Suzanne Wrack’s report has just landed and with that I’ll say goodnight. This is without doubt the most exciting WSL title race we’ve ever had. Manchester United are top but honestly any one of four teams could lift the title.
Best to you all. Catch you soon.
For those of you who haven’t yet seen the match-winner, here it is:
What a time to score! 🔥
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) April 19, 2023
Alessia Russo gives United the lead with virtually the last kick of the half.
📲 Watch on @BBCThree and @BBCiPlayer#BBCFootball #MUNARS #WSL pic.twitter.com/GUQfx9dTXw
And here’s the goalscorer, Alessia Russo:
I’m buzzing. These are the games that mean so much. Obviously Arsenal are a top side. Every game til the end of the season will be massive.
We’ve not backed ourselves against the top teams and now we know how good we are.
[On her goal] I just wanted to try get into the box and it was a great ball. I seem to be falling over when I shoot at the moment. I was just happy to see it hit the back of the net.
Tonight we were really proud. Credit to all the players and staff. Now we’ve got to get ready. There’s always a buzz in our changing room. The team dynamic is really special.
Here’s the player of the match, Aoife Mannion:
There are absolutely no words. My voice is gone a little. Every part of my body is cramping.
It was a game of two halves. We felt like we couldn’t get into a rhythm but we felt we deserved it. The last five minutes, I can’t tell you what that was like. I was looking in everyone’s eyes and saying, ‘Come on, we can do it."’
I’m so pleased. My body was hanging on at the end.
FULL-TIME: Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal
United move four points clear at the top of the WSL. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t always cohesive. But when it mattered they did enough and scored the decisive goal on the stroke of half-time through the ruthless Russo.
They become just the third team after Chelsea and Manchester City to do the double over Arsenal and they fully deserve the win.
Arsenal just not good enough and must now lick their wounds as they prepare for a Champions League semi-final against Wolfsburg. Will they have Williamson?
More reaction to come.
90+7 min: Earps punches clear and it falls for Zinsberger who steadies and volleys! She connects it really well and narrowly misses the top right corner!
Updated
90+7 min: Last chance for Arsenal now. Pelova has the chance to cross and she whips it to the near post. Mannion clears for a corner. Zinzsberger comes up for it.
YELLOW! Manchester United (Blundell, 90+6)
A tactical foul has Blundell in the book. More importantly she kills a quick Arsenal break.
90+5 min: Despite missing a sitter in the first half, Mannion has been recognised as the player of the match.
90+4 min: Arsenal go short before whipping it in with a better angle. So many white shirts in the mixer. Maanum takes a swing at it but can’t connect. Beattie nods on to keep it alive and it’s recycled out to the right but the attack fizzles out as the ball dribbles for a goal kick.
90+3 min: Corner for Arsenal.
90+2 min: What were United playing at there? Zelem tries to shield the ball out for a goal kick but gets herself in a tangle and Maanum almost steals it right on the goal line! United manage to clear and can breathe again.
90+1 min: Thomas has it and she has one thing on her mind: get it to the corner. She doesn’t reach her destination but she steals another minute. Williams wins it in the corner and does keep it there. United’s fans start brining out the ‘Oles’.
90 min: Seven added minutes. United so close to moving four points clear at the top.
90 min: Zelim showing her nous. Once again latching onto a loose ball and then hoofing it into the corner, like a rugby union fly-half.
89 min: Very good from Zelem who controls a loose ball and chips into an awkward area down the left flank. Galton can’t recover it but that keeps Arsenal right where United want them.
88 min: A double change for United. Parris, who was outstanding tonight, makes way for the Scotland forward, Thomas. Toone, who wasn’t as influential, is subbed for the more defensive Turner.
86 min: Disappointing from Maanum. She goes for placement over power but lacks either, lifting that free kick high and wide.
YELLOW! Manchester United (Batlle, 85)
Unlucky, but that’s a clear handball. It’s around 25 yards from goal just left of centre. Arsenal have to test Earps from here.
83 min: Smart work from Williams has her nutmegging an Arsenal defender and winning a corner.
It’s floated around the penalty area and Arsenal clear.
It’s getting heated as Arsenal look to play it fast but United’s players get in the way. A bit of argy-bargy.
