Live Blog: Final game of the WSL season as Arsenal Women host Manchester United

The Gunners must avoid defeat to secure second place




Live BLog Saturday May 10th

Please stand-by, this page will automatically update with live commentary and comments

  1. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:28 #7434

    Full time: Arsenal 4-3 Manchester United!

  2. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:27 #7433

    90+7' Codina returns from injury to replace Fox. 4-3

  3. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:26 #7432

    90+6' Russo marauds down the right wing to destination corner flag, holding the ball up as Fox keeps possession. 4-3

  4. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:23 #7431

    90+3' Terland breaks in behind down the left and Zinsberger claims well, fouled by Malard. 4-3

  5. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:21 #7430

    90+1' Seven added minutes. 4-3

  6. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:20 #7429

    89' Another change for the visitors as Awujo replaces Miyazawa in midfield. 4-3

  7. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:18 #7428

    88' Blackstenius and Wubben-Moy come on for Mariona and McCabe- Catley moves to left-back. 4-3

  8. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:17 #7427

    87' Kelly is the Arsenal Women Supporters Club Player of the Match. Blackstenius will come on shortly. 4-3

  9. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:15 #7426

    85' Russo heads wide from Mariona's well-weighted cross, and her effort took a deflection behind. 4-3

  10. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:14 #7425

    84' Arsenal finally break forward and Mead's shot is blocked. 46,603 is the official attendance figure. 4-3

  11. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:12 #7424

    82' Walti is booked for pulling back Bizet, who has been involved everywhere today. 4-3

  12. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:09 #7423

    79' Finally a booking as Miyazawa goes through the back of McCabe. 4-3

  13. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:08 #7422

    77' The flag is up against Malard and she continues to run with the ball and then shoots past Zinsberger. No yellow card for kicking the ball away. Intriguing. 4-3

  14. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:06 #7421

    76' Le Tissier vs Zinsberger, and the goalkeeper is sent the wrong way! 4-3

  15. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:06 #7420

    76' United penalty! McCabe with no complaints whatsoever as she fouls Bizet. 4-2

  16. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:05 #7419

    75' Arsenal Women's last 4 games have involved 24 goals and there's still about 20 minutes left here! 4-2

  17. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:03 #7418

    73' Toone's afternoon is also done as she is replaced by Naalsund. 4-2

  18. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:02 #7417

    71' Mead and Walti replace Kelly and Maanum. 4-2

  19. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:01 #7416

    70' Goal! Sloppy from McCabe whose pass out from the back is straight to Terland, and her shot takes a big deflection past Zinsberger, who again got a palm to it. 4-2

  20. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 14:00 #7415

    70' Walti and Mead will come on shortly. 4-1

  21. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:58 #7414

    68' Toone swings in a free kick from a narrow angle and it's over the head of everyone in the penalty area. 4-1

  22. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:56 #7413

    66' This is now Arsenal Women's highest goalscoring WSL season since 2021/22. 4-1

  23. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:54 #7412

    64' I've talked so much this season about scoring quickfire goals under Renée Slegers- and that's 3 in 11 minutes here! 4-1

  24. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:52 #7411

    61' Goal!!! There may not be a more popular goalscorer- captain Kim Little buries a shot into the far corner after being teed up by Frida Maanum, and Arsenal are running away with it! 4-1

  25. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:52 #7410

    61' Arsenal have now scored at least 3 goals in their last 8 WSL home games. 3-1

  26. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:50 #7409

    60' Arsenal are all over United here as Foord picks up possession in the box but can't get much of a shot away. 3-1

  27. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:49 #7408

    58' Good work from Little to cut the ball back to McCabe before the referee misses an absolute stonewall handball against Celin Bizet in the penalty area- Arsenal are rightly fuming. 3-1

  28. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:47 #7407

    56' Goal! Lovely move from Arsenal as McCabe threads a low ball into the box which Maanum curls into the far corner. Exquisite. 3-1

