Ireland captain Katie McCabe produced a player of the match performance as Arsenal opened their WSL campaign with an all-action 2-2 draw against Manchester City at the Emirates yesterday. Starting at left-back, McCabe contributed brilliantly in defence, intervening regularly with crucial interceptions and blocks while also displaying her creativity in attack. Manchester City striker Vivianne Miedema scored and made another goal against her former club, who needed a late Beth Mead strike, following good work in the build-up by McCabe, to secure a share of the points.
After City finished second last term and Arsenal third, the drama began early, with Frida Maanum firing the Gunners ahead in the eighth minute, the Norway international burying the ball in the top-right corner after a slick move down the right. It was almost inevitable that all-time WSL top scorer Miedema, who joined City as a free agent in the close season after seven years at Arsenal, would get on the scoresheet, and the Dutch international struck in the 42nd minute with a heavily deflected effort that wrong-footed keeper Manuela Zinzberger. Arsenal’s Caitlin Foord had an effort ruled out for offside early in the second half and instead it was City who went in front, Jess Park collecting Miedema’s headed knock-down before smacking a sumptuous half-volley in off the underside of the bar to make it 2-1.
Arsenal’s Mead was to have the final say, however, as she reacted quickest after fellow substitute Rosa Kafaji, having been set up by a beautiful McCabe pass, hit the left-hand post. Mead pounced to squeeze home the rebound in the 81st minute to grab a valuable point for her side. “I’m really happy with the reception I got from the Arsenal fans, and the most important thing today was to start the season well with the new team.
‘It’s always nice to get off that zero again and get a goal. From now on it’s just focus on the next games,’ City scorer Miedema said. ‘I think, all in all, it’s a very strong performance against a strong Manchester City team,’ added manager Jonas Eidevall.
‘We’ve, once again, shown phenomenal team morale, coming back from a 1-2 result, equalising in the game and really showing we’re a team that wants to go the extra mile. ‘Such an important part of the squad that we have is that we understand it’s really important how we start the game, but also how we finish the game,’ Eidevall explained. ‘Sometimes our players are going to have the role as starters, sometimes it’s going to be game-changers, impact players, and you need to be able to do both, and you owe that to the team, because that’s how we’re going to get the best out of everyone.
’ Eidevall was impressed with the WSL debuts of Mariona Caldentey and Rosa Kafaji. ‘I think you can see Mariona, she gives us a lot in many aspects of the game, her defensive part, her offensive part, the way she connects with the passing game’ he said. ‘And you see Rosa coming on, and she shows her quality in the final part.
‘I don’t thinkit’sa coincidence that she’s involved in our equalising goal. Great timing of the run, nice finish, hits the post, but then Beth can be there on the rebound.’ Later in north London, Tottenham boasted four different scorers as they welcomed promoted Crystal Palace to the top flight with a 4-0 hammering that saw Eagles substitute Brooke Aspin sent off in second-half stoppage time.
That result was enough to put Spurs level at the top with Brighton, for whom Kiko Seike scored the first-ever hat-trick by a WSL debutant as they thumped Everton 4-0 on Saturday. Things went slightly better for Merseyside rivals Liverpool, who were held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Leicester City. Champions Chelsea got the season under way on Friday with a 1-0 home win over Aston Villa, but Brighton and Tottenham lead the standings on goal difference.
FA Cup holders Manchester United cruised to a 3-0 victory over West Ham United on Saturday..
