The Lionesses star came to the Gunners' rescue with a late leveller against Gareth Taylor's side at the Emirates Stadium
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall will be serving up a double dose of finishing drills in training this week. Against Manchester City on Sunday, creating chances wasn't a problem. However, big misses from Stina Blackstenius and Alessia Russo meant they went away with one point, not three, from their Women's Super League opener.
Frida Maanum gave the hosts the lead inside eight minutes, placing an effort into the top corner after Caitlin Foord's cross ricocheted off Blackstenius and into her path. The Gunners went on to enjoy the better of the opening 45 minutes, with Blackstenius missing two good chances to double their lead, but they were dealt a hammer-blow when Vivianne Miedema – released this summer in acrimonious circumstances – came back to haunt them. The all-time leading WSL goal-scorer struck a deflected effort past the stricken Manuela Zinsberger, ensuring the two sides went down the tunnel on level terms.
Arsenal thought they had restored their lead just seconds after the restart, but Caitlin Foord's close-range finish was chalked off for a contentious offside. Jess Park soon rubbed salt in the Gunners' wounds too, putting City 2-1 up with a looping effort that kissed the bar on its way in.
After Russo had missed a golden chance to equalise, fellow substitute Beth Mead did make the net bulge. Reacting quickest to Rosa Kafaji's shot cannoning off the woodwork, the England international tapped home to earn her side a point.
Below, GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the Emirates Stadium…
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence
Manuela Zinsberger (5/10):
Left with little chance for the first goal, but seemed rather slow to react to Park's strike. Did make a few decent second-half stops.
Emily Fox (7/10):
Combined with Foord to lethal effect, particularly in the first half.
Lotte Wubben-Moy (6/10):
Dominated her aerial and ground duels. One or two sloppy passes early on.
Laia Codina (6/10):
Composed in possession. Marking became a little slack when City were in the ascendency after the interval, but made a huge clearance in second-half stoppage-time.
Katie McCabe (8/10):
Prevented a first-half equaliser with an outstanding recovery block and generally defended superbly. Such an intense display.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield
Kim Little (7/10):
Involved in some of Arsenal's better link-up play, and rarely gave the ball away.
Kyra Cooney-Cross (6/10):
A couple of hairy moments in possession, but this was a promising display from the Aussie on a rare WSL start.
Frida Leonhardsen Maanum (7/10):
Took her opener extremely well. Played some decent, probing passes beyond the City back four.
Getty Images SportAttack
Caitlin Foord (7/10):
Created Maanum's goal with a fine run and cross. Might have had one herself, with a narrow offside call depriving her.
Stina Blackstenius (6/10):
Caused the City defence countless problems with her physicality and runs in behind. Finishing was really disappointing.
Mariona Caldentey (7/10):
Such a clever player. Found space with relative ease, but the end product wasn't quite there.
Getty Images SportSubs & Manager
Beth Mead (6/10):
Came to her side's rescue from the bench.
Alessia Russo (4/10):
Made a real pig's ear of a one-on-one that would have levelled things up. Decent energy.
Lia Walti (6/10):
Kept things ticking along.
Rosa Kafaji (7/10):
Set up Mead in slightly strange circumstances for the second-half equaliser. Very lively.
Jonas Eidevall (7/10):
Did not get the three points, but he set his players up pretty well all things considered. Instructing his side to get the ball forward quickly worked to great effect for the most part. Blackstenius was the right choice up front too – even if she couldn't score.