Manchester United are still waiting for their first Women’s Super League win of the season, but the 1-1 draw at Arsenal on Saturday gave Eva Olid’s side something a point alone could not: evidence of progress. United were denied victory only by a 95th-minute leveller at the Emirates Stadium.
The contrast with the previous week was stark. Defeats in their opening two matches, including a 5-0 thrashing at home by Chelsea, had left Olid facing an endless list of questions barely weeks into the job. United had looked disorganised, short of identity and wide open at the back, and the new manager came in for criticism over her decisions.
Olid, 41, arrived from Hearts in the summer promising an attacking, possession-heavy style of play. But across the first two games United managed just two shots on target and less than 40% possession in each. Ahead of the trip to Arsenal she asked her players to believe in themselves and to return to the defensive roots they had built under her predecessor, Marc Skinner.
“It has been an intense week because there were a lot of emotions from players and staff. Nobody wants to lose 5-0,” Olid said. “We grew as a team. The first day after losing 5-0 is not easy for anyone. We spoke and said we needed energy this week and a positive mindset. The focus was the defensive shape. It’s trying to get them more confidence.”
The change was visible. United won more duels than Arsenal, put in more tackles and completed more interceptions, though they still had only 40% of the ball. Midfielder Simi Awujo stood out in an even first half, with Andrea Medina tracking back effectively. Former England midfielder Izzy Christiansen told Sky Sports: “Manchester United have done a terrific job defensively. Overall, it’s just been solid. It looks so much better. The addition of Awujo has added some running power and they look so much freer in the final third.”
United led from midway through the second half when Julia Zigiotti seized on a mistake from Georgia Stanway, and held on until Smilla Holmberg’s late volley levelled the scores. Arsenal’s pressure had grown through an edgy second period, and few had expected United to take anything from a side many tipped to win the title before the season began, even if the Gunners have struggled to score goals efficiently.
Olid, though, saw foundations she can build on. “I think the attacking will come,” she said. “If you implement a new style of play, you need time. That effort, that intensity, can never be missed. We deserved three points for the hard work and the effort. Of course, we need to create more chances. That is why I’m here. We need time, but today is the minimum that we have to deliver. I hope we can improve the attacking side.”
The bigger question is whether that improvement can be sustained. United were already a difficult team to break down under Skinner but came up short in the biggest games; in three Women’s FA Cup finals they beat Tottenham once and lost to Chelsea on the other two occasions. Four years have passed since they won a game at the Emirates Stadium, and the heavy defeat by Chelsea last week showed the gap to the elite still remains.
Olid is under no illusion about the work ahead. “We are a team who need to press high, but at the same time we want to be better with the ball,” she told Sky Sports. “We lose simple passes and we cannot recognise the free player. Those things need to improve. It will come, I’m sure. But we need to keep this [defensive structure], then from there, little by little, be an attacking team, create more chances, score more goals. I cannot pretend it’s happening in four weeks, but I’m sure it will come.”