81 min: CRUNCH! Beattie scampers across to slide and tackle Williams who was freed with a good pass down the left flank. But Beattie has stayed on the floor. Ouch! As she falls her face smashes into the artificial turf. She’s moving her shoulder gingerly. This has been a brutal contest.
Updated
80 min: Arsenals No. 1 is fine.
79 min: What’s gone on here? Zinsberger is down. I’m not sure what exactly happened but the Arsenal physio is seeing to her. Knee again?
78 min: Zelim spins out of a challenge and moves it to Parris on the right. She cuts back onto her left foot and doesn’t look comfortable. Still, she pings in a cross that is flat and firm. United keep it alive but eventually Zinsberger has both hands on the ball.
77 min: Both teams are now set up to counter. As a consequence they’re cancelling each other out. Arsenal with more of the ball this half but they’ve yet to get in behind the United line.
76 min: Le Tissier slides to clear a through ball that looked promising. She’s in for a busy 15 minutes.
75 min: Good from Arsenal. They go from coast to coast. Blackstenius is put through inside the area on the right. She chooses to shoot first time but slips as she does so. There’s no power on the shot and Earps falls to her left to smother it.
73 min: Gio comes off. The substitute is substituted. Maybe because she’s on a yellow and throwing herself about. On comes Jodie Taylor.
72 min: There’s a delay as Earps catches her breath. She copped a knock when she claimed that cross.
71 min: Rachel Williams has her jacket off. She’s scored in each of her previous two substitute appearances. She replaces tonight’s goalscorer, Russo.
70 min: Pelova has the ball in the box but she looks up and sees three red shirts. She turns back and finds a teammate but the cross the Maanum is loopy and high enough to invite Earps to come out and get it.
69 min: Arsenal are running out time. United know that a win, even a narrow one, would be massive. There’s movement on both benches.
68 min: Very smart footwork from Ladd sees her wriggle through the compact space in midfield. She then feeds Batlle down the right. She has plenty of time to pick out one of three teammates in the box but it’s over hit.
Updated
66 min: It’s a decent ball in but no one makes the far post run. That’s not the first time I’ve typed that tonight.
66 min: The assistant referee is waving her flag after Galton’s slide tackle on Martitz. Good chance for Arsenal to swing one in from the right.
65 min: Brilliant from Arsenal. They’ve found an extra gear and press high. So high that Earps has to rush her clearing kick and, having lost the ball a little earlier, Arsenal have it back.
64 min: A cute ball over the top gives Russo something to chase but a big boot of Wubben-Moy clears it up field.
62 mins: Arsenal win a corner now. What a team talk at half-time that must have been. It’s a good delivery to the back post but Earps claws it away. In fact that was a firm punch as she was peddling backwards.
Updated
61 min: A sloppy pass from Earps off a goal kick gifts the ball to Arsenal. That was really poor. Pelova shoots from inside the area but its blocked. Arsenal pressing.
59 min: Arsenal’s press is now gaining the ascendency in midfield. They’re keeping the ball fixed in United’s half and Pelova has the chance to swing her boot at a bouncing ball inside the area. It’s a wild hack and the ball spirals out for a goal kick. Still, they’re certainly getting closer.
58 min: Catley’s ball from the left flank infield to Pelova is a good one. So is the turn that allows Pelova to scamper away from her marker. The ball moves right but an offside call brings that attack to a halt.
57 min: Arsenal stitch together a neat move in the right corner but the cross takes an age to come and when it does there is no one there to meet it.
56 min: A slight lull in the game. Looks like the wind has died down as well. The calm before the storm perhaps?
54 min: United are so cool with possession. They move it around with confidence and its worked all the way to Parris who has Toone making a run on the overlap down the right. But she’s miles offside.
52 min: Arsenal are definitely bustling about with greater zip. They’ll need to if they’re to nick an equaliser. United slow things down though with Earps delaying before launching a long ball to Parris.
50 min: A couple of Arsenal subs I missed. Catley and Beattie are on. Wienrothier and Kuhl are off.
48 min: Slick from Mannion who controls the ball with her heel, watches it arc over her head before playing back to Earps. She even rides a challenge from Gio, leaving the Arsenal winger prone on the floor.
46 min: Wonderful save from Zinsberger. Parris’ headed through ball finds Russo and her shot from inside the box is kept out by a firm left hand from the Arsenal keeper.
