Live Blog: Arsenal Women travel to Manchester City in WSL showdown

Arsenal can hinder City's title hopes with a win over the league leaders



Live Blog: Arsenal Women travel to Manchester City in WSL showdown

The Joie Stadium, with the Etihad Stadium in the background. Credit- @cardyfreddie


Live BLog Sunday May 5th

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

  1. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 16:14 #4661

    Stina Blackstenius has come off the bench to score a dramatic late brace to win the game for Arsenal! The Gunners take second place off Chelsea at least until the evening, and dent Man City’s title hopes!

  2. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 16:13 #4660

    FULL TIME: Man City 1-2 Arsenal!

  3. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 16:09 #4659

    90+6' Fowler destroys Arsenal's left side but can't get a shot away- Zinsberger claims. 1-2

  4. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 16:07 #4658

    90+5' Fantastic block by Codina to deny Kelly on the edge of the box. 1-2

  5. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 16:06 #4657

    90+3' GOOOOAAAALLL! Stina Blackstenius might have just won it for Arsenal! Incredible drama. Chelsea will be absolutely ecstatic! 1-2

  6. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 16:03 #4656

    90+1' Nine added minutes. 1-1

  7. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 16:03 #4655

    89' Goal!!!!! Corner for Arsenal thanks to Russo's tenacity, City fail to clear and Blackstenius hooks the ball past Keating for another late goal against Man City. 1-1

  8. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 16:00 #4654

    87' A change for City as Kennedy comes on for Casparij. 1-0

  9. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:57 #4653

    85' Mead's cross/shot flashes wide of the far post. 1-0

  10. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:54 #4652

    82' Final Arsenal change as McCabe goes off for Wienroither. 1-0

  11. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:53 #4651

    81' Both sides take a drinks break whilst Russo receives treatment. 1-0

  12. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:51 #4650

    78' Fantastic tackle on Foord to stop her getting a shot away after she combined well with Blackstenius. The Arsenal subs have made things happen. 1-0

  13. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:48 #4649

    76' Excellent free-kick that requires two Man City heads to clear for a corner. Mead's left-footed cross is straight into Keating's hands. 1-0

  14. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:47 #4648

    75' Yellow card for Ouahabi after she fouls Mead. 1-0

  15. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:46 #4647

    73' Blackstenius tries a half-volley from a narrow angle and it flies over the bar. 1-0

  16. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:42 #4646

    69' Zinsberger gives the ball away inside her own box but ultimately her blushes are spared as Angeldahl's tame shot is blocked. 1-0

  17. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:38 #4645

    65' Good chance for Mead but she fires straight at Keating. Game starting to open up a bit more now. 1-0

  18. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:35 #4644

    63' Cooney-Cross, Fox and Lacasse are replaced by Blackstenius, Catley and Foord. 1-0

  19. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:34 #4643

    62' Lacasse makes a clever run behind and picks up the ball from Russo, but it was obviously not smart enough as the flag is raised. 1-0

  20. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:29 #4642

    57' Arsenal look to break but Russo is cynically stopped by Casparij. City make a change as Coombs is replaced by Angeldahl. 1-0

  21. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:26 #4641

    54' Mead wins the ball back in the box and crosses for Russo, but nothing comes of the move. 1-0

  22. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:23 #4640

    51' Lacasse is yellow carded after fouling Casparij. 1-0

  23. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:20 #4639

    48' Good save by Zinsberger, using her legs to deny Fowler after Arsenal failed to clear two Jess Park efforts. 1-0

  24. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:19 #4638

    47' What a chance for Laia Codina. The ball drops kindly for her in the box but the defender can only fire wide. 1-0

  25. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:18 #4637

    46' The second half is underway. 1-0

  26. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:16 #4636

    Back come the teams after half time.

  27. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:15 #4635

    Kim Little is ready to come on after warming up.

  28. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:03 #4634

    Lauren Hemp with the only goal in quite a one-sided first half that City have dominated. Arsenal have been restricted in attack but can build in the second half. being only a goal down.

