Live Blog: Arsenal Women face Leicester City in the WSL- Maanum's curler gives Arsenal lead after McCabe misses early penalty

After Champions League heartbreak in midweek, Arsenal Women return to league action as they take on in-form Leicester at Meadow Park



Live Blog: Arsenal Women face Leicester City in the WSL- Maanum's curler gives Arsenal lead after McCabe misses early penalty

Arsenal Women return to Meadow Park after selling out the Emirates for their Champions League semi final second leg last Wednesday. Credit- @cardyfreddie


Live BLog Friday May 5th

Please stand-by, this page will automatically update with live commentary and comments

  1. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:35 #1968

    The scoreline suggests a closer game than it really was- Arsenal should have been more clinical, starting with the penalty save from McCabe, but ultimately the three points are all that mattered, and what a goal it was from Frida Maanum. I'm off to hear from head coach Jonas Eidevall, with player ratings up now on the website! See you on Wednesday night as Arsenal travel to Crawley to face Brighton.

  2. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:32 #1967

    FULL TIME: Arsenal 1-0 Leicester City

  3. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:32 #1966

    99' Teenage striker Michelle Agyemang is introduced with a minute to go for the second time in a few days, coming on for Kuhl. 1-0

  4. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:30 #1965

    Wubben-Moy heads away well up against Baker and Pelova is back to mop up- she never stops running. 1-0

  5. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:29 #1964

    Lia Walti is flattened by CJ Bott, who apologises to the Swiss midfielder but will be yellow carded. 1-0

  6. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:28 #1963

    Good work again by Taylor who has been chasing the ball down relentlessly. She wins a throw in up high and Leicester clear, but straight out for another Arsenal throw as the Gunners look to close the game out.

  7. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:26 #1962

    Leicester finally applying some real pressure before a shot is driven at D'Angelo, who takes her time to dive over the ball before kicking long. 1-0

  8. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:24 #1961

    92' Free kick over on the right wing, level with the edge of the Leicester area. McCabe swings it towards the near post and Mace heads behind for a corner. 1-0

  9. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:22 #1960

    92' Nice work by Pelova to play through Maanum but her shot is more of a toe-poke and Leitzig makes the save. 1-0

  10. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:22 #1959

    91' A minimum of ten minutes added time. Let's hope the trains back home are regular! 1-0

  11. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:20 #1958

    89' The attendance is 3,982 at Meadow Park. 1-0

  12. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:19 #1957

    88' Deep cross from Mace which Baker swings a foot at and misses at the back post. 1-0

  13. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:17 #1956

    86' The North Bank is in great voice as Arsenal inch closer to an important three points. There will be plenty of injury time however. 1-0

  14. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:16 #1955

    85' Double change for Leicester as Ava Baker and Missy Goodwin are introduced. 1-0

  15. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:16 #1954

    84' Good corner from Mace and D'Angelo comes out but misses the ball, before Arsenal clear for another corner. Leicester have been clinical from set pieces recently so Arsenal need to be careful with their slender lead, but Rafaelle heads away well. 1-0

  16. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:13 #1953

    82' Off the CROSSBAR! It's almost perfectly struck by Maanum but just too high- Leitzig may have got a touch to it. 1-0

  17. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:13 #1952

    81' Walti is up and Maanum will have another chance with a free kick, this time from a slightly wider angle. Four in the wall. 1-0

  18. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:12 #1951

    80' Walti takes a slap to the face from Howard and is down on the edge of the box. Arsenal have the free kick ready and waiting when she recovers. 1-0

  19. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:07 #1950

    75' Maanum comes forward and lines up another strike, it's a powerful one that dips and swerves and Leitzig does well to palm it over. Gio is on for the injured Catley. 1-0

  20. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:05 #1949

    74' The ball bounces into the stand and Katie McCabe screams at the fans to not give it back quickly... 1-0

  21. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:04 #1948

    73' Maanum's free kick didn't have enough power to challenge Leitzig, who jumped to her right to make the save. 1-0

  22. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:04 #1947

    72' Handball from a Leicester defender as Maanum chipped the ball through to Taylor, who got a shot away into the sidenetting. Emily Heaslip gives Arsenal the free kick after playing advantage. 1-0

  23. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:03 #1946

    72' Catley is up and jogging to the sidelines after the stoppage. Gio is preparing to come on for Arsenal. 1-0

  24. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:01 #1945

    70' Catley is lying down on the turf and receiving treatment, not what Arsenal will want to see. 1-0

