Arsenal needed a 95th-minute equaliser from Smilla Holmberg to avoid defeat at home to Manchester United, as Eva Olid’s side claimed the first point of her tenure in the Women’s Super League. Holmberg finished at the back post from Leah Williamson’s deep diagonal ball into the box, finally breaking the visitors’ stubborn resistance.
The point will not be enough to quiet the concerns around Renée Slegers’ team. Arsenal have now failed to win either of their two home league games this season and sit four points behind the defending champions Manchester City after just three rounds of fixtures. Manchester City have a 100% record so far, having dropped points in only four games last term.
United arrived at the Emirates having been widely criticised for dismal displays in opening defeats to London City Lionesses and Chelsea, and were heavily tipped to struggle again. Instead they produced an encouraging defensive effort and took an against-the-run-of-play lead through Julia Zigiotti Olme. The performance will buy the former Hearts manager Olid time to continue working on her style on the training ground, and should quieten those doubting her.
That lead came from a costly Arsenal error. Georgia Stanway attempted a simple pass back towards the centre-back Steph Catley, but the ball rolled into the path of Zigiotti Olme, who stepped around Catley and slotted home through the legs of Misa Rodríguez. It very nearly proved to be the winner.
Arsenal had created good openings and looked to have control of the midfield. Their 19-year-old winger Lisa Baum, an inspired summer signing from RB Leipzig who had scored their only goal of the campaign so far, shot straight at Phallon Tullis-Joyce early on and delivered dangerous crosses from the left. Mariona Caldentey curled just wide, and Tullis-Joyce made a fine save to keep out a Stina Blackstenius header shortly before the interval. At the other end, Elisabeth Terland went closest for United in the first half, thwarted by two excellent Misa Rodríguez saves in quick succession. After the break Tullis-Joyce dived low to deny Caitlin Foord, and United battled to clear the danger from several set-pieces as the home side grew increasingly frustrated.
The pattern was a familiar one for Arsenal. They had managed just one goal from 43 shots across their opening two league fixtures, and last weekend were surprisingly wasteful in the final third in a goalless home draw with the newly promoted Crystal Palace. A visit from a side who had conceded five goals in their previous match looked like the perfect chance to banish the questions about their clinical quality; once again it did not work out that way. With back-to-back away league trips to Chelsea and Manchester City ahead, alongside the start of their Women’s Champions League campaign, Arsenal are making things difficult for themselves in the quest for a first WSL title since 2019.
Elsewhere, Chelsea climbed to second with a 2-0 win over Birmingham. Lexi Potter found the roof of the net in the eighth minute, and in the 71st minute Melvine Malard made a quick impact from the bench with her first goal at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea moved up to second and, with their goal difference, were likely to stay there. London City Lionesses, beaten 2-1 by West Ham last time out, impressed in a 4-1 triumph at promoted Charlton. Isobel Goodwin’s double had London City two goals ahead inside 15 minutes, Jodie Hutton halved the deficit with a fine finish in the 39th minute, Jana Fernández restored the advantage before half-time, and the German forward Nicole Anyomi made the outcome safe with her side’s fourth after 76 minutes. They sit third, a point behind Chelsea.