Arsenal 1 Manchester United 1: Blackstenius steals the show as Gunners seal late draw with Red Devils
STINA BLACKSTENIUS came to ten-player Arsenal’s rescue dealing a late blow to Manchester United’s hopes of a gritty win at the Gunners’ fortress.
Just as it looked as if a home loss was on the cards, the duel finished 1-1, with the birthday girl’s leveller bursting United’s bubble.
The goal – teed up by Vivianne Miedema – came minutes after the visitors saw a glorious Ella Toone chance go wide.
And the result saw Jonas Eidevall’s aces hosts up open up a five-lead over Chelsea and Man United at the WSL’s summit.
The Gunners boss said: “It was generous of Stina to share her birthday gift (of a goal) with everyone at the club.
“Every game in the league is important and we need to do our best.
“That’s what we’re doing and that’s why I’m optimistic about this sprint (to the title).
“I know we will be the team that develops most during that sprint, the team that gets better and better every week.
“Other teams at the top are being pretty consistent. We’re in that group too and I can see us becoming better.”
It was the visitors who had some of the best-attacking chances early on with Ona Batlle rifling a seventh-minute shot at Manuela Zinsberger moments before being fouled by Tobin Heath.
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But it took just ten minutes before the first goal was netted with Alessia Russo at the ready punishing the Gunners’ set-piece defending with a header at the far post.
Marc Skinner’s title-chasers came close to bagging a second moments later, with the Gunners looking wobbly at the back as Galton sliced a shot wide.
But Arsenal refused to be bowed. And they came close to levelling near the 15th minute with Miedema’s thumping strike forcing a superb save off the bar from Mary Earps.
A little later Heath walloped a shot over the goal which was followed by Miedema sending a strike wide near the half-hour mark.
And Arsenal upped their tempo in the second spell with Caitlin Foord coming on for Tobin Heath.
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The Australia star made her presence felt with a strike near the 60th minute forcing a fine save from Earps at the near post.
The contest became more of a physical battle with Diane Caldwell and Katie McCabe both booked for heavily challenges moments before Blackstenius and Frida Maanum came on for Jen Beattie and Jordan Nobbs.
United then had a superb chance to extend their advantage after Galton teed up Toone who drilled her shot wide of an open goal
The hosts went down to ten players in the 75th minute after McCabe saw red for a foul on Batlle with the pair hitting the turf after colliding.
But they bounced back moments later to nab a precious point.
They did so with Miedema teeing up Blackstenius (who turned 26) to score her first Arsenal goal after a rapid counter.
The result saw United, who play Man City next, avoid an away defeat for the first time against a top-three team.
Skinner said: “We’re really disappointed with the goal, but we’ve been defensively sound, structured and organised.
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“We wanted the three points and it’s a moment of concentration we can learn from.
“However I can see the growth in this team and their psychological resilience.
“Our psyche is stepping up a level and we know how difficult these teams are to play, but we want to win these games and we’re going to do everything we can to do so.”