Arsenal secured a hard-fought 4-3 win over Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium, clinching second place in the Women’s Super League (WSL) and a spot in the third round of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. The match, which turned into a thrilling seven-goal spectacle, was more nervy than it needed to be, especially after the home team had a three-goal lead with 20 minutes remaining. However, United mounted a fierce comeback, reducing the deficit to one goal within six minutes, ensuring a tense finish for the 46,603 fans in attendance.
Arsenal only needed a point to secure their Champions League qualification, but they came out determined to get the win. Despite recent struggles, including heavy league defeats to Aston Villa and Brighton, this match provided the Gunners with a much-needed morale boost before their upcoming Champions League final. The final whistle brought a sense of relief and celebration, with Arsenal manager Renée Slegers praising her team for showing a better version of themselves.
The game began with an early setback for Arsenal, as goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce made a costly error in the second minute. She failed to hold onto a shot from Alessia Russo, allowing Chloe Kelly to capitalize and slot the ball into the empty net for United’s lead. Despite the early misstep, Tullis-Joyce would go on to make a crucial save later, tipping Ella Toone’s long-range strike over the bar, which helped steady Arsenal’s defense.
However, Manchester United quickly equalized through Toone, who was left unmarked to head home a corner. Arsenal responded in the second half with urgency, retaking the lead when Mariona Caldentey calmly converted a penalty after a foul on Grace Clinton in the box. Just five minutes later, Frida Maanum extended the lead to 3-1 with a stunning shot from a tight angle after a clever assist from Katie McCabe.
Arsenal appeared to have the match under control and should have been awarded another penalty when Celin Bizet appeared to handle the ball inside the box, but the referee waved away the appeals. Nonetheless, the Gunners made it 4-1 shortly after the hour mark, with Kim Little scoring after a brilliant assist from Kelly.
United, however, would not go down without a fight. With 20 minutes left, they reduced the deficit when a misplaced pass from McCabe allowed Elizabeth Terland to score with a deflected shot that wrongfooted Zinsberger. The pressure mounted further when McCabe was penalized for a foul on Bizet, giving United a penalty. Maya Le Tissier, United’s captain, converted with composure to make it 4-3, setting up a dramatic finish.
Manchester United manager Marc Skinner was encouraged by his team’s resilience, pointing out that their ability to fight back showed significant mental progress from the previous season. “If this was last season, we would have gone down to 6-1,” he remarked. “But this year, we stayed aggressive, and that’s something we’ll carry forward.”
Looking ahead, both teams face major finals in the coming weeks. United will contest the FA Cup final against Chelsea, while Arsenal prepares for a Champions League final against Barcelona in Lisbon. Skinner expressed optimism that the fight against Arsenal would give them valuable insights as they prepare for Chelsea, while Slegers acknowledged that Barcelona’s different style of play would present unique challenges for her team.
The thrilling encounter at the Emirates not only secured Arsenal’s Champions League qualification but also highlighted the growing intensity and competition in the WSL as the season draws to a close. Both teams now look to cap off their campaigns with silverware, and the final matches ahead promise to be just as intense.
