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Here’s a look at that all-important equaliser…
Half-time: Arsenal 1-1 Manchester CityIt’s all square at the break thanks to that late goal from Miedema.
45+1 min: We’re into three minutes of added time…
45 min: A huge chance for Arsenal to regain the lead! Cooney-Cross sends the ball through to Blackstenius, who outpaces Kennedy before going one-on-one with Yamashita. She shoots, but the goalkeeper makes a fantastic save!
43 min: After some scrappy Arsenal defending, Miedema wins the ball on the edge of the box and opens up her body to go for goal. She goes for the top-right corner, but the ball takes a huge deflection off Codina and flies into the net!
No celebration, although she’s not known for celebrating anyway!
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City (Miedema, 42)It had to be her! Miedema levels!
Narrative Vivianne Miedema scores for City! Photograph: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images40 min: Manchester City are forced into a change with Ouahabi unable to continue due to an injury. She is replaced by Alanna Kennedy. Five minutes left to play.
38 min: There is a brief pause in play as Ouhabi receives treatment for an injury.
36 min: This has been a fantastic performance from Arsenal so far. To put things into perspective, last season’s Golden Boot winner, Khadija Shaw, has been limited to just three touches in the opposition half.
The hosts have done a fantastic job at nullifying City’s biggest threats.
33 min: Arsenal are posing a real threat going forward. McCabe sends a great pass through to Blackstenius from defence, but Yamashita comes out to the edge of the box just in time to cut it out.
Then, Wubben-Moy wins the ball back and quickly crosses it to Mariona in the box. The winger can’t quite get a touch on it though and City claim possession.
31 min: Arsenal go on the attack again as Cooney-Cross sets the ball to Maanum in midfield, who passes wide to Blackstenius. The striker looks square it across goal, but Greenwood makes a crucial block to steer it clear.
29 min: Fox receives the ball on the right and cuts inside before passing to Maanum. The midfielder goes for goal, but her effort flies over the bar.
27 min: Manchester City are playing very high right now. They need to be careful as Arsenal can be quick on the attack – and they have shown that a few times already in this game.
24 min: Huge chance! Hemp breaks forward on the left and sends a low-driven cross into the box. It runs all the way through to Fujino at the back post, who takes a touch before shooting. However, McCabe makes a fantastic block to keep the ball out.
Arsenal celebrate it like a goal. What an effort from the left-back!
23 min: Manchester City are starting to grow into this game, although they are not forcing anything. It allows Arsenal to get back in numbers, with almost every player behind the ball.
21 min: Hemp receives the ball from Greenwood outside the box and is handed plenty of space by the Arsenal defence. She makes the most of it and goes for goal, but Zinsberger claims the shot with ease.
19 min: City attempt to go on the attack as Miedema works her way towards the edge of the penalty area, but she is quickly cut out by Codina.
A huge cheer erupts from the crowd. Arsenal fans are on cloud nine right now.
Vivianne Miedema goes up against former teammate Caitlin Foord. Photograph: John Walton/PA16 min: Arsenal have looked the most comfortable of the two teams overall so far despite a shaky opening few minutes. City appear slightly nervous right now.
13 min: Another huge chance for Arsenal! The ball is sent through to Blackstenius, who shifts it past Yamashita on the edge of the box. She quickly goes for goal, but her effort skims the post and heads behind. A major let-off for City.
10 min: Just a matter of moments before that opening goal, Miedema almost broke the deadlock for City. The ex-Arsenal star stole the ball from Little in midfield before unleashing an audacious long-range strike which flew inches past the post.
It’s safe to say the mood at the Emirates changed very quickly just after that…
9 min: Arsenal break forward as Fox sends the ball down to Foord on the right. The winger sends a cross into the box and it falls to the feet of Maanum. She has no blue shirts around her and is able to fire her shot straight into the top-right corner. What a start!
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City (Maanum, 7)And just like that, Arsenal have the lead! Maanum with the strike!
Frida Maanum scores for Arsenal! Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters6 min: Codina almost loses the ball to Fujino in a dangerous area, but Arsenal win it back. However, Wubben-Moy gets caught out by Hemp and finds herself under pressure. Luckily for the hosts, the City winger gets penalised for a handball.
4 min: Manchester City appear quite happy just to play around the back in these early stages. A fairly slow start from both sides.
2 min: Gareth Taylor has decided to watch from the stands this afternoon. He’s got a great view of the pitch from the upper tier. Meanwhile, Jonas Eidevall is on the touchline as always.