Updated
45 min: We’re back underway and it’s a familiar patter as United burst out of the blocks with an aggressive press.
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Half-Time: Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal
United were seconds away from ending the half on a drab note. They’d bossed the midfield but did very little with the ball.
The Le Tissier got on the front foot and found Parris on the right. The former Arsenal winger did exactly what she was supposed to do, charging to the byline and picking out Russo on the cut-back.
The England striker so coveted by Arsenal was never going to miss and now Arsenal, who saw their skipper Williamson leave the field with a suspected ACL injury, must chase the game.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal (Russo, 45+5)
What a time to score! It’s Russo again. She sweeps it home after a great move that started with Le Tissier stepping up to collect a loose ball before finding Parris on the right. The winger gets to the byline and cuts it back for the striker who is clinical as she finds the net from the penalty spot. Great goal.
Updated
45+3 min: A good diagonal ball from the inside right off Battle’s right boot picks out Blundell (I think) inside the box on the left. But she chooses to control with her right foot and can’t bring it down.
YELLOW! Manchester United (Ladd, 45+3)
Oh that’s a poor challenge. Ladd slides in and wipes out Walti from behind.
45+2 min: Five added minutes. Zelem’s long cross from a free-kick is a good one, right into the mixer. It’s nodded on but Arsenal clear before it reaches the back post.
YELLOW! Arsenal (Gio, 45)
Gio’s aggression has landed her in the book. It was a poor challenge as she cut across Blundell and took her out. She complains but she was nowhere near the ball. Blundell has stayed down.
44 min: Maanum is in acres of space. It’s a simple ball down the left but no United player spots the run. She has all the time in the world but makes a mess of her low cross, hitting it straight at Earps when a cut back or a dink to the far post would have been the better option.
43 min: Some pretty passing from United but its all in their own half. Good pressing from Arsenal. Maanum seems to have shaken off that knock. She is still feeling her groin but she should make it to half time at least.
41 min: Good from Pelova. She allows the ball to run past her body and opens the field in front her. Zelem throws herself into a challenge bu Pelova can just about shank it wide to keep the move going.
40 min: Ladd and Gio get into a scrap. Arsenal have done well to frustrate their hosts.
38 min: In fact, I say they’ve created little. They’ve created nothing. Not good enough from the league leaders.
38 min: Mannion goes long but more in hope. Zelim picks up the loose pass and can’t find Galton to the left. A little sloppy from United. They’ve created very little despite their dominance.
36 min: Toone is slipped into space down the left but she has to cut back as the Arsenal defences sweeps around to cover. The ball is recycled before its crossed into the mixer but that Arsenal defence stands strong again to clear.
35 min: What is happening to Arsenal. Maanum could be subbed here. She might be arlight actually, but there was an Arseanl player taking off her tracksuit. Touch and go. OK, Maanum has been sent back out. Will have to keep an eye on her movements.
34 min: Another Arsenal is on the ground. Maanum is receiving treatment. She’s been Arsenal’s brightest spark. It’s her knee that is getting attention.
Updated
YELLOW! Manchester United (Zelim, 33)
She’s not happy, but the United captain can have no complaints after scything down Walti. Came in late from the side and cut her in half.
31 min: Four players, two from either side, converge on the ball near the halfway line. That midfield is starting to look very crowded.
29 min: Arsenal are in as Maanum skips past Batlle. She gets to the byline and dinks a good looking ball but no one gambles on a run to the near post. Mannion hoofs it upfield. Let off for Batlle who went to ground too early.
28 min: United still looking to play the ball in the air which isn’t wise given the conditions. Another ball over the top blows past its intended target.
27 min: Mannion and Le Tissier are both having good games on the ball. With Ladd in front of them United look very composed.
25 min: Strong defence from Blundell on Gio (Giovana Queiroz). They Beeb has just cut to the corner flag that is just about stating upright against a very stiff breeze. Not the easiest conditions for the players.
24 min: Excellent from Russo who tracks back to steal the ball from Pelova. United are doing everything right until they get to the final third and yet again the pass doesn’t find the forward runner.
23 min: Oh Mannion fluffs it. She is completely free at the back post and the ball loops to her after a header near the penalty area and she steadies herself before swiping at the ball. But she shins it well wide. She won’t want to see those replays again. Big chance blown.
