Renee Slegeers' side twice threw away leads before finally coming out on top in the battle between two of the WSL's top four
Arsenal climbed into the Women's Super League's top three as they beat Champions League qualification rivals Manchester City 4-3 in a thriller on Sunday.
The Gunners made the perfect start as Mariona Caldentey opened the scoring after just 42 seconds having robbed Laia Aleixandri on the edge of the City box. Lotte Wubben-Moy then doubled the visitors' lead seven minutes later as she headed in at the back post from a free-kick.
City battled back after their shocking start, however, as Mary Fowler nodded in Aoba Fujino's cross midway through the first half, before Vivianne Miedema came back to haunt her former club as she equalised after Mariona lost possession inside her own penalty area.
If Arsenal were disappointed by being pegged back, they didn't show it, as Frida Maanum immediately put them back in front after a fine through-ball from Mariona. However, that lead was short-lived, as Steph Catley was adjudged to have pulled back Fujino, and though the foul took place outside the box, a penalty was awarded which Fowler converted.
From there, both sides pushed for a winner, but it was Arsenal who got it, as Stina Blackstenius made up for some earlier missed chances by latching onto Beth Mead's cross and sliding a finish past Khiara Keating.
GOAL rates Arsenal's players from The Joie Stadium…
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Daphne van Domselaar (6/10):
Perhaps could have come to claim Fujino's cross that led to Fowler's first goal, but had no chance with City's subsequent strikes while she made a fine save to deny Hasegawa.
Emily Fox (5/10):
Not strong enough as Fowler beat her to the ball at the back post to make it 2-1. Had a couple of good moments in possession when bringing the ball forward, but couldn't combine well enough with Mead ahead of her.
Leah Williamson (7/10):
A couple of weak clearances apart, was solid at the heart of the Gunners' backline.
Lotte Wubben-Moy (9/10):
Showed bravery to make it 2-0 with a bullet header, and stepped out of defence on multiple occasions to break up play. Won countless headers in her own box, too, on what was a fine return to the line up for the England defender.
Steph Catley (4/10):
Moved out to left-back to cover for the suspended McCabe but struggled to deal with Fujino's direct dribbling. Unlucky to concede a penalty from a foul outside the box, but the action showed up her failure to defend against City's flying Japanese winger.
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Kyra Cooney-Cross (7/10):
Superb in tight spaces while her passing was outrageous at times. Superb set-piece delivery provided the assist for Wubben-Moy's goal.
Frida Maanum (7/10):
Showed great composure to make it 3-2 and was always a threat behind the front three. Spread the ball well, too.
Mariona Caldentey (6/10):
What a mixed afternoon! Gave the Gunners the perfect start, but then largely disappeared from the game until she was caught out on the edge of her own box, which allowed Miedema to equalise. Responded well, though, with her fine through-ball assisting Maanum's goal, while another pass should have been finished off by Blackstenius. On the whole, a game of moments rather than one she dominated.
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Beth Mead (6/10):
Couldn't get into the game for long periods, but stepped up when her team needed her to provide the cross for Blackstenius' winner.
Stina Blackstenius (5/10):
Could – and potentially should – have had four goals on the day, as the Swede wasted three one-on-one opportunities before finally netting the winner after latching onto Mead's low ball across the penalty area.
Alessia Russo (5/10):
Started brightly, but Arsenal couldn't get her in the game enough down the left. Ended up doing a lot of chasing back to try keep Fujino quiet, but struggled in that regard.
Subs & Manager
Lia Walti (6/10):
Replaced Cooney-Cross for the final quarter of the game.
Rosa Kafaji (N/A):
On for the final few minutes.
Amanda Ilestedt (N/A):
Thrown on in stoppage-time.
Renee Slegers (6/10):
Her attacking set-up paid dividends early on, but the Gunners gave up a lot of control in midfield despite their talented trio. In the end, that her forward line was more high-powered than City's won the day.