  29. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:43 #7406

    53' Mariona hit the post from the spot against Liverpool in December but I think she's scored every penalty since- incredibly calm from 12 yards. 2-1

  30. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:41 #7405

    50' Goal! Mariona steps up and sends Tullis-Joyce the wrong way from the spot as Arsenal regain their lead! 2-1

  31. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:39 #7404

    48' Foord wins Arsenal a penalty after she's dragged down in the box by Clinton! Soft, but enough contact. 1-1

  32. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:35 #7403

    46' The second half is underway! 1-1

  33. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:35 #7402

    Elisabeth Terland comes on at half time for United, replacing Anna Sandberg.

  34. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:33 #7401

    The teams are back out for the second half.

  35. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:32 #7400

    Probably a fair scoreline with Arsenal just shading the first half- Kelly’s early goal cancelled out by Toone. As things stand, Arsenal will seal second place, and they’ve offered more in attack so far.

  36. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:19 #7399

    Half time: Arsenal 1-1 Man United.

  37. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:17 #7398

    45+2' Mariona plays through Foord and she draws a good save from Tullis-Joyce at the near post! 1-1

  38. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:16 #7397

    45+1' Three added minutes. 1-1

  39. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:14 #7396

    44' Chance! Russo on the charge is pulled back by Turner, and her low cross is put behind by Janssen for a corner. 1-1

  40. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:14 #7395

    43' Bizet bursts past McCabe into the box and her dinked cross hits the top of the crossbar and bounces onto the roof of the net. 1-1

  41. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:12 #7394

    41' Russo stretches to reach Kelly's cross but Turner defends well. She then gets a head to Williamson's delivery but the flag is up. 1-1

  42. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:09 #7393

    39' Malard with an acrobatic effort over the crossbar on the volley. 1-1

  43. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:09 #7392

    38' Little drives forward and picks out Maanum in the right side of the box and she goes for goal first time- just not enough power to really test Tullis-Joyce. Could have had a touch too. 1-1

  44. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:04 #7391

    34' Good delivery by Kelly cutting inside from the right, attacked by Russo but she is penalised for a high foot. 1-1

  45. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:04 #7390

    34' Kelly wins a corner as her cross is blocked behind by former Arsenal defender Janssen. McCabe sends in a low delivery that United deal with before Fox's follow-up cross is headed away. 1-1

  46. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:01 #7389

    31' Lovely ball from Williamson through the lines and McCabe is brought down in midfield. 1-1

  47. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 13:00 #7388

    29' A bit flat and scrappy with the midfield very congested. Good defending by Janssen up against Russo as she looked to turn past her into the box before Maanum curls an effort wide from 10 yards out! 1-1

  48. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:58 #7387

    27' The Norwegian will be able to continue after both teams take a drinks break. 1-1

  49. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:55 #7386

    26' Bizet is down receiving treatment after a tussle between Malard and Fox which the referee took pity on the Arsenal right-back. 1-1

  50. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:53 #7385

    23' Mariona battles with three United players to keep the ball before Russo scraps with Janssen. Foord was there at the far post but United defend well to head away. 1-1

  51. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:51 #7384

    21' Kelly with the trademark Beth Mead cross-shot onto the roof of the net after Russo broke forward. 1-1

  52. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:49 #7383

    19' A lull in the game with United recovering well after Arsenal's rapid start. 1-1

  53. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:46 #7382

    15' Zinsberger then has to rush off her line to clear with Galton racing through. The Arsenal fans are really rallying behind their second choice goalkeeper after two difficult games. 1-1

  54. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:44 #7381

    13' Goal! Ella Toone equalises, heading home from a corner. Zinsberger got a hand on it but couldn’t do enough. 1-1

  55. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:43 #7380

    13' Superb save from Zinsberger to prevent Clinton's strike from range picking out the top corner- outstanding stop! 1-0

