Key events
90 min + 3: Tullis-Joyce clutches on gratefully after a Williamson header at goal.
90 min + 2: United have shown far more adventure and endeavour since scoring – but don’t write off Arsenal. They’ve got themselves a corner.
It’s a record LSV attendance of 8,348 for this game, the PA have just announced.
Six minutes of added time. Nice.
89 min: United will actually feel they can nick all three points. Another corner from the right is swung in by George but Van Domselaar claims this one well under pressure.
88 min: McCabe is lucky not to be sent off! She should really have picked up two yellow cards in quick succession, the first for a foul and then for some afters with Geyse – she kicked the ball away in that fracas too. Tetchy stuff.
86 min: Arsenal have to put their hurt pride behind them and find another goal from somewhere. They’re pushing forward again.
It would help to have Russo still on the pitch right about now, wouldn’t it?
84 min: This would be a robbery, let me tell you. But United won’t care.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal (Malard, 82)
They can! Would you believe it? It’s flicked home Malard from the corner!
In classic Manchester United fashion, the two substitutes combine from the corner, with Williams rising to get the first header and Malard flicking it in with the top of her head past a helpless goalkeeper. Incredible.
82 min: Geyse wins United a corner. They couldn’t… could they?
81 min: United are at least getting up the pitch a little now, helped by the hold-up play and physicality of Malard, as well as Le Tissier’s drive.
80 min: There’s a furrowed brow from Leah Williamson and some complaints from the Arsenal coaching staff following a hefty challenge from Williams. Williamson ended up flying into the dugout after that.
78 min: Terland and Bizet are replaced by Geyse and Rachel Williams.
And there’s a mixed reception from the United fans as Russo is replaced for Arsenal by Blackstenius. I must say I find that change odd. Russo has been the best player on the pitch.
77 min: The crowd aren’t happy after a rare United foray forward is halted in its tracks by a challenge on Terland. There’s very little for the hosts to cheer about.
Skinner is readying Geyse on the bench.
75 min: Someone tell United they actually need a goal. They’re still sitting so deep.
73 min: It’s the Arsenal fans who are making themselves heard at LSV. “Meado!” they chant, serenading the England star after a nifty turn.
72 min: Arsenal work it brilliantly from back to front, with Fox continuing to make the kind of sniping out-to-in runs that have troubled United all afternoon. Williamson has been a Rolls Royce bringing the ball out from the back.
70 min: Very little has changed since the goal. It’s still endless Arsenal pressure with United just about hanging on defensively.
The goal that separates the two sides:
66 min: Marc Skinner looks pensive in the United dugout and well he might. His team just haven’t had the answers to Arsenal today.
65 min: United are fortunate, in a sense, that the goal has come with time left on the clock. They’ll still believe they can forge a way back into the game.
GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal (Russo, 63)
It had to be her! Alessia Russo finally gets her goal – although she doesn’t celebrate very much, just a smile and a nod.
It was another flowing Arsenal move, with a superb cut-back by Fox, who had picked up Caldentey’s ball in space, with Russo stroking it home from close-range.
Understatement of the day:
Ella Toone doesn’t look very happy about that
— The Busby Babe (@TheBusbyBabe) November 3, 2024
61 min: United need to change things, so Skinner is bringing on Riviere and Malard.
That’s another underwhelming display from Ella Toone, who is going off with a face like thunder. Mannion also trudges off.
60 min: Le Tissier gives it away cheaply but then doggedly wins it back to keep her side level. Fair play to her.
59 min: McCabe sends it in left footed and Arsenal keep it alive, piling on the pressure now with United camped inside their own 18-yard area.
It just never stops. All hands on deck.
57 min: Turner is booked for a blatant shirt-tug on Russo, who was steaming down the right and into the box. Can Arsenal capitalise with this set-piece opportunity?
55 min: Walti unleashes a powerful left-footed pile-driver which is not far away at all. Arsenal are getting closer.
54 min: McCabe’s cute backheel sets away Foord, racing down the left flank. United don’t fully clear it and are right under the cosh here.
52 min: Mead, wearing No 9 on her back but playing as a scheming inside-right forward, has already made an impact off the bench. I don’t think Maanum was playing particularly poorly but it just shows the quality in this Arsenal squad.
50 min: That’s Russo’s fourth or possibly fifth effort of the game, this time heading straight at Tullis-Joyce. She coud have got more power on that.
49 min: There’s just no rest for United here. Every time they win it back, they’re met with a vicious press. Arsenal have started the second half with intent.
47 min: Slick stuff again from Arsenal, a neat move which ends with Russo spinning and shooting just wide. Her miss is greeted with ironic United cheers.
Second half: What does the next 45 minutes have in store?
The United fans at LSV will be desperate for more attacking fluency from their side, with Ella Toone particularly disappointing in that first half. Her old mucker Alessia Russo has been Arsenal’s, and arguably the game’s most threatening player.
Both teams have introduced half-time substitutes, with Simi Awujo coming on for United and Beth Mead for Arsenal. The home team have taken off Naaslund while Maanum is sacrificed for the visitors. Interesting.
This could be tasty.
A reminder of today’s full fixture list with plenty more action to enjoy.
HALF TIME
0-0 at the break. United’s defence has held out.
Arsenal will be bemused that they’ve not found a way through, albeit Tullis-Joyce hasn’t made a serious save of note. United need to far more in forward areas to trouble the Gunners’ goal.
45 min: Arsenal are asking lots of questions – and one of those is of referee Kirsty Dowle, with McCabe adamant she was pulled back in the box.
43 min: The chances have dried up ever since I wrote that the game needs a goal. Sorry.
40 min: Le Tissier has been waving her arms around in defence, trying to direct her players with United struggling to play through Arsenal right now.
