Thanks for your company. Here is Suzanne Wrack’s report.
Cushing: “Another game where we didn’t really create anything clear.
“I don’t think they were playing at the level they can.”
The City manager adds that he has to get back onto the training ground where they can put things right.
Montemurro: “This is a difficult league and it’s a marathon and you have to come up with all different styles and ways.
“I think the collective will when we didn’t have the ball was very good, we knew our roles, there was a lot of sacrificing. They are a very good team will fine pockets but we stopped them.”
Here is the only goal of the game ...
Big games are made for big players 👊
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 27, 2019
Last season's @BarclaysFAWSL topscorer Vivianne Miedema provides the breakthrough as Arsenal lead Man City at the break. pic.twitter.com/mlgUNqM1bz
Walti says it was a tough game and it is very important to bounce back from the loss to Chelsea. She then receives the player of the match report.
Full-time: Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City
Arsenal were just more efficient on the day as it was certainly not a classic. Miedema took the best chance of the game, while City failed to create a decent opportunity throughout. City’s perfect record has ended and they will need to improve if they are to beat Atletico Madrid in midweek, that’s for sure.
90+2 mins: Miedema takes the ball off Houghton and runs through on goal before laying it off to Nobbs in acres of space but she uncharacteristically drags her shot wide from 12 yards out. City then go down the other end and win a corner. Stanway sends it into the box but Houghton is adjudged to have fouled the ‘keeper.
90 mins: Campbell tries to run the ball out from defence but takes a bad touch and is dispossessed, allowing Arsenal to run the ball into the corner to waste time.
Five minutes added on.
88 mins: City are finally showing some level on intent, which is refreshing. Hemp forces her way into the box and goes down under pressure but there is no suggestion it’s a penalty.
86 mins: White finally gets involved, latching onto a ball in the channel and taking it into the box where Bremer picks up the pieces and eventually earns a corner. Despite a couple of good crosses into the box, Arsenal hold on and clear it.
84 mins: Evans pulls the back to Nobbs on the edge of the box who whacks a first-time shot which hits Campbell on the side. Nobbs is inexplicably convinced it is a handball and gives the referee her view but nothing is happening as it’s not handball in a million years.
82 mins: Ellen White has been on for almost 20 minutes and is yet to have a touch of the ball. City have been dreadful going forward, they have just never played at a sufficient tempo to trouble Arsenal.
80 mins: Mead pings a corner to the back post via the head of Houghton but Miedema controls the cross with her hand and is belatedly penalised. Mead is then cleaned out by Bonner when trying to turn the City defender, who is rightly cautioned.
78 mins: Arsenal a cross into the box but it is headed away once more.
76 mins: A flowing move from Arsenal sees McCabe flick the ball through to Nobbs who looks level and then fires a low shot at goal but Roebuck gets down to it and holds on.
74 mins: Little lifts the ball into the area and Nobbs volleys first time, the contact is not perfect and her effort loops wide.
An answer to my white ball question ...
@Will_Unwin Q: “Neither goalkeeper has been tested in this game so far. The clocks have gone back but thy are still using a white ball in this match, rather than the wintry yellow one, which is now operating in the Premier League. Why is this?”
— ItsaTrap (@trap_itsa) October 27, 2019
A: Climate Change
72 mins: Scott pushes over Van de Donk when running at the City defence. Mead takes the resulting free-kick to Little, who chips the ball into the box from a bad angle and City head clear.
69 mins: City have two new strikers on the pitch and they have no interest in putting pressure on the Arsenal defence either.
67 mins: Weir tries to dissect the defence but her pass trickles through to Zinsberger, which at least gives her something to do.
65 mins: City are really feeling Walsh’s absence; the midfielder is the team’s best passer of the ball and without her they have failed to get anything going in the middle of the park. Ellen White is finally on for City.
63 mins: Stokes lifts in a cross which Hemp heads high and wide. City then allow Arsenal to walk the ball out from the back. Surely they need to press better than that?!