  56. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:38 #7379

    9' Looks like a back three for Man United with Sandberg and Bizet the wing-backs- Arsenal's wingers have found joy in behind both of them in the early stages. 1-0

  57. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:38 #7378

    8' Close again! Great work from Fox and her cross is headed wide by Russo. 1-0

  58. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:37 #7377

    6' Foord drives into the box and had Kelly screaming for the ball at the back post but she went for goal, with Tullis-Joyce saving down low. 1-0

  59. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:35 #7376

    4' United respond as Galton heads back across goal and Zinsberger claims well under pressure from Clinton, who just left a bit in there to send the goalkeeper down. 1-0

  60. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:34 #7375

    2' Kelly puts Arsenal in front inside two minutes after an uncharacteristic error from Tullis-Joyce in goal! She spills the cross and it's a clever chipped finish from Kelly to give Arsenal the perfect start! 1-0

  61. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:30 #7374

    1' Underway for the final time this WSL season! 0-0

  62. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:29 #7373

    Arsenal are in this season's red and white kit- no sign of next year's number yet! Dark blue for Man United.

  63. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:27 #7372

    "Only in the land" reads the Arsenal flag on the opposite side of the pitch, referring to 2007's European success. Can they do it again in Lisbon?

  64. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:24 #7371

    Here come the teams for the final game of the WSL season!

  65. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:22 #7370

    I believe over 45,000 tickets have been sold for today's game.

  66. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:21 #7369

    The biggest question for Arsenal: can they patch up their leaky defence? Nine goals conceded in two games to mid table opposition will have Barcelona licking their lips, and surely Man United too.

  67. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:20 #7368

    Today, Renee Slegers' side need just a point to seal second, with defeat to Manchester United allowing Marc Skinner's outfit to leapfrog the Gunners.

  68. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:19 #7367

    So Arsenal have passed up two opportunities to seal second place, and a more favourable path to next season's Champions League group stage, losing 5-2 and 4-2 to Aston Villa and Brighton away from home.

  69. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:15 #7366

    And pitchside, Mariona Caldentey has been awarded the Arsenal Women Supporters Club Player of the Season award.

  70. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:12 #7365

    Laia Codina is back in the Arsenal squad, replacing Amanda Ilestedt on the bench. Frida Maanum makes her 150th Arsenal appearance.

  71. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:09 #7364

    The news for United is that Aofie Mannion is suspended after her red card in the Manchester derby, so Maya Le Tissier starts at right back. Melvine Malard is preferred to Elisabeth Terland upfront.

  72. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:08 #7363

    One change from Bank Holiday Monday's 4-2 defeat to Brighton as Chloe Kelly replaces Beth Mead.

  73. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:02 #7362

    Subs: Awujo, Naalsund, George, Griffiths, Hill, Middleton-Patel, Rendell, Terland.

  74. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:01 #7361

    Man United: Tullis-Joyce; Sandberg, Turner, Janssen, Le Tissier; Clinton, Miyazawa; Galton, Toone, Bizet; Malard.

  75. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:00 #7360

    Subs: Williams, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Nighswonger, Walti, Cooney-Cross, Pelova, Mead, Blackstenius.

  76. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 12:00 #7359

    Arsenal: Zinsberger; McCabe, Catley, Williamson, Fox; Little, Mariona; Foord, Maanum, Kelly; Russo.

  77. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 11:59 #7358

    Team news is in, with little in the way of surprise in the Arsenal lineup.

  78. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 11:58 #7357

    It's lunchtime kick-offs across the board for the synchronised final day, and this one is the only with anything left to play for. Arsenal must draw or beat Manchester United to seal second place, which means one less round of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

  79. Freddie Cardy at Emirates Stadium: 11:55 #7356

    Good morning and welcome to the Emirates Stadium for the final Arsenal Women game of the season (I'm not counting the Champions League final, fyi).


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