  29. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:03 #4633

    Half time: Man City 1-0 Arsenal.

  30. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:01 #4632

    45+2' Headed away. 1-0

  31. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:01 #4631

    45+1' Good cross by Mead wins Arsenal a corner... 1-0

  32. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:00 #4630

    45+1' Two added minutes. 1-0

  33. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 15:00 #4629

    44' Arsenal build patiently but Mead's cross can only find Kheating. Russo got into two good positions but wasted the opportunity to go for goal. 1-0

  34. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:56 #4628

    41' Russo gets a part of her head to Lacasse's flighted cross but it only skims away from goal. 1-0

  35. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:54 #4627

    38' Should have been a second for the home side- Kelly's shot doesn't have the power to beat Zinsberger after Park slid the ball into her path. 1-0

  36. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:53 #4626

    37' Correction- it was Laura Coombs in the book for the tackle on McCabe. The City fans cheers seemed to suggest that they presumed McCabe had been carded. 1-0

  37. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:51 #4625

    36' Katie McCabe is booked, can only be for complaining to the ref because Arsenal won the free-kick. 1-0

  38. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:49 #4624

    34' Good defending by Williamson after Coombs was played over the top by a brilliant long ball. 1-0

  39. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:46 #4623

    31' Kelly has the ball in the back of the Arsenal net a few seconds after the offside flag was raised. 1-0

  40. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:43 #4622

    29' Lacasse breaks forward down the left but only had Russo ahead of her and lost possession. Arsenal are really up against it here. 1-0

  41. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:41 #4621

    26' Pelova slides through Mead but the offside flag is raised. 1-0

  42. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:38 #4620

    23' A breathless first quarter of the game sees Arsenal fall behind, and City's relentless pressure has put the Gunners up against it. 0-0

  43. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:34 #4619

    20' Kelly gets in behind but Codina and McCabe do well to snuff out the danger. 1-0

  44. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:33 #4618

    18' Goal! Lauren Hemp finds space in the box to turn and quickly get a shot away and she buries the ball into the far corner. 1-0

  45. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:31 #4617

    16' In the 14th minute, both sets of fans joined in applause in memory of young Arsenal supporter Daniel Anjorim. RIP. 0-0

  46. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:28 #4616

    13' Arsenal come forward and Maanum springs in behind before her shot is beaten away by Keating. 0-0

  47. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:26 #4615

    11' Maanum fouls Park on the right side and City have a free-kick. Fox half heads it away before blocking the resulting shot from Park. 0-0

  48. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:23 #4614

    8' Both City wingers have caused problems for Arsenal's full-backs, who at one point swapped sides. 0-0

  49. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:21 #4613

    5' First chance of the game for City, who build down the left and Ouahabi is in the box to shoot wide. 0-0

  50. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:19 #4612

    4' Russo does well to win an early corner for Arsenal. McCabe's delivery is headed away. 0-0

  51. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:17 #4611

    2' Hemp's first cross of likely many is claimed by Zinsberger. Chloe Kelly starts upfront for City with Fowler on the right wing and Hemp on the left. 0-0

  52. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:15 #4610

    1' Underway at the Joie Stadium! 0-0

  53. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:14 #4609

    Katie McCabe is leading Arsenal's pre-match huddle. Leah Williamson wears the captain's armband and meets England teammate Alex Greenwood for the coin toss.

  54. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:13 #4608

    City are in sky blue and white, with Arsenal in red and white. The Gunners will kick towards their away fans in the second half by the looks of it.

  55. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:12 #4607

    A brilliant pre-match atmosphere with City doing all they can to whip up the crowd and get everyone excited.

  56. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:11 #4606

    Here come the teams!

  57. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:09 #4605

    The teams are in the tunnel!

  58. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:09 #4604

    McCabe has had her battles with Chloe Kelly, Lauren Hemp, and various referees in previous meetings between these two sides, so we can only wonder what kind of havoc she might cook up from left-back today!