61 mins: City bring on Campbell and Bremer with Hidalgo and Wullaert. Hopefully this will provide the energy required to bring City back into this match as they look pretty lethargic.
59 mins: Little catches Houghton when she intercepts a pass. The City skipper is in pain as she receives treatment. It seems to be an ankle issue but she eventually gets up and looks OK to continue.
57 mins: It’s great that City want to pass the ball around at the back but there has to be some sort of purpose to it, as it’s currently getting them nowhere.
55 mins: Mead nutmegs Hidalgo to instigate an attack which ends with a cross being cleared by Houghton. City still looking underwhelming and they really need to make a change to get back into this.
53 mins: McCabe makes contact with Hidalgo when trying to go round the City full-back but the referee gives nothing, which is fair enough.
51 mins: Scott gets the ball on the halfway line and sends it all the way back to the goalkeeper for some reason.
49 mins: Weir whacks a shot which Nobbs blocks but she goes down in pain having hurt her ankle.
How long will Cushing wait until bringing on White? I will say the hour mark.
47 mins: Manchester City have been a bit thick today. Bonner tackles Miedema as she runs through, with the ball going straight to Roebuck who decides to pass it to Houghton inside her own six-yard box, only for the skipper to pass it back to her goalkeeper. Arsenal put the pressure on and City are lucky to earn a free-kick. City need to be more intelligent in such situations.
Second-half
Here we go again!
The sun is an issue ...
We’re not the only ones struggling with the sun here pic.twitter.com/zFOszXiHSB
— Suzy Wrack (@SuzyWrack) October 27, 2019
Half-time: Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City
It was a pretty mundane half until Arsenal capitalised on City’s two centre-backs being in the wrong place. City really need to up their game after the break as they have underwhelmed for a team in such good form.
45 mins: Miedema now has her first goal against City in the WSL, aided by Bonner being well out of position.
One minute added on.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City (Miedema, 43)
City concede their first league goal of the season! Little picks up the ball 30 yards from goal and slips it through to Miedema who is played onside by Houghton who is far too deep, allowing the striker to firing beyond Roebuck from 12 yards.
Updated
42 mins: Neither goalkeeper has been tested in this game so far. The clocks have gone back but thy are still using a white ball in this match, rather than the wintry yellow one, which is now operating in the Premier League. Why is this?
40 mins: Stanway is adjudged to have fouled McCabe on the left after the defender tried to put in a cross. It looks very soft. Mead swings in the free-kick but Houghton is in the right place and heads clear.
38 mins: The game has slowed back down. I think the centre-backs have completed the most passes so far.
36 mins: City play themselves into trouble with some pitiful passing around the back, culminating in Bonner sending one back to Roebuck lacking sufficient pace, giving Mead a sniff but the goalkeeper just does enough and tackles the Arsenal player and winning a City a goal-kick in the process. City need to be more pragmatic in their own defensive third.
34 mins: It is starting to look like a game that neither team want to lose, which does not make for an entertaining encounter. Mead aims to beat Stokes down the right flank, succeeds in doing so but then decides to go past her again and loses the ball in a good position.
32 mins: It looks like Hemp has run the ball out of play, resulting in the Arsenal team stopping but the assistant does not flag and play carries on until the Gunners wake up and win the ball back.
30 mins: The tempo is briefly lifted when City try to break through on the edge of the box but fail. Scott then slides into Miedema to reclaim possession, much to the Dutch international’s chagrin and she appeals for a foul but nothing is happening. Scott then earns a chance but her shot is weak and straight at the ‘keeper.
28 mins: City are just slowly passing the ball around at the back, which is great for the stats but is getting them nowhere. If they knocked it about with a bit more intensity they might be able to open up some space. Arsenal must be laughing at them.
26 mins: If someone told me one of these teams had won all four league games this season without conceding, I would have it was Arsenal. City really aren’t in this at the moment.
