Women's Super League title contenders Arsenal Women and Manchester City Women shared the spoils in an engrossing 2-2 draw in front of a 41,000-strong Emirates crowd in their first domestic game of the new season.
A few hours before the men's teams clash in a heavyweight Premier League showdown, ex-Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema and Jess Park replied to Frida Maanum's opener to put Gareth Taylor's side within 10 minutes of an opening victory, before super sub Beth Mead saved the hosts' bacon.
While a new season brings new hope for both WSL giants, it was an old flame who stole the pre-game and first-half headlines in North London, as Miedema returned to haunt the club she hit over a century of goals for.
The Dutch attacker came within an inch or two of scoring right at the start, only to see a speculative strike land just wide with Manuela Zinsberger out of position after an early mistake from the hosts.
That early let-off seemingly gave Jonas Eidevall's side the wake-up call that they needed, as Maanum found the top corner in the eighth minute to open Arsenal's 2024-25 WSL account, and the Gunners always posed a threat on the flanks in the minutes that followed.
However, the hosts could not find the killer touch for a second goal and were punished, as Miedema's deflected strike drew City level against her former club, before an outrageous half-volley from Park in the second half completed the visitors' turnaround.
Park's goal-of-the-season contender came after a Caitlin Foord tap-in was controversially disallowed for offside, but Arsenal were not to be denied a precious point, as Mead saved the day off the bench.
Arsenal boss Eidevall was particularly incensed at full time, though, having felt that the full seven added minutes had not been played, but a draw was undoubtedly a fair result on reflection.
ARSENAL VS. MAN CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Frida Maanum goal vs. Man City (8th min, Arsenal 1-0 Man City)
Frida Maanum fires the Gunners into an early lead 🔥🔴 pic.twitter.com/mJtLDbQ3BU
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) September 22, 2024
A lethal attack from Eidevall's side, and they have their first goal of the Women's Super League season after just eight minutes!
Emily Fox charges forward on City's exposed left-hand side and slips in Foord, whose cutback is missed by Stina Blackstenius, but Maanum arrives on the scene to crash home a crisp strike into the top corner. The Emirates erupts!
Vivianne Miedema goal vs. Arsenal (42nd min, Arsenal 1-1 Man City)
Vivianne Miedema scores her FIRST goal in the WSL as a Manchester City player 💥🔵 pic.twitter.com/DRN1woLMpT
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) September 22, 2024
In the script and all that jazz.
Vivianne Miedema - the woman who scored 125 goals for Arsenal - now scores against her erstwhile employers to draw City level, and it is an especially scrappy one for the Gunners to concede.
The Netherlands international manages to squeeze the ball through the legs of Kim Little before Laia Aleixandri takes over, out-muscling the Arsenal veteran and prodding the ball back to the feet of Miedema.
The 28-year-old repeats her Little nutmeg trick on Lotte Wubben-Moy, lets fly and sees her strike take a wicked deflection off of Laia Codina, leaving the stranded Manuela Zinsberger with no chance.
As expected, a relatively muted celebration from Miedema, who appears to let out a brief roar of emotion before reverting to her stoic self.
Caitlin Foord disallowed goal vs. Man City (Arsenal 1-1 Man City)
Now then. Arsenal think they have retaken the lead at the start of the second half, as Caitlin Foord meets Mariona Caldentey's ball into the six-yard box and has the easiest of tap-ins, but the lineswoman's flag goes up.
It was mightily close, and replays show that the leg of the last City defender may have been playing Foord onside. However, with no VAR in operation, the offside call stands.
Jess Park goal vs. Arsenal (58th min, Arsenal 1-2 Man City)
WHAT A GOAL! 😱
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) September 22, 2024
Goal of the season already? 👀 pic.twitter.com/BMkltpNurl
My goodness me. Jess Park take a bow. Take two bows. That was astonishing.
City work the ball out to Lauren Hemp on the right flank, and even though her cross is cleared by Wubben-Moy, the ball lands kindly for Park inside the D.
The 22-year-old takes a touch, sets herself and fires in an unbelievable half-volley, which smacks the underside of the crossbar before bouncing up and rippling the roof of the net.
Could the motionless Zinsberger have tried to dive? Maybe, but take nothing away from Park's wonderful strike.
Beth Mead goal vs. Man City (81st min, Arsenal 2-2 Man City)
Beth Mead makes an instant impact and finds the equaliser ⚡🔴 pic.twitter.com/G2yTbgLDct
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) September 22, 2024
Justice for Foord's disallowed goal? Arsenal will certainly think so, but Man City are livid. The Gunners win possession back as Katie McCabe puts a challenge in on Chloe Kelly, who then takes the full weight of Little on top of her.
With the Scottish midfielder and Kelly still flat on the ground, McCabe lifts the ball over both and slips in Rosa Kafaji, who attempts to beat Ayaka Yamashita at her near post and clips the woodwork.
However, the deflection falls kind for substitute Mead to draw Arsenal level with an improvised finish off her thigh. City captain Alex Greenwood is furious that McCabe's challenge on Kelly was not punished, but all she gets for her complaints is a yellow card.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - KATIE MCCABE
© Imago
A massive cheer boomed out from inside the Emirates when Katie McCabe's name was read out on the loudspeaker, as the Arsenal full-back deservedly picked up the player of the match accolade thanks to a dogged defensive display.
McCabe ended the four-goal stalemate with four tackles, four clearances, two interceptions and two blocks, including a vital intervention to deny Aoba Fujino from scoring what looked to be a certain equaliser in the first half.
The Irish left-back did not just excel defensively; she succeeded with both of her dribble attempts and had a key role to play in Mead's equaliser, even if she was perhaps a tad fortunate not to be penalised for a foul on Kelly.
ARSENAL VS. MAN CITY MATCH STATS
Possession: Arsenal 42%-58% Man City
Shots: Arsenal 16-15 Man City
Corners: Arsenal 3-3 Man City
Fouls: Arsenal 4-8 Man City
BEST STAT
16 - Vivianne Miedema has now scored against all 16 of the opponents she has faced in the @BarclaysWSL, with Bethany England (18/18) the only player to hold a better 100% such record in the competition. Scripted. pic.twitter.com/RDHbZ01jvZ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 22, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
Both sides now prepare for the second leg of their final Champions League qualifiers, as Arsenal attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Hacken on Thursday, while City host Paris FC boasting a 5-0 advantage from the first leg.
The Gunners then travel to Leicester City in the WSL next Sunday afternoon, prior to which Taylor's side host Brighton & Hove Albion in a lunchtime kickoff.
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