Arsenal Women 2-1 Manchester City Women

Meadow Park

Barclays Women’s Super League

Katie McCabe’s wondergoal moved Arsenal second in the Women’s Super League with a 2-1 comeback win over Manchester City.

Despite finishing the Champions League win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday in a protective boot and crutches, McCabe was good to go at Meadow Park and started at left back. The Gunners had operated with a back five in February's league and cup matches against City but Jonas Eiddeavll elected to start with his usual four in defence this afternoon.

It was City who struck first in this crucial encounter, with WSL top scorer Bunny Shaw powering a header into the far corner past the dive of D’Angelo with less than five minutes on the clock to score her 27th goal in all competitions this season. Shaw started off the attack by dropping into midfield before meeting Chloe Kelly’s cross to give City a dream start. 

Gareth Taylor’s side were all over the Gunners in the early exchanges and Sabrina D’Angelo had to make a good save down to her right before punching away the resulting corner. The goalkeeper went down off the ball in the twentieth minute and both sides took the opportunity to regroup by their respective dugouts before Catlin Foord’s driving run to the byline- her cross was straight into the hands of Ellie Roebuck.

Foord then flicked the ball through into Stina Blackstenius but Roebuck was again quick off her line and able to smother the danger as Arsenal finally started to create. Maanum fired the ball wide after some more excellent build up play from Walti and McCabe before City almost doubled their lead in the strangest of fashions when Kelly’s header ricocheted off her teammate Shaw’s face and behind for a goal kick.

Arsenal had work to do as they headed into the final ten minutes of the first half 1-0 down and their task became even more difficult when Caitlin Foord was forced off due to injury, with Laura Wienroither coming on to allow McCabe to play further forward. 

City really should have scored their second moments later but Hemp somehow smashed the ball over from close range, giving Arsenal a huge let-off. Hemp then had a similar opportunity after she was set up by Shaw, and her effort was saved well by D’Angelo, who was up to the task once again to deny Kelly’s curling effort. Arsenal fans were relieved to hear Abigail Byrne’s half time whistle.

It was an even and entertaining resumption after half time with both sides looking to attack, and Arsenal finally were rewarded for their pressure when the ball broke to Frida Maanum in the box, and the Norwegian needed no second invitation to fire the ball past Roebuck to equalise. 

At the other end Arsenal’s defence looked far more steady- City’s wingers were so stretched that Shaw seemed isolated in the middle and was posing less of a threat. With less than twenty minutes remaining McCabe crossed to Maanum, who’s shot was tipped over by Roebuck.

Then came the moment of the game. McCabe was at her usual tricks in the first half when she was comically booked for bouncing the ball off Kelly’s head, but the Ireland captain put her side 2-1 up with what can only be described as an absolute screamer. 

The corner was taken short and McCabe had time to drive into the box before unleashing a rocket from her left foot straight into the top corner to cue absolute pandemonium on the pitch, in the stands, and even in the press box where there were stunned faces all around.

Sabrina D’Angelo then made a stunning save to keep out Aleixandri’s long range effort as City suddenly found themselves in danger of being leapfrogged by the Gunners into second place. With just minutes remaining Khadija Shaw put City’s best chance over the crossbar as their fourteen game unbeaten run in the WSL looked to be coming to an end.

As the clock ticked into added time former England skipper Steph Houghton had the opportunity of a free kick on the edge of Arsenal’s box, but her effort was straight into the wall, and City would leave Meadow Park empty handed.

It was by no means a perfect display from Arsenal but the result is what matters for the Gunners, who next travel to Germany later this month to face Wolfsburg in the Champions League semi final.