  59. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:06 #4603

    Big boos for Katie McCabe from the home fans as her name is announced over the tannoy.

  60. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:02 #4602

    If Manchester City beat Arsenal and Chelsea lose to already-relegated Bristol City, Gareth Taylor's side will be crowned champions. In other words, an Arsenal win will do Emma Hayes a massive favour!

  61. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 14:00 #4601

    Both sides are back down the tunnel after their warm-ups.

  62. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:58 #4600

    City beat their namesake (if that works) Bristol 4-0 last weekend at Ashton Gate, whilst Arsenal drew 1-1 away at Everton in a below-par display.

  63. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:54 #4599

    Arsenal beat City 2-1 at Meadow Park back in November, with Stina Blackstenius capitalising on a Khiara Keating error to score the winning goal.

  64. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:51 #4598

    Crucially, City are without the WSL top goalscorer Bunny Shaw, who is out for the rest of the season with a foot injury having scored 21 goals in 2023/24.

  65. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:46 #4597

    Four former Arsenal players in the Man City squad: Laura Coombs, Chloe Kelly, Steph Houghton and Ruby Mace.

  66. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:43 #4596

    Arsenal go into the game two points behind second-place Chelsea, who play Bristol City in the evening kick-off.

  67. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:39 #4595

    It's a lovely sunny day in Manchester but a little chillier in the shade of the press box. The fans are enjoying the warmer weather with a fun atmosphere building.

  68. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:38 #4594

    It's a lovely sunny day in Manchester but a little chillier in the shade of the press box. The fans are enjoying the warmer weather with a fun atmosphere building.

  69. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:34 #4593

    Arsenal are also warming up in front of their loyal travelling fans. A Battle of the Bands will be our matchday entertainment...

  70. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:26 #4592

    Steph Houghton leads Man City to warm up in her final game at the Joie Stadium before retiring at the end of the season.

  71. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:25 #4591

    The reason behind some of these updates seemingly being posted twice is that the WiFi here is not particularly fast...

  72. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:21 #4590

    Lotte Wubben-Moy is again not included in Arsenal's squad. Kyra Cooney-Cross, Laia Codina and Cloe Lacasse replace Kim Little, Steph Catley and Foord.

  73. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:21 #4589

    Lotte Wubben-Moy is again not included in Arsenal's squad. Kyra Cooney-Cross, Laia Codina and Cloe Lacasse replace Kim Little, Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord.

  74. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:20 #4588

    Man City subs: Startup, Stokes, Houghton, Angeldahl, Morgan, Pritchard, Blindkilde Brown, Mace, Kennedy.

  75. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:20 #4587

    Man City subs: Startup, Stokes, Houghton, Angeldahl, Morgan, Pritchard, Blindkilde Brown, Mace, Kennedy.

  76. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:19 #4586

    Arsenal subs: D'Angelo, Catley, Little, Foord, Blackstenius, Wienroither, Goldie, Agyemang, Reid.

  77. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:18 #4585

    Man City: Keating, Aleixandri, Greenwood, Coombs, Fowler, Kelly, Hemp, Ouahabi, Park, Casparij, Hasegawa.

  78. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:17 #4584

    Michelle Agyemang has been registered by Arsenal and is on the bench.

  79. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:17 #4583

    Arsenal: Zinsberger; McCabe, Codina, Williamson, Fox; Pelova, Cooney-Cross; Foord, Maanum, Mead; Russo.

  80. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:09 #4582

    The Arsenal away end is already filling up!

  81. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:05 #4581

    Both sides have arrived and we fill find out who starts in ten minutes time.

  82. Freddie Cardy at the Joie Stadium: 13:02 #4580

    Good afternoon and welcome to the Joie Stadium! It's Manchester City against Arsenal in the Women's Super League, and Freddie Cardy will take you through all the action from the blue side of Manchester.


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