  25. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 21:00 #1944

    69' Taylor headed the ball down from the corner and it falls to Rafaelle a yard out from goal, but she was in an offside position. 1-0

  26. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:59 #1943

    67' Pressure on Leicester to respond after they held firm for so long. Arsenal have a corner as they look to quickly double their lead. 1-0

  27. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:56 #1942

    65' GOAL! It's another Frida Maanum rocket- she finds a bit of space and bends a shot perfectly into the top corner, what a strike! 1-0

  28. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:52 #1941

    61' D'Angelo again had to be quick off her line after a mix-up with Wubben-Moy, but the goalkeeper blocks the ball from Cain, not for the first time tonight. 0-0

  29. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:51 #1940

    60' Catley at left wing back from the bench and McCabe left wing. Catley tries to pick out Taylor but Leitzig is quick off her line to gather. 0-0

  30. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:49 #1939

    58' Straight swap upfront for Arsenal as Jodie Taylor comes on for Stina Blackstenius. 0-0

  31. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:48 #1938

    57' Another Leicester header, another D'Angelo save. It was Tierney again and the keeper had to get down low to keep it out. She stays on the floor and Jen Beattie is replaced by Steph Catley. 0-0

  32. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:47 #1937

    56' Really well worked again by Maanum and Pelova before Blackstenius finds Kuhl, who again instead of shooting squares the ball and Leicester can clear. 0-0

  33. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:46 #1936

    55' Ruby Mace floats a long free kick into the box and Whelan gets a head to it but it's an easy save for D'Angelo. 0-0

  34. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:45 #1935

    54' Good from Leicester and Tierney diverts her cross into the shins of Beattie to win Leicester their first corner. It's headed away before Cain is pulled up for simulation, trying to win a free kick of McCabe. 0-0

  35. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:43 #1934

    51' Foul throw by Noelle Maritz in the Leicester half gifts the Foxes possession. Wonder how long it will be before Arsenal look to introduce some fresh legs- many of these players ran their hearts out for 120 minutes on Monday evening. 0-0

  36. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:41 #1933

    50' Blackstenius is tugged back but manages to continue into the box, but Pelova and McCabe can't convert before the latter makes a good run but is flagged offside. 0-0

  37. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:39 #1932

    48' Foul from Plumptre and that's the first yellow card of the game. Somehow. 0-0

  38. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:37 #1931

    46' UNDERWAY for the second half. 0-0

  39. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:36 #1930

    Both teams are unchanged for the second half, and we're ready to go again for a second half that could have big permutations at both ends of the WSL.

  40. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:35 #1929

    The Meadow Park crowd make themselves heard as Arsenal come out for the second half.

  41. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:33 #1928

    Arsenal have Catley, Gio, Taylor, Goldie, Agyemang and Reid as well as GKs Zinsberger and Marckese on the bench, whilst Leicester have GK Lambourne as well as Jones, Siemsen, Goodwin, Purfield, Paker, Smith, Robinson and Reavill all available to bring on.

  42. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:28 #1927

    You cannot fault Arsenal's attacking tactics- they've found plenty of ways to hurt Leicester, from Maanum and Pelova's runs from deep to McCabe and Maritz bombing forward, but Arsenal's finishing has been lacking. It's a young team that did most things right in that first half but Arsenal have to make things count in the second.

  43. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:26 #1926

    Arsenal have dominated the first 45 minutes but have been wasteful in front of goal. Leitzig's penalty save to deny McCabe early on was a good one and the Gunners have been frustrated by the Foxes

  44. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:20 #1925

    HALF TIME: Arsenal 0-0 Leicester City.

  45. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:18 #1924

    49' Cain chips the ball forward for Pike but her cross is met by Arsenal's Beattie. 0-0

  46. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:17 #1923

    48' The current Arsenal skipper looks to be ok to continue with half time just around the corner. It's not often she comes out worst off from a tackle! 0-0

  47. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:15 #1922

    46' McCabe is down after a strong challenge. 0-0

  48. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:15 #1921

    46' 4 minutes added on at the end of the first half. 0-0

  49. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:12 #1920

    43' The chances keep on coming for Arsenal! Another important block to deny Pelova after McCabe bombed down the left flank. 0-0

  50. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:11 #1919

    41' Wubben-Moy's clearance is scuffed away and almost into the press box. Plumptre strides forward but Arsenal again win the ball back. 0-0

  51. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:09 #1918

    40' Blackstenius is shoved to the floor on the left wing. Maanum swings in the free kick and it's headed away well by Sophie Howard. 0-0

