Arsenal beat Man United to finish 2nd in WSL
Arsenal ended their Women's Super League campaign with a 4–3 win over Manchester United at the Emirates on Saturday, securing second place and a direct path to the final qualifying round of the Champions League.
It was not comfortable, but it was enough.
Photo byIn front of 46,603 fans, this was a game that said as much about Arsenal's fragility as it did their firepower. The goals came in bursts. The mistakes, as they often have this season, came just as quickly.
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Chloe Kelly, in her final match before returning to Manchester City, opened the scoring thanks to a disastrous mistake from United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who dropped a routine ball at Kelly's feet.
At the other end, Manuela Zinsberger made an excellent save before being left scrambling from the resulting corner as Ella Toone headed United level.
Arsenal controlled possession but failed to find any rhythm. It was a pattern familiar from recent defeats. Their pressing was disjointed, their defending passive, and their decision-making under pressure erratic. United, needing a win to leapfrog Arsenal in the table, saw opportunities in the spaces Arsenal allowed but failed to convert possession into control.
The second half, however was a different story. Within minutes of the restart, Caitlin Foord was fouled in the area by Grace Clinton. Mariona Caldentey stepped up and calmly sent the keeper the wrong way. It was her eighth goal in 12 league appearances, during which she has also added four assists.
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From there, Arsenal moved into the kind of form that, at times, had them dreaming of more than second and has taken them to the Champions League final. Katie McCabe found Frida Maanum with a beautifully weighted ball. The Norwegian took one touch and put her finish beyond Tullis-Joyce to make it 3–1.
Photo byNot long after a blatant handball penalty was waved away, Kim Little turned sweetly just inside the box and drove a low shot across goal into the far corner. Arsenal were 4–1 up, dominant, and United were falling apart.
But then Katie McCabe started to be stupid. A deflected strike from Elise Terland, after a poor giveaway from McCabe, made it 4–2.
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Minutes later, she fouled Celin Bizet in the box, and Maya Le Tissier converted the penalty to bring United within one.
The scoreline flattered United, but the lapses are concerning. Arsenal had the match in their hands and nearly threw it away.
After the game, Little told the BBC, 'After out last two results, we wanted to finish the season on a high and I think we did that.'
Now, attention turns to the Champions League final in two weeks where a much better performance will be required.
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