22 min: Free kick for Unite down the right. A good chance to cross. United have scored more headed goals this season. No team has conceded more than Arsenal.
20 min: Earps needs to come off her line to claim a ball that just for a second had Blackstenius interested. Top goalkeeping from the best in the business.
Updated
19 min: A break in play after Parriss cops a blow to her head.
18 min: Very impressive pressing from United. They’re just not letting Arsenal settling on the ball. Galton puts Maritz under pressure and Russo is in business after a dinked ball towards her. But it’s too high and then there’s a foul so Arsenal get a breather.
17 min: A ball over the top down the right gives Toone something to chase but Wienrothier has it covered.
15 min: Back under way but hard not to be shaken by that, especially if you have an interest in the Lionesses. United won’t worry about that. Blundell in midfield is spreading it about with authority. A long ball is nodded on for Toone who also stays down after a challenge. She’ll be able to shake that off.
13 min: Beath Mead is already out with an ACL. Could this be the same for Leah Williamson. I really hope not. She’s in real trouble here. Her studs got caught int he ground and her body continued. She’s on her feet. She’ll be subbed but at least she’s walk off the pitch.
On comes the Brazilian Giovana Queiroz.
Leah Williamson taken off with injury
12 min: I think Williamson is in trouble here. She went down under an innocuous challenge from Zelem in midfield and immediately waved to the bench. Knee perhaps. Or her hamstring. Already filling in at midfield, she is now being carried off on a stretcher. Less than 100 days to the World Cup this is not good news for either Arsenal or England.
Updated
12 min: Williamson is down! That does not look good.
10 min: The ball breaks for Maanum on the left and she’s in the box, but tenacious work from Battle forces her wide. Maanum has another chance to run but is shepherded out and it’ll be a United goal kick. That’s a potential route to an opening for Arsenal.
9 min: Wienroither is crowded out deep in her own half by two United players and it’s a throw-in against her. United move it quickly and cross but Galton, charging from deep to the back post, can’t get there. Another cross from the right is well claimed by Zinsberger.
7 min: Arsenal struggling to string a coherent move together. Credit to United. They’re pressing as if they have an extra player on the park.
6 min: Russo shoots from the edge of the area. The ball is slightly behind her so she needs to wrap her foot around it but can’t bring it back inside the post. Nice pocket of space found there. She’s a real handful.
5 min: United bossing the midfield. Galton has the chance to cross from the left and she finds a dangerous area but Arsenal deal with it. They press hard and win the ball back and hoist another cross from the left.
4 min: Excellent pivot on the half turn from Zelem opens the field in front of her but again that pass in the final third doesn’t come off.
2 min: A good looking ball from Pelova on the right doesn’t find a target but that was a chance for Arsenal. United break but Parris can’t work out her angles and the pass forward doesn’t come off.
Updated
1 min: Good hustle from United with Toone scrapping and winning the ball. But Arsenal’s aggressive press wins it back. Good tussle early on, as you’d expect.
PEEEEEEP! Arsenal, in their changed strip of white kick off. United in their classic gear of red shirts `nd black shorts.
Charles Antaki has got in just in time:
“Blindingly obvious comment of the day: not having Miedema, Meade, and now a Little in the team is not great news for Arsenal. At least Williamson is fit, to guarantee quality in the middle, and the rest of the first XI are mostly able to turn in a terrific performance; the doubt, as ever, is the spluttering form of Blackstenius. Will she score? Will she not? (as sadly seems mostly the case)? They could run it as a lottery.”
Not blindingly obvious, those are good points.
Right then. The players are high-fiving each other. It’s all smiles now but once they kick-off I’m predicting a spicy encounter. Almost there…
A reminder what went down in the corresponding fixture earlier in the campaign. Russo’s 91st minute winner at the Emirate’s once again turned the title race on its head:
You can’t keep a champion down! Good to see Maria Thorisdottir in the building.
You just know @MariaThorisdott had to be here ❤️
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) April 19, 2023
Keep going in your recovery, Maria! 👊#MUWomen || #WSL pic.twitter.com/TUH3QvqTUs
I’m sure you’re all well aware, but just in case you needed reminding, we (not me) put together a cracking podcast called Women’s Football Weekly.
