Debut for Diane Caldwell, red for Katie McCabe as Arsenal and United draw

Arsenal looked to be staring at defeat when 1-0 down and seeing McCabe sent off with just 15 minutes remaining

BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Katie McCabe of Arsenal is sent off during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Arsenal Women and Manchester United Women at Meadow Park on February 05, 2022 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Arsenal had to come back from a goal down against a capable Manchester United side to secure a vital point in the WSL title race. They could have had all three but it was the return of familiar failings in their defence that denied them the chance to really put some distance between themselves and their closest challengers, Chelsea.

Republic of Ireland international Diane Caldwell got her first start for United, having joined in the transfer window. While the hosts were missing two first-choice defenders in Leah Williamson and Lotte Wubben-Moy, with Jen Beattie and Steph Catley replacing them in a rigid back four. Both found it difficult to stifle United’s interchangeable front three, and it seemed as if the United manager Marc Skinner had planned it that way, with his team set up in a 4-3-2-1. There was an obvious target in all this: Katie McCabe, who was facing Alessia Russo on the left flank.

With the United forwards’ darting runs causing problems on the counter, midfielders Jordan Nobbs and Tobin Heath were often having to track back out of position to help McCabe. The combination marking, however, was not enough to prevent Russo popping up to score with a header from Katie Zelem’s corner after 10 minutes to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

Confusion in the Arsenal defence continued and it seemed likely that Russo would add to her tally. There was no reprieve on the attack either for the hosts. Though Arsenal were working to create opportunities, United’s high press effectively cut out spaces for their runs.

Vivianne Miedema changed the pattern with a moment of magic. The forward made her trademark run down the middle of the United defence but her fierce shot rattled the bar. It was exactly what Arsenal needed to breathe some life into their attack. Where Heath and Beth Mead had cut lonely figures in what should have been quite an attacking 4-3-3, they were now making frequent runs into the United box.

The response from Arsenal at the break was to replace Heath with Caitlin Foord. The Australian international slotted in a slightly more central position, perhaps to facilitate the defensive midfield as much as the attack. It was an approach that yielded results, providing more stability in the middle, giving the wide forwards Mead and Miedema some more space to operate in. The latter was really coming to life after moving from the centre to the left wing.

Eidevall then shifted from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2. That meant Lia Wälti was back in defence and Kim Little pushed up higher into the attack. The impact was immediate, resulting in one of Arsenal’s best chances of the game. It was Mead who made a swashbuckling run from midfield, delivering a fierce cross that was met by Foord’s left-footed volley, only narrowly parried away by Mary Earps.

Arsenal’s second wind wasn’t without its risks. United really should have made it 2-0 halfway through the second half when Ella Toone latched on to a stray pass from Nobbs. She was through on goal but uncharacteristically her strike flashed past the post into the side-netting, a miss that would come back to haunt her.

Arsenal’s Katie McCabe was shown a second yellow for a tackle on Ona Battle and as they had already made all their three substitutions the only option looked to be to double up in midfield and abandon their high press. In typical Eidevall style Arsenal did the opposite, and it was the substitute Blackstenius who blazed through to slot the ball past Earps, levelling the game against the run of play with 11 minutes remaining.

Both teams were able to hold on through seven minutes of added time and the points were shared. Arsenal will be the more disappointed of the sides, both at their defensive failings and at what this might mean for their hold on top spot in the league. Eidevall and his side will hope a resurgent Manchester City can beat Chelsea on Sunday.

Guardian