  52. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:06 #1917

    36' It was nearly Jen Beattie once again! The corner found Pelova, who slipped the ball to McCabe and her cross went deep to Beattie at the back post, but she couldn't find enough power with her header and Leitzig made the save. 0-0

  53. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:05 #1916

    36' Hannah Cain is down on the halfway line and being attended to. 10 minutes left of the first half, and Arsenal will be rueing McCabe's penalty miss early on. 0-0

  54. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:04 #1915

    35' Maanum plays a nice one-two with Maritz and then drives her shot wide, but it was deflected so Arsenal have a corner. 0-0

  55. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:03 #1914

    33' Leicester venture forward with their captain Aileen Whelan into the box but there was no real cutting edge and Arsenal regain possession. 0-0

  56. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 20:01 #1913

    31' Best chance of the game and Kuhl has put it wide! Kuhl had a simple task but she manages to curl the ball past the far post after another swift attacking move where Pelova played through Maritz. 0-0

  57. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:58 #1912

    29' Blackstenius across to Kuhl in the box, who then shifts the ball to McCabe instead of going for goal herself, and the attack comes to nothing. I think McCabe was keen to let the 19 year old know that she should have pulled the trigger there. 0-0

  58. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:56 #1911

    27' Maanum breaks into the box but her shot is blocked before Pelova launches into a perfect sliding tackle to win the ball back, but again Leicester have enough bodies back to prevent any further danger. 0-0

  59. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:55 #1910

    26' This time the free kick is given as Pelova is pulled back following a sublime flick past her marker. "Thank you for watching" sing the Arsenal fans in the direction of Emily Heaslip. 0-0

  60. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:54 #1909

    25' Blackstenius is held and blocked off by Cain as Arsenal try to attack but the referee somehow waves play on. A quiet spell in this game as Leicester enjoy some possession. 0-0

  61. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:51 #1908

    22' Good work by D'Angelo again as Hannah Cain ran in behind to a bouncing ball over the top, but the goalkeeper made herself big and made the save. 0-0

  62. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:49 #1907

    19' Maanum bursts past Green but her pass can only find the heels of Pelova, who inadvertantly finds Maanum again but she can't work a shot. 0-0

  63. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:48 #1906

    18' Lovely attack from Arsenal as Maritz is found out wide but Blackstenius' shot is driven into a crowd of Leicester players and the resulting corner is cleared. 0-0

  64. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:47 #1905

    18' Interesting to see how tight former Spurs midfielder Josie Green is getting to Lia Walti in the middle of the park- following her every move. 0-0

  65. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:45 #1904

    16' Good run from Blackstenius down Leicester's right side but Ruby Mace is back to tackle the Swedish striker. 0-0

  66. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:42 #1903

    12' CJ Bott fouls Kuhl and Arsenal can just take a breather. They've been on top in these early exchanges but that saved penalty will clearly galvanise Leicester. 0-0

  67. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:37 #1902

    7' McCabe's penalty is SAVED by Leitzig! Fantastic stop from the German diving down to her right. The rebound falls to Rafaelle but her shot is blocked. 0-0

  68. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:36 #1901

    6' Hannah Cain injured herself in the process of fouling McCabe there, and she's now back up. McCabe to take... 0-0

  69. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:34 #1900

    4' Maanum drives through the middle before finding Kuhl, who laid the ball off to Blackstenius but Leicester were able to defend well. Corner for Arsenal, Katie McCabe drives into the box and is tripped, and Arsenal have a PENALTY! 0-0

  70. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:30 #1899

    1' Arsenal have stuck with their back 5- Kuhl in for Catley as McCabe drops back to left wing back. 0-0

  71. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:30 #1898

    1' UNDERWAY! Arsenal in red and white, Leicester all blue. Josie Green kicks off.

  72. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:29 #1897

    We now hear the fantastic North London Forever, Arsenal's anthem, and we're ready to go for kick off!

  73. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:27 #1896

    The national anthem will be played before kickoff- both teams line up around the centre circle.

  74. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:26 #1895

    The two sides are shaking hands and going through their final preparations.

  75. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:21 #1894

    A reminder of the two teams. Arsenal: D'Angelo, Wubben-Moy, Beattie, Rafaelle, Maritz, Walti, Maanum, Pelova, McCabe (C), Kuhl, Blackstenius. Leicester: Leitzig, Nevin, Tierney, Bott, Pike, Whelan (C), Green, Howard, Plumptre, Mace.