Kick-offWe’re under way at the Emirates Stadium!
Fans are still flooding into the Emirates Stadium. Just five minutes to go until kick-off!
Manchester City’s Vivianne Miedema (right), Jess Park and Laura Coombs warm up ahead of the Barclays Women’s Super League match at the Emirates Stadium Photograph: John Walton/PADiscussing Vivianne Miedema’s return during his pre-match press conference, Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall said: “Viv has such a great history in the club. We wish her the best, I wish her the best. I truly hope that she has a really successful season because I think she deserves that. One of the big problems for us with letting her go is now she plays for our competitor and we know that she’s a very strong opponent against us. We need to focus on our part during the game. We need to make our things as good as possible and from here on that needs to be our focus.”
The story of the day has to be Vivianne Miedema’s return to north London. One of the WSL’s all-time greats joined Manchester City on a free transfer this summer – a move that left Arsenal fans utterly heartbroken. Miedema had spent seven years with the Gunners, winning one WSL title and three League Cups.
With the new WSL season finally underway, I want to hear from you! Feel free to email in with some of your predictions for this season. Top goalscorer, player of the season, you know the drill. And the all-important question – who will lift the trophy in May?
Arsenal fans are making themselves heard ahead of kick-off. It seems last season’s beloved Cloé Lacasse chant has been replaced with a new hit – ‘Shake it Caldentey’
I must admit, it’s incredibly catchy!
Manchester City will be seeking revenge against Arsenal today. Jonas Eidevall’s side all-but ended City’s title hopes in the penultimate match of the 2023-24 season with a 2-1 win at the Joie Stadium following two late goals from Stina Blackstenius. If Gareth Taylor’s side had won that game, it would’ve pretty much sealed the WSL title. But Chelsea mounted a late comeback and took it on the final day with a 6-0 thrashing of Manchester United at Old Trafford.
This fixture has always been a must-watch, and today won’t be any different.
Stina Blackstenius scores a late winning goal for Arsenal during the Barclays Women’s Super League match between Manchester City and Arsenal Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianLeah Williamson is not available for Arsenal today due to concussion protocol. Lotte Wubben-Moy and Laia Codina start in the centre of defence for the hosts.
Alessia Russo, Beth Mead, Lia Wälti and new signing Rosa Kafaji are among the Arsenal substitutes. Some huge calls made by Jonas Eidevall.
Team NewsArsenal starting XI: Manuela Zinsberger; Emily Fox, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Laia Codina, Katie McCabe; Kim Little (C), Frida Maanum, Kyra Cooney-Cross; Mariona Caldentey, Caitlin Foord, Stina Blackstenius. Substitutes: Daphne van Domselaar, Laura Wienroither, Lia Wälti, Kathrine Kühl, Freya Godfrey, Rosa Kafaji, Beth Mead, Alessia Russo.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
🫡 Little with the armband
🤩 Mariona makes her WSL debut
🏎️ Blackstenius leads the line
Let’s start as we mean to go on, Gunners 👊
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) September 22, 2024Manchester City starting XI: Ayaka Yamashita; Laia Aleixandri, Alex Greenwood (C), Leila Ouahabi, Kerstin Casparij; Yui Hasegawa, Vivianne Miedema, Jess Park; Aoba Fujino, Khadija Shaw, Lauren Hemp. Substitutes: Khiara Keating, Naomi Layzell, Laura Coombs, Mary Fowler, Chloe Kelly Alanna Kennedy, Laura Blindkilde Brown, Gracie Prior, Lily Murphy.
Your team to face Arsenal! 🙌
XI | Yamashita, Aleixandri, Greenwood (C), Miedema, Hemp, Ouahabi, Park, Casparij, Fujino, Shaw, Hasegawa
SUBS | Keating, Layzell, Coombs, Fowler, Kelly, Kennedy, Blindkilde Brown, Prior, Murphy#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/Nu6qM4i2TQ
— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) September 22, 2024PreambleHello and welcome to coverage of Arsenal vs Manchester City. We’re in for a real treat this afternoon as two of the league’s best go head-to-head in front of a huge Emirates Stadium crowd.
Vivianne Miedema makes her return to north London today – but this time she will be lining up in light blue. The Dutch superstar starts for Gareth Taylor’s side in what is set to be a thriller.
Kick-off is at 12:30pm BST – join me!