Manchester United made a huge statement in the WSL title race and top three battle with a 1-0 win over Arsenal at Leigh Sports Village on Wednesday night.
Alessia Russo scored the only goal of the game in the closing stages of the first half to complete a league double over the team that tried to sign her for a world record fee in January. The Gunners also had the double blow of losing Leah Williamson to a potentially serious injury early on.
United made a bright start as they looked to banish any demons from their first half performance against Brighton at the weekend. In the early stages, Leah Galton landed a cross that threatened to be awkward for Manuela Zinsberger on the roof of the net, while Russo shot wide.
Williamson’s withdrawal in the early stages forced Arsenal into a reshuffle, with the stricken England captain replaced by Brazilian forward Gio.
Neither team really had their radar tuned in when it came to making clear chances and travelling Gunners fans had their hearts in their mouths when Frida Maanum was left receiving lengthy treatment with barely more than half an hour gone – she managed to soldier on.
The game had become physical with a few heavy tackles flying in, but United turned up the pressure as half-time neared with a Katie Zelem free-kick causing worry in the Arsenal defence. That was a warning sign because it was only moments later that Russo’s clinical first-time finish broke the deadlock, latching onto a smart cutback from Nikita Parris from the right.
Russo almost doubled United’s lead right after the interval, again connecting with Parris. But this time it was a top drawer save from Zinsberger. Straight up the other end, Arsenal ought to have done more with a breakaway that petered out with a weak Stina Blackstenius shot.
Blackstenius made better contact with another chance in the penalty towards the hour mark, but Aoife Mannion threw herself in front of the ball to block.
It played out more as a war of attrition as the second half progressed. United dug in hard to try and keep hold of the lead and defended resolutely. With the minutes ticking by, Arsenal upped the pressure but never truly threatened – the final ball was too often lacking.
A Maanum free-kick that flew over the top and a volley from Zinsberger, up at a corner at the very end, were the closest that the Gunners really came to finding an equaliser.
Man Utd player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Mary Earps - 7/10 - Commanded the penalty area well when high balls came in.
RB: Ona Batlle - 8/10 - Set her stall out early by dominating her flank. Often lauded for her assists, but completely shut Arsenal down on that side of the pitch.
CB: Maya Le Tissier - 7/10 - The day after her 21st birthday and continues to rise to the challenge.
CB: Aoife Mannion - 9/10 - First WSL start since returning from an ACL injury. Made a huge block in the second half and never showed signs of waning.
LB: Hannah Blundell - 7/10 - Took a heavy knock in the first half but managed to shake it off.
CM: Katie Zelem (c) - 7/10 - Calm on the ball and prepared to get stuck in too.
CM: Hayley Ladd - 7/10 - Combative in the destructive role but is getting better in the box-to-box transition as well.
AM: Ella Toone - 6/10 - Put in the hard yards off the ball without making much impact with it.
RW: Nikita Parris - 7/10 - Worked effectively in tandem with Russo and created a couple of good chances for the striker, including the first half goal.
ST: Alessia Russo - 8/10 - Did her usual work running the channels, coming deep and trying to stretch and wear down the Arsenal defence. Broke the deadlock and could have had another.
LW: Leah Galton - 5/10 - Quiet game by her usual standards.
Substitutes
SUB: Rachel Williams (72' for Russo) - 6/10
SUB: Martha Thomas (88' for Parris) - N/A
SUB: Millie Turner (88' for Toone) - N/A
Manager
Marc Skinner - 8/10 - Brought Parris back into the team and was vindicated for that decision. Also took the opportunity to make sure Russo is as rested as possible for the season run-in.
Arsenal player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Manuela Zinsberger - 7/10 - Made a vital save to keep it at 1-0 just after half-time.
RB: Laura Wienroither - 5/10 - Off at half-time after a difficult first half.
CB: Lotte Wubben-Moy - 7/10 - Made an important header late in the first half and was good on the cover. Also often looked to pass the ball forwards.
CB: Rafaelle - 7/10 - Saw plenty of the ball in possession and managed to limit United to few clear chances of the course of 90 minutes.
LB: Noelle Maritz - 5/10 - Showed her versatility but left for dead by Parris in the key moment.
CM: Leah Williamson (c) - N/A - Had to be subbed off with a concerning injury in the early stages.
CM: Lia Walti - 5/10 - Struggled to put a real stamp on the game.
CM: Frida Maanum - 7/10 - Initially looked the most likely Arsenal player to make something happen with her drive and energy. But had lengthy injury treatment and later faded a little.
RW: Victoria Pelova - 6/10 - Worked really hard off the ball to track Galton, but lacked end product of her own when she had the ball in good positions.
ST: Stina Blackstenius - 5/10 - Led the Arsenal press but lacked quality when it mattered.
LW: Kathrine Kuhl - 4/10 - Didn't much threaten and didn't return after the break.
Substitutes
SUB: Gio Queiroz (15' for Williamson) - 4/10
SUB: Steph Catley (46' for Kuhl) - 6/10
SUB: Jen Beattie (46' for Wienroither) - 7/10
SUB: Jodie Taylor (73' for Gio) - 5/10
Manager
Jonas Eidevall - 6/10 - Forced into the early change and then made two more at half-time to try and get some more experience onto the pitch. His hands are increasingly tied by the number of important players unavailable.
