Arsenal v Manchester United: Women’s Super League – live | Women’s Super League

Half Time – Arsenal 3-0 Manchester United

45+4 min: Mead makes a great run into the box before shooting from a tight angle and forcing a save from Earps. There is a brief scramble before Manchester United eventually make the clearance.

45+1 min: Four minutes have been added on. Arsenal are in cruise control.

GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Manchester United (Little 44’)

PENALTY Arsenal!

40 min: McCabe goes to ground following a tackle from Evans and appears to be in some pain. She doesn’t look happy with the challenge, but the referee takes no action. After receiving some treatment she is able to play on.

37 min: McCabe is shown a yellow card for a push on Toone. The full-back had received a few warnings from the referee but now she is in the book.

36 min: A very well-worked goal from Arsenal. McCabe kicks off the attack with a quick free kick in midfield. She sends the ball to Mead on the right, who waits for Pelova to make a run into the box. The midfielder squares it across goal to Blackstenius, but the striker misses the initial shot. Zelem then looks to make the clearance but it is a poor one and the ball goes straight to Lacasse, who heads it in at the far post!

GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United (Lacasse 35’)

34 min: Evans is next to receive a booking for a challenge on Mead in midfield. There is quite the battle developing between these two sides.

32 min: The referee gives Mead a talking to following a late challenge on Evans and Manchester United have a free kick in their own half. Arsenal continue to press high, but that leaves space for Geyse to run in behind. The forward receives the ball and works her way into the box, but Catley can clear for Arsenal.

28 min: Manchester United break forward once again, this time with Geyse leading the charge on the right. She works her way into the box, but Wubben-Moy gets back to make a phenomenal tackle – one that could’ve easily gone very wrong.

Arsenal look to clear but possession is lost in a dangerous area and the ball falls to Toone. The midfielder shoots but her effort deflects off Catley and runs narrowly past the post. Nothing comes of the resulting set-piece.

27 min: Blundell is booked for a challenge on Lacasse and Arsenal have a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the box. Mead steps up to take it, but her effort flies over the crossbar.

25 min: Manchester United break forward and García goes head-to-head with McCabe. The forward outmuscles McCabe before sliding the ball through her legs with excellent skill, but her cross is intercepted.

21 min: Aside from two early hiccups from Codina, Arsenal have been brilliant so far and they are posing a real threat to the United defence.

Blackstenius is sent through on goal and has plenty of space to shoot, but Turner gets back to make another block.

17 min: Huge chance for Arsenal as Mead receives the ball in the penalty area. She shifts it onto her left foot before curling it towards the top-left corner, but Turner is there to block the shot with her head.

The hosts have a corner which is sent straight into the box by Catley, Wubben-Moy is there but she misses the header and the ball runs out of danger.

16 min: That Geyse own goal has actually been given as a Le Tissier own goal. The defender was the last player to touch the ball – quite harsh as it appeared to skim her knee, but there is no changing the decision now.

15 min: Eidevall’s tactical changes appear to have paid off so far. Arsenal have looked incredibly dangerous on the attack and Manchester United are struggling to handle them.

11 min: McCabe steps up to take a corner and puts the ball into a very dangerous area. It bounces off Geyse and rolls straight into the net. Arsenal lead!

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United (Geyse OG 10′)

7 min: Good chance for Arsenal as Pelova picks the ball up in midfield and sends a fantastic pass over to Mead on the right. Mead looks to cross it, but Manchester United can make the clearance. Much better from the hosts.

6 min: Arsenal look to play out from the back as Codina passes the ball to McCabe on the right. The full-back sends a first-time pass to Mead, who sends Blackstenius through, but Earps gets to the ball first.

3 min: Codina faces pressure again, this time from Geyse, and she gives away a free kick by pulling back the striker. Zelem delivers it, D’Angelo spills it but Arsenal are awarded a free kick.

1 min: A nervy start for Arsenal as a poor back-pass from Codina forces D’Angelo to come out and tackle Parris on the edge of the penalty area. The Manchester United attacker wins a free kick as a result and it is sent straight into the box, but Arsenal make the clearance.

Kick-off

The teams are out. This record-breaking Emirates Stadium crowd is in full voice. Kick-off is just a few minutes away!

The WSL title race was blown right open last night when Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 at Kingsmeadow. Emma Hayes’ side had not lost at home in 22 games, but a composed first-half finish from Bunny Shaw left the reigning champions stunned.

Manchester City are now level on points with Chelsea and only trail them on goal difference. But if Arsenal win today, they will find themselves right back in contention.

A huge afternoon of WSL action awaits!

Don’t hesitate to email in this afternoon with your thoughts, feelings, score predictions and opinions.

Who did and didn’t deserve to be in the England squad? Will Arsenal avenge last season’s Emirates Stadium defeat to United? Will Alessia Russo come on and score against her former club? Will we see a badge tap? Or will Marc Skinner’s side stun this record home crowd into silence?

So many questions! So much at stake! Stick with us, you won’t want to miss this!

Sarina Wiegman named her first England squad of 2024 this week, with one significant returnee and one huge omission.

Captain Leah Williamson returns to the squad for the first time in 10 months, having already worked her way back into Arsenal’s first team squad. Williamson has impressed for Jonas Eidevall’s side on her return from an ACL injury and Wiegman is confident that she will ease straight back into camp. The England manager said: “It’s really nice, especially for her. She’s back, she’s gaining minutes at Arsenal and doing well. They are happy with where she is and it will be nice to see her back next week in camp next week.

“She’s a very good player, we’ve seen that too. Even though she’s been out for months, her decision making is really good even as she is still building. The team stepped up [without her] but it’s good to have her back.”

Meanwhile, in-form Nikita Parris has been left out. The forward has scored seven goals in six games since the start of the year, but Wiegman suggests that she needs to remain consistent for the remainder of the season. She added: “Of course, the competition up front is really high and in autumn she didn’t play that much. Because of the competition too we made other decisions. Now since the new year she’s played in the nine position and she’s done really well. Of course we have noticed that too. So I had a little chat with her and I hope she shows consistency because we are talking about her again.”

Leah Williamson has been left out of Arsenal’s matchday squad due to a “minor hamstring injury”, the club have confirmed. Amanda Ilestedt is also absent, but through illness.

Jonas Eidevall has switched up his attack dramatically ahead of this afternoon’s match. Blackstenius replaces Russo in the No9 position while Lacasse starts in place of Foord on the left. Mead keeps her spot on the other wing. The Arsenal manager appears to have set his team up with the aim of attacking at pace and exploiting the space behind the Manchester United defence, but will it work?

Arsenal fans, what do you think?

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