  76. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:20 #1893

    10 minutes to go until Arsenal Women vs Leicester gets underway at Meadow Park!

  77. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:16 #1892

    Arsenal are making a special presentation on the pitch for Jen Beattie, who made her 150th appearance for the Gunners against Manchester United last month.

  78. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:13 #1891

    Katie McCabe also shared her thoughts on Arsenal's ACL injuries in her programme notes, writing "When an ACL injury happens you're in disbelief. When it happens three times in once season to three real key members of your team, you're almost scratching your head and thinking "Why us? Why the girls" They're absolutely flying in their careers for club and country and it's just so unfair."

  79. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:06 #1890

    There was plenty to talk about at Jonas Eidevall's press conference, but plenty of the conversation was focused on Arsenal's fourth anterior cruciate ligament injury of the season, with Laura Wienroither the latest victim. Eidevall called it "a tragedy for the player: https://www.onlinegooner.com/articles/view/it-s-a-tragedy-for-the-player-jonas-eidevall-discusses-laura-wienroither-s-acl-injury

  80. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 19:01 #1889

    Lina Hurtig returned from a foot injury and came off the bench in the second half in the defeat to Wolfsburg on Wednesday, but the Swede doesn't make the squad tonight, with academy products Michelle Agyemang and Katie Reid on the bench.

  81. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:58 #1888

    It's some coaching lineup that Jonas Eidevall has built up as we watch the warmups at Meadow Park. Swedish coach Patrick Winqvist has had a real impact on Arsenal's set piece routines, whilst the club have recently appointed club legend Kelly Smith as part of the coaching staff too, as well as the aforementioned Lydia Bedford.

  82. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:54 #1887

    Wins against Liverpool and Reading have lifted Leicester off the bottom of the WSL and up to tenth, two points clear of the relegation zone. The Foxes lost their first 9 games of the season, so playing top flight football in 2023/24 would be some achievement. They certainly recruited well in the January window, bringing in a host of loan signings.

  83. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:48 #1886

    Both teams are out warming up in the evening sunshine, glorious conditions here in the south of Hertfordshire.

  84. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:40 #1885

    Arsenal coach Lydia Bedford also has close ties with Leicester, managing the Foxes from December 2021 (and losing her first game in charge to Arsenal) and keeping them in the WSL, finishing last season in 11th place. However, after a winless start to the season, Bedford was sacked in November and replaced by Willie Kirk, before joining Jonas Eidevall's coaching setup back in February.

  85. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:37 #1884

    In one of a few sub-plots tonight, Manchester City loanee Ruby Mace starts against the club where she started her senior career, making her Arsenal debut at the age of 17. The hard-working midfielder or defender joined on loan in January.

  86. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:34 #1883

    Arsenal stick with a back 5 (by the looks of it) with captain Katie McCabe at LWB, and Kuhl and Pelova either side of Blackstenius. Sabrina D'Angelo comes in between the sticks, having last played in Arsenal's comeback win against Manchester City in early April.

  87. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:32 #1882

    Leicester: Leitzig, Nevin, Tierney, Bott, Pike, Whelan (C), Green, Howard, Plumptre, Mace.

  88. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:32 #1881

    Arsenal: D'Angelo, Wubben-Moy, Beattie, Rafaelle, Maritz, Walti, Maanum, Pelova, McCabe, Kuhl, Blackstenius.

  89. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:24 #1880

    The tannoy here at Meadow Park has reminded supporters that Arsenal's next home game is against Aston Villa on May 27th, the final day of the season, making tonight's fixture the penultimate home game for the Gunners this season. Arsenal travel to Brighton on Wednesday before trips to Everton and then Chelsea, before the final day against Villa.

  90. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:20 #1879

    Arsenal will be without right back Laura Wienroither after the Austrian suffered an ACL injury in midweek, but the Gunners will have Stina Blackstenius available after she went off with a quad injury on Wednesday, as well as Gio and Jodie Taylor. Team news is ten minutes away.

  91. Freddie Cardy at Meadow Park: 18:13 #1878

    Good afternoon and welcome to Meadow Park! It's a crucial game in the WSL tonight as Arsenal take on Leicester. Kick off is 7:30, with the game live on Sky Sports Football in the UK.


NEW! Subscribe to our weekly Gooner Fanzine newsletter for all the latest news, views, and videos from the intelligent voice of Arsenal supporters since 1987.

Please note that we will not share your email address with any 3rd parties.


Article Rating

Leave a comment

Sign-in with your Online Gooner forum login to add your comment. If you do not have a login register here.