Red card hampers Arsenal as they lose to title rivals City
Manchester City maintained their winning start to the WSL season with a 2-0 win over fellow title contender Arsenal, in a game where the visitors were undone by a mixture of poor fortune and quality City attacking play.
Both sides came into this game off the back of opening day wins, but this fixture presented a whole different proposition with title ambitions on the line early in the season.
Arsenal’s cause wasn’t helped at all by the sending off of Jemma Rose 13 minutes into the game. The ever impressive Lucy Bronze sent a ball in behind to Jane Ross who was brought down and with no other defenders in sight Rose was shown red.
It was that moment that arguably changed the game, as the Gunners had to resort to a more conservative style of play after previously looking dangerous in attack.
Ross proved to be the thorn in the Arsenal defence as she looked very lively up front, and after ensuring Rose was sent off, the City forward scored to break the deadlock midway through the second half.
Leah Williamson was at fault for the goal Arsenal conceded in midweek to Reading, and again it was her error that allowed City to open the scoring. Toni Duggan’s persistence paid off as she closed down Williamson before squaring for Ross to head home her first goal for City.
With 12 minutes left on the clock Manchester City doubled their lead from the penalty spot, after a controversial decision from the referee. Danielle Janssen who played so well in midweek brought down Nikita Parris on the edge of the area but the referee pointed to the spot on a day where the officials were part of Arsenal’s downfall.
Sari van Veenendaal had performed admirably in goal for the Gunners all game. She saved brilliantly from Parris and Kosovare Asllani in the second half but she couldn’t keep the penalty out as Duggan fired her spot kick in off the post to seal the points for Manchester City.
The game could have been very different though. Before the red card, Arsenal hit the cross-bar through a Fara Williams free-kick after Steph Houghton brought down Asisat Oshoala. The Arsenal forward originally looked to be in on goal but with two City defenders coming across to cover, they perhaps saved their skipper from also received her marching orders.
Oshoala was the most dangerous outlet for Arsenal, running in behind she caused numerous problems in the first half. The Nigerian had Arsenal’s best chance of the game but Abbie McManus made a brilliant challenge to deny the opportunity before the Gunners striker was substituted at half time.
It was that decision from Pedro Martinez Losa to bring her off that meant Arsenal lost their ruthlessness in attack, as he looked to rescue a draw from the game.
Despite a late effort on goal from Marta Corredera, the Gunners attacking display was hugely lacking after the red card, as Manchester City sealed a 2-0 win and three crucial points in the race for the WSL title in 2016.
It will be important for Arsenal to pick up points in their next game to ensure they don’t drop off the pace early. It will be another very tough fixture for Losa’s players who face reigning champions Chelsea, whilst City travel to Solihull to take on Birmingham.