no further than her late equaliser in the reverse fixture against United as an example.

One thing that I love about watching Lacasse is the little feints and dummies she uses when she receives the ball- prime example in the reverse fixture vs United, but something she did a lot yesterday pic.twitter.com/U1RBvLlBK2

— Freddie Cardy (@CardyFreddie) February 18, 2024

As well as her skill, Lacasse has pace to burn and used all of it against Blundell, including to win a cynical foul off the former England international, which saw Blundell receive a yellow card. On the opposite side, Mead forced a yellow card for Gemma Evans, meaning that both of United’s full-backs had to play over an hour knowing one further mistake could be costly. It was no wonder that Evans, who gave away the penalty for Arsenal’s third, was substituted at half-time.

Arsenal took the lead through a Geyse own goal. Lacasse looked to flick on McCabe’s corner, ducking under the ball before it was turned inadvertently past Mary Earps by Geyse via a deflection.

Fortune fell Arsenal’s way for their second goal, which was scored by Lacasse. Stina Blackstenius could not get a shot away in the middle of the penalty area, and Zelem’s clearance was too tame and picked out the head of Lacasse, who was unmarked at the back post.

“I just put my big forehead on it!” said Lacasse, who’s celebration put a smile on every Arsenal fan. If she had ventured into the Tollington after full-time, there would still be supporters buying her a drink now.

??I asked Cloé Lacasse to describe her goal in yesterday’s victory over Manchester United at Emirates Stadium“[It was] a great feeling, I think it was more of a reactive goal than anything. But when it crossed I just put my big forehead on it and there we go.” ? pic.twitter.com/kqxkvUGBJs

— Jamie Spangher (@jamiespangher) February 18, 2024

In a first-half display that centred on capitalising on Manchester United’s errors, Beth Mead was tripped by Evans and Kim Little dispatched the spot-kick. Lacasse had delivered the initial cross for Little to head back to Mead, after a driving run on the outside of Blundell.

Arsenal should have scored more in the second half, with Mead hitting the post twice and chances going begging for the likes of Blackstenius and Lacasse. Lucia Garcia’s late tap-in spoiled a clean sheet, but very little else.

Lacasse even spent the closing stages of the game filling in at right-back after Catley was forced off injured, in a complete, hard-working display that encapsulated Arsenal’s sheer desire to pick up all three points against a difficult opponent.

Twenty foooooouuuuuuur ? pic.twitter.com/cdrfrV6xsW

— Freddie Cardy (@CardyFreddie) February 17, 2024