If you want the soothing sounds of the voices of Faye Carruthers and Suzanne Wrack, and you promise to be back here for kick-off in 15 minutes, here it is:
A reminder that Man United currently sit top of the table with 41 points from 17 games.
Treble chasing Chelsea are just behind them on 40 points but have a game in hand.
Arsenal have also played a game less than United and are three points back. A win would take them level, but the Red Devils haver a goal difference of +37 while Arsenal’s is +30. For what it’s worth, Chelsea’s goal difference is +28.
Arsenal will also have an eye over the shoulder as they’re level with Manchester City who have played 17 games. Defeat this evening could put their Champions League status at risk.
A bit of formation chat:
United with a back four and two deeper midfielders in Ladd and Zelem. Three midfielders in front of that with Toone, wearing 7, playing the 10 role. Russo up front will come deep to help but lots of work on her plate tonight.
United: 4-2-3-1.
Arsenal have set up with more natural width. Pelova will be a handful down the right if she finds space.
Arsenal 4-3-3.
Updated
It’d be an understatement to say that Arsenal have a difficult few weeks ahead. Their injury list is growing and they face a challenging two-legged Champions League semi-final tie against Wolfsburg.
To make matters worse, the WSL schedule has thrown a spanner in the works. At least according to their manager who isn’t the happiest chap. Does he have a point?
Who said it always rains in the north? Leigh Sports Village looks a picture! And it’s a sell-out.
Not a cloud in sight, just @LSVStadium living in the moment 👌☀️#MUWomen || #WSL pic.twitter.com/4nQv6glCxk
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) April 19, 2023
Updated
As I said, the focus in the build up, as far as Arsenal are concerned, has been on the players missing as much as those wearing the badge tonight.
Kim Little is a big loss and won’t be available for the crucial run-in as the Gunners fight on two fronts:
Arsenal name team with big guns missing
Caitlin Foord doesn’t yet return. Kim Little and Katie McCabe are also absent forcing Jonas Eidevall to shuffle the pack.
Arsenal: Zinsberger, Maritz, Wubben-Moy, Raffaelle, Wienroither, Williamson, Walti, Kuhl, Pelova, Maanum, Blackstenius.
Subs: D’Angelo, Marckese, Beattie, Goldie, Catley, Gio, Taylor, Agyemang.
Team news for United away 💖 pic.twitter.com/FLhHUoKyMt
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) April 19, 2023
Updated
United team news
A couple of changes from Saturday for the table toppers. Aoife Mannion and Nikita Parris are in. Millie Turner and Lucia Garcia make way.
Manchester United: Earps, Batille, Mannion, Blundell, Toone, Zelem (c), Galton, Ladd, Le Tissier, Parris, Russo.
Subs: Baggaley, Riviere, Tounkara, Turner, Boe Risa, Cscarino, Garcia, Thomas, Williams.
🚨 Just in: tonight's all-important team news...
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) April 19, 2023
🔄 Two changes from Saturday as @AoifeMannion_ and @LilKeets come in for @MillieTurner_ and @LuciaGarcia17. #MUWomen || #WSL pic.twitter.com/r4N5CX6nZM
Preamble
Good evening everyone. Did you all enjoy the sunshine today? Feels like summer, doesn’t it? At least it did down in London.
Tell you what though, a storm is brewing. Clouds are gathering in Manchester and I don’t just mean the scheduled rain this weekend.
Manchester United are on a title charge. Top of the log (albeit having a played one game more than the chasing pack), they could become the first new winners of the Women’s Super League since Manchester City were crowned champions back in 2016.
It’s been a remarkable run for a side so often fighting for survival in the long shadow cast by the men’s team but Marc Skinner’s side have been brilliant this campaign.
This, however, will be some test. Arsenal are in the hunt themselves and a win tonight would take them level on points with the Red Devils.
It’s squeaky bum time, as one legendary manager once put it. United have an FA Cup final over the horizon while the Gunners have a couple of dates with Wolfsburg in the Champions League.
But that’s all for another day. It’s first against third in the WSL and it promises to be a belter.
My name is Daniel. You can call me Dan if you like. In fact, you can call me anything as long as you keep it friendly and get in touch over on Twitter or email. Let’s have some fun together.
Kick off at 7:15 BST. Teams and updates to follow.
