Report: Arsenal 4 United Women 3

Manchester United have finished the 2024/25 Women’s Super League season in third place after a 4-3 defeat against Arsenal on the competition’s final matchday.

With the FA Cup final still to come and fresh off the back of last weekend’s closely-fought Manchester derby that sealed Champions League qualification, Marc Skinner brought in Melvine Malard, Dominique Janssen and Anna Sandberg.

Jayde Riviere’s injury and Aoife Mannion’s suspension also brought a slight reshuffle, with the boss addressing the lack of natural right-back by opting for a new 3-5-2 system.

With both teams able to finish second ahead of kick-off – and avoid an extra round of European qualifying – early goals for either side from Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone had the game delicately balanced at the half-time interval.

Three quickfire goals from Arsenal early in the second half, as Mariona Caldentey fired in from the penalty spot, followed up by Frida Maanum and Kim Little strikes, did the damage. United rallied impressively, as half-time substitute Elisabeth Terland and skipper Maya Le Tissier, the latter also via a penalty, scored to set up a nervy finish for the hosts. But United, who return to London to face Chelsea in the cup final next Sunday, were unable to make it another magical Emirates comeback.

FIRST HALF

Arsenal quickly took a lead in north London, taking advantage of a super rare Phallon Tullis-Joyce mistake as she spilled a cross and lost sight of the loose ball. Kelly collected it and managed to lift into the net.

With confidence from that swift breakthrough, further Arsenal pressure in the opening stages saw Alessia Russo denied by Tullis-Joyce at the near post and then the ex-United forward heading wide with another half-chance moments later.

Grace Clinton led United’s response, forcing Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger into a top-quality save with a strike from distance that was destined to nestle in the top corner. From the resultant corner, Toone equalised. Le Tissier got first contact and an unmarked Tooney nodded the ball back across goal – Zinsberger got her fingertips on the header but it still dropped into the net.

Kelly’s mishit cross midway through the half landed on top of the net, which would have been a fortuitous way to retake the lead, while the Gunners also went close from Maanum’s low drive in the box, which narrowly flew wide of the post.

Tullis-Joyce comfortably gathered another Maanum shot as the half progressed, after Arsenal had won the ball in United territory, while Celin Bizet went on to clip the bar after a powerful drive down the right and into the box. There was also another Phallon stop to deny Caitlin Foord before the break.

But after what felt like 45 hard minutes in the capital that fittingly demonstrated what was at stake, there was nothing to separate sides at the half-time whistle.

SECOND HALF

Arsenal retook the lead within five minutes of the game getting back under way. When Foord tumbled over Clinton’s outstretched leg as the pair battled for the ball in the box, referee Melissa Burgin pointed to the spot, and Caldentey’s stuttered run-up sufficiently deceived Tullis-Joyce.

The Gunners soon doubled that advantage as Maanum got behind Le Tissier, found by Katie McCabe’s measured through ball. The Norwegian, having squandered earlier chances, this time stroked it carefully into the far bottom corner. Quickly after, United then survived penalty appeals from Arsenal players and fans alike, with Burgin not interested in pointing to the spot for a second time. But with McCabe heading the ball onto Bizet’s arm, it would have felt harsh.

Arsenal continued to look dangerous each time they came forward and Little grabbed their fourth just after the hour mark. She latched onto Kelly’s pass into the box and delivered a powerful low strike across goal. But if it looked like the game was done at 4-1, United had other ideas.

Terland’s 10th WSL goal of the season with 20 minutes to play gave Skinner’s side a glimmer of hope. Teri herself picked off a poor Arsenal pass and received a stroke of fortune when a deflection took the subsequent strike beyond the reach of Zinsberger.

Remarkably, the deficit was then reduced to just one goal only six minutes later, and with 14 plus stoppage time remaining, after Le Tissier coolly converted from the penalty spot. McCabe clattered into Bizet in the box, who had shaped to shoot but cleverly feinted to move past the Arsenal defender, with McCabe’s momentum resulting in the collision and foul.

Melvine Malard was flagged offside as she put a would-be equaliser into Zinsberger’s net soon afterwards, but Arsenal were able to stem the flow of attacks and ultimately see off any United momentum that was building.

MATCH DETAILS

Arsenal: Zinsberger; Fox (Codina 90+7), Williamson, Catley, McCabe (Wubben-Moy 89); Maanum (Walti 72), Little (c), Caldentey (Blackstenius 89); Kelly (Mead 72), Russo, Foord.

Subs not used: Williams, Nighswonger, Cooney-Cross, Pelova.

Goals: Kelly 2, Caldentey (pen) 50, Maanum 56, Little 61.

Booked: Walti, Mead.

United: Tullis-Joyce; Le Tissier (c), Turner, Janssen; Bizet, Toone (Naalsund 71), Miyazawa (Awujo 89), Clinton, Sandberg (Terland 46); Malard, Galton.

Subs not used: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, George, Hill, Griffiths.

Goals: Toone 13, Terland 70, Le Tissier (pen) 76.

Booked: Miyazawa.

Attendance: 46,603.

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