Neither West Ham nor Arsenal deal in draws much of late but on Sunday night, a goalless encounter transpired to be the only result on offer in this iteration of the London derby.
For West Ham, a first draw at home in 17 matches and a first-ever point in the WSL against their London neighbours in nine match-ups held all the aura of a triumphant victory. With zero touches in the opposition box or shots at goal in the second half, the Hammers' determined defensive display, buoyed by a sublime Mackenzie Arnold in goal, ultimately stymied Arsenal's best efforts to glean a win and handed Paul Konchesky's side their first league point since the turn of the year and their fifth clean sheet in seven matches in all competitions.
For the Gunners, the goalless draw marked their first match in which they failed to register a goal since the goalless draw against Chelsea on 11 February last year. But more pertinently, the murmured worries that Arsenal's failure to recruit a proven WSL goalscorer in the January transfer window might wound their title campaign felt to have found some semblance of evidence as the Gunners' 21 shots on goal and nine on target came in vain.
The result leaves Jonas Eidevall's side trailing five points to league leaders Chelsea with a game in hand.
Konchesky made two changes from their last WSL match in which they lost 3-0 to West Ham United. Lisa Evans and Kate Longhurst were consigned to the bench as Emma Snerle and Melisa Filis came into the starting XI.
Arsenal's last league match arrived through their dramatic draw with title rivals Chelsea and Eidevall made two changes from that match as Laura Wienroither and the injured Lia Wälti were replaced by Lotte Wubben-Moy and Noelle Maritz.
Chances were shared and wasted relatively evenly between the two sides as a frenetic first half came to a close, but it was West Ham who left to feel the most aggrieved after a penalty call on Brynjarsdottir following a delightful raking ball in behind from centre-half Hawa Cissoko fell on deaf ears half an hour in.
The penalty was nothing if not deserved after a plucky first half from West Ham, who did well to play balls in behind Arsenal's backline and dish out a constant reminder to the title-challengers the threat they pose on the break, particularly through Honoka Hayashi in midfield.
West Ham would be remiss, however, not to be grateful to an inspired Arnold, who was called into action just two minutes in as Frida Maanum slipped in between Cissoko and Grace Fisk but a heavy touch betrayed the striker and Arnold smothered the danger. Ten minutes later, Maanum once threatened, this time tearing down the right before cutting back to Lina Hurtig who failed to get the shot off.
And so the theme of the night began to establish itself. West Ham's intrepid jaunts forward found themselves staunched and Arsenal joyously attacked at hyper-speed down the flanks but with a frustrating dearth of end product. Stina Blackstenius saw her chance from eight yards out blazed over the bar before Leah Williamson's cheeky one-two with Maanum on the edge of the box once again ended with Arnold spoiling any proposed Gunners-centred fun.
After the interval, West Ham's forward forays grew more desperate and rare as Arsenal slotted seamlessly into the ascendency. Maanum continued her role of wreaking havoc down the host's right flank as Williamson dictated proceedings from midfield, but an impressively miserly defensive display from West Ham kept Arsenal restlessly searching for a goal.
The bays from the travelling Arsenal supporters grew more exasperated as the match slipped into its final 20 minutes and chances fell in quick, chaotic succession. Blackstenius' profligacy was the subject of plenty of consternation, but Arnold's heroics between the sticks continued to thwart Arsenal's most assertive attempts.
Even the additions of Victoria Pelova, Gio Quieroz and Katie McCabe couldn't break through the Hammers' impenetrable defense. Final chances fell for Foord and Williamson, but it was West Ham who emerged with a point scalped and the momentum built heading into a Conti Cup semi-final against Chelsea mid-week.
Win a pair of tickets to the Premier League or Women's Super League match of your choosing! Enter below. CLICK HERE
READ NEXT:
