Injury-hit Arsenal registered a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Reading to restore their position at the top end of the Women’s Super League table, level on points with both Manchester United and Chelsea.
The Red Devils have nine points after three games with 10 goals scored and none conceded, while the Gunners boast a similar defensive record and the same number of points, but have scored one goal fewer. Second-bottom Reading are yet to register a WSL point this season.
The league’s pacesetters set the tone early on when Stina Blackstenius raced into a face-off with Reading goalkeeper Jacqueline Burns within 48 seconds, but were guilty of spurning a plethora of chances thereafter, which would have made the scoreline far more comfortable for head coach Jonas Eidevall who described the success as ‘edgy’.
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Blackstenius netted the only goal of a wet and windy evening on the half-hour mark thanks to a particularly slick pass from Kim Little, slipping the ball effortlessly into the path of the forward, who swivelled and rifled it past a helpless Burns.
Little then had the chance to make the points safe from the penalty spot in the 60th minute, after Beth Mead’s cross was handled by Lily Woodham, but the Arsenal captain wasted the gift as Burns produced yet another save on her impressive Reading debut.
Player ratings
Reading: Burns (9), Cooper (8), Evans (7), Mukandi (5), Eikeland (6), Primmer (7), Vanhaevermaet (7), Rowe (7), Harries (7), Dowie (6), Woodham (6).
Subs: Bryson (6), Wade (n/a), Wellings (n/a)
Arsenal: Zinsberger (9), McCabe (7), Catley (7), Wubben-Moy (5), Wienroither (7), Walti (7), Little (8), Miedema (7), Foord (7), Mead (6), Blackstenius (8).
Subs: Hurtig (6), Nobbs (6), Maanum (7), Beattie (n/a)
Player of the match: Manuela Zinsberger
Eidevall’s side needed a series of game-saving stops from their own goalkeeper, Manuela Zinsberger, to preserve their clean sheet as Reading sparked into life late on, growing braver and bolder as chances came and went for Emma Harries and Natasha Dowie.
The visitors might have been made to pay when Woodham’s corner came back off the post before a fine reaction save by Zinsberger, who claimed a record-high eighth successive shutout, denied Dowie from close range. Arsenal’s Austrian stopper now also holds the all-time record for WSL clean sheets.
Eidevall pleased with ‘edgy’ win
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Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall:
“We created enough scoring opportunities to score a second. When you only have one goal it’s always going to be a little bit more edgy in the last minutes. I think we controlled it overall.
“No complaints there. We’re happy with the clean sheet, we keep on fighting for it. We had some good spells in build up. Once we got out of their pressure, we had to change gear. We created good situations from that.
“It was nice to see that we could do four substitutions in the second half and keep the quality. That was pleasing to see. All players want to play, that’s how it should be. But we need to keep players on toes, alert. That’s what’s best for the team. It’s my decision, I’m happy to take it.”
Chambers: Gutted not to take something
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Reading head coach Kelly Chambers:
“It’s nice to have come out of a game like this gutted to have not got anything out of it. We said we wanted a performance today – that’s exactly what I got.
“We wanted a performance to build on. We had to put that belief into them. We’ve had two training sessions to prepare for this game. The message at the end is that it can’t just be for one game, we’ve got to continue that now.
“We’re creating chances, that’s the positive thing. Arsenal are expected to win this game. We’ve got to take the positives and build on that performance.”
What’s next?
Arsenal head to France to take on reigning European champions Olympique Lyonnais in the Champions League group stages on October 19, while Reading are next in action against West Ham on October 23.