Report: Arsenal 1-1 Aston Villa (inc. goals)

Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Fox, Reid, Catley, McCabe; Little, Mariona; Smith, Maanum, Mead; Russo
Substitutes: Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Kelly, Foord, Pelova, Hinds, Blackstenius, Cooney-Cross

Arsenal have dropped points in the WSL for the second consecutive weekend, drawing 1-1 at home to Aston Villa. Arsenal led for much of the game after Frida Maanum’s early goal, but Arsenal played extremely poorly in the second half, and Lucy Parker’s late goal earned Aston Villa a deserved point.

Renée Slegers made two changes, with Beth Mead and Frida Maanum replacing Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius.

Arsenal started brightly. Maanum played the ball around the corner for Smith who drove into the space down the right hand side, but her cutback was scrambled behind for a corner. From the corner, D’Angelo parried away Maanum’s cross.

Arsenal continued to pile on the pressure. Mead had a chance after Russo’s excellent pass but took too many touches and saw her shot blocked.

On ten minutes, Arsenal took the lead. Vila played out from the back and Mariona intercepted Missy Bo Kearns’ pass from Deslandeds on the edge of the D. The ball came to Maanum, who slotted past D’Angelo. 1-0.

A ball over the top led to Salmon winning a free kick after Fox collided with her, and Baijings shot was parried away by Van Domselaar.

One-touch passing between Maanum, Russo, and McCabe saw McCabe play in Fox, who had underlapped, into the penalty box. She, though, laid the ball off for Russo, whose left footed shot was saved by D’Angelo.

Arsenal should’ve made it 2-0 on 36 minutes. From a free kick, McCabe’s delivery found Mead around the back. She stuck a leg out, and the ball went across the goal line, but Maanum couldn’t apply the finishing touch.

Villa very much carried a threat, and on the stroke of half time Daly’s switch of play got Grant one v one against McCabe. She drove against McCabe but shot over the crossbar.

Aston Villa could’ve equalised on 53 minutes. Hanson, on as a first time substitute, out-ran Reid, and her cutback went across the box, too far from Van Domselaar. The ball came to Grant, whose shot trickled just wide of the far post, with Van Domselaar stranded.

Hanson then turned Reid and shot, shooting well wide of the far post.

Arsenal made a double change on 65 minutes. Caitlin Foord replaced Smith, and Victoria Pelova replaced Maanum.

Hanson went close again. Russo, dropping very deep, gave the ball away. The ball came to Hanson, and her low drive went just wide of the far post.

Mead slipped Fox in but her shot was blocked by Wilms.

On 79 minutes, Catley found McCabe on the underlap. McCabe took a touch and shot and D’Angelo punched the ball behind.

Arsenal broke as Fox found Russo running into the inside right channel. Her cross for Foord was cutout by Wilms, the rebound came to Pelova, but her shot was blocked.

On 87 minutes, Chloe Kelly replaced Beth Mead and Taylor Hinds replaced Katie McCabe.

Kelly’s cross was flicked on by Russo and came to Foord on the left. She drove to the byline, beat Wilms, but saw her shot smothered by D’Angelo at a narrow angle.

Pelova then had a shot saved after Foord led a counter attack as the match entered 7 minutes of stoppage time.

Bo Kearns got in between the centre backs but headed straight at Van Domselaar.

Lotte Wubben-Moy replaced Mariona.

On 94 minutes, Wilms went for goal from a free kick with Arsenal expecting a cross, but Van Domselaar pushed it out for a corner. From the corner, though, Villa equalised. Lucy Parker won the ball from the initial delivery and was first to the loose ball, smashing it past Van Domselaar. 1-1.

In the final minute, Kelly’s dangerous cross caused a scramble that Villa were able to clear, before Foord was found in the box, but her shot was saved by D’Angelo.

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