City suffer first WSL defeat since September to Arsenal

Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw’s 27^th goal of the season handed us the lead before second half goals from Frida Maanum and Katie McCabe turned the fixture on its head.

Our run of matches without loss stood at 14 going into the match at Meadow Park and it’s the first time we’ve tasted defeat in the league since September 2022.

WHAT HAPPENED 

The meeting marked a year since Chloe Kelly made her long-awaited return from injury in a 2-0 win over West Ham in 2022 – and the electric winger played a crucial part in handing the visitors a dream start inside five minutes.

The England international collected the ball on the right wing and found the head of Shaw, who had expertly lost her marker, with a whipped cross before the 26-year-old directed it into the far corner from close range.

It was exactly what Taylor’s side deserved after an exhilarating start to proceedings and the Jamaican almost doubled our lead shortly after when she pinched the ball from Leah Williamson and sent a stinging volley towards goal which was well saved by Sabrina D’Angelo.

City were all too aware of Arsenal striker Stina Blackstenius’ threat after the Swede’s strike in our 1-0 Continental Cup semi-final defeat to the Gunners in February.

And she had her first sight of goal midway through the first half when she collected a pass behind our backline before Ellie Roebuck was quick off her line to smother and avert the danger.

We weren’t deterred and came agonisingly close to pulling further ahead on the verge of half-time when another Kelly cross caused havoc inside the hosts’ box with the ball finding Lauren Hemp at the back post.

However, with it’s awkward height and lightning speed, our winger fired her fizzing volley just over the bar.

Kelly continued to cause her former employers problems and, from the left flank, shifted the ball onto her right foot and struck low from range - forcing D’Angelo to spring to her left and palm it away from finding the bottom corner, in what was the last action of the half.

The second period was a much more even affair with chances few and far between during the opening exchanges.

It took until the 62nd minute for the first to arrive and the hosts made the most of it as Frida Maanum poked home from close range after the ball fortuitously fell to her after a spell of pinball inside our box.

We did well to weather the resulting Arsenal storm, but Katie McCabe broke City hearts with 15 minutes remaining when firing an unstoppable effort from 20-yards into the top corner which proved too hot to handle for Roebuck - who did well to get a touch on the attempt.

We looked to rally in the closing stages as Gareth Taylor turned to his substitutes bench  - but we unfortunately couldn’t find an equaliser. 

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Yui hasegawa 

The Japan international delivered yet another assured and quality performance at Meadow Park. 

Often the architect of our fast-paced attacking play, Hasegawa allowed City to keep the ball and was unfortunate to be on the losing side.

HOW WE LINED UP

City XI: Roebuck, Morgan, Houghton (C), Greenwood, Aleixandri (Casparij 82’), Hasegawa, Angeldahl (Fowler 87’), Coombs ( Castellanos 82’), Kelly Raso (79’), Shaw, Hemp.

Unused subs: MacIver, Ouahabi, Dahou.

Arsenal XI: D’Angelo, Souza, Wubben-Moy, Williamson, Maanum, Walti, McCabe, Maritz (Beattie 69’), Foord (Wienruither 46’), Pelova (Kuhl 69’), Blackstenius (Taylor 69’)

Unused subs: Zinsberger, Marckese, Queiroz Costa, Reid

WHAT IT MEANS

Defeat in north London sees us move to fourth in the WSL table – only three points behind league leaders, Manchester United.

UP NEXT

Following the conclusion of the April international break, we host West Ham United at the Academy Stadium.

Kick-off in Manchester is set for 18:45 (UK) on Sunday, 23 April.