24 mins: Fidalgo brings down Mead as she attempts to go round her. The Portuguese international, who is making her first WSL start, is Bernardo Silva’s second cousin.
22 mins: The hosts seem to have had the ball for the last five minutes or so but mainly between the centre circle and City box without doing too much with it. They need to increase the intensity in the final third if they are to open City up.
20 mins: Arsenal enjoy some calm buildup, eventually working it well out to Evans who bursts into the box and cuts onto her left foot but can only lift her shot just over the bar.
18 mins: Nobbs is dispossessed by Hemp deep in the City half, allowing the youngster to instigate a counter attack until she is muscled off the ball.
16 mins: Manchester City’s official Twitter account have just referred to this game as “cagey” by which I assume they mean not very good.
14 mins: Evans gets down the right wing and pings a cross to the front post where Mead is making a run but she just cannot get there and Roebuck gets down to claim.
12 mins: Both teams have offered some decent buildup play but just can’t find that crucial final pass to create a notable chance. Saying that ... Miedema makes her own chance, picking up the ball 20 yards from goal, turning and then curling a shot just over the bar.
10 mins: It’s an exciting game for Phil Neville with two of his England centre-backs facing one another. Arsenal’s Leah Williamson is one of the best in the WSL thanks to her calm nature and intelligence on the pitch, while Steph Houghton is a great leader and marshals the City defence, while also possessing a great passing range.
8 mins: Arsenal look the more comfortable here and are doing their best to control the tempo.
6 mins: Beattie whacks a perfect cross-field pass out to Van de Donk, who takes control of it but fails to find enough space to get a cross in and is dispossessed. City put in a couple of robust challenges, from Stanway and then Weir and the referee blows for the first one.
4 mins: Little seems to lose her bearings and passes the ball straight to Stanway on the edge of the Arsenal box but the home defence recovers to crowd her out and avoid any danger.
2 mins: Arsenal dominate the early stages in terms of possession but it’s mainly just passing it around the middle of the park. City’s light blue shirts are getting lost in the sun a bit.
Kick-off!
Peep! Peep! Peep! Let’s get ready to rumble.
Nick Cushing: “When you have the opportunity to go six points clear, you have to come here and try to win.”
It looks like there is a decent crowd in at Meadow Park, which is great to see. The Arsenal fans usually create a decent atmosphere in Borehamwood.
Manchester City have a 100 per cent record in the league this season and they will not be keen to give that up today. Arsenal have lost just one of their opening four fixtures, that coming against Chelsea.
Another cracking story from this week ...
Pre-match stats ...
📈 Some key stats and facts ahead of our top-of-the-table clash with @ManCityWomen
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) October 27, 2019
🏆 @BarclaysFAWSL pic.twitter.com/lxAjbmoX1M
Janine Beckie certainly looks very pleased to be starting ...
It’s a perfect day for football in London; the sun is out, the skies are clear and the temperature is delightfully mild, so it should suit everyone involved.
Louise Taylor points out how big a game this really is.
Good news for both teams as Miedema is deemed fit to start and City finally have Ellen White available, although she only makes the bench.
Starting lineups
Arsenal: Zinsberger, Evans, Williamson, Beattie, McCabe, Walti, Little, Nobbs, Miedema, Mead, Van de Donk
Subs: Peyraud-Magnin, Quinn, Mitchell, Maier, Roord, Veje
Man City: Roebuck, Fidalgo, Houghton (C), Bonner, Stokes, Scott, Weir, Wullaert, Hemp, Beckie, Stanway.
Subs: Benameur, Campbell, Bremer, Toland, Park, Geum-Min, White.
Updated
Preamble
Good afternoon!
Manchester City are top of the league and will be looking to keep themselves there after their visit to Arsenal. It might be early in the season but the result here could have a lasting impact on their campaigns.
Nick Cushing’s side lost just once last season, it just happens that Arsenal the team to inflict it on the final of day of the season. He will be hoping his City side will be keen on revenge in north London.
The City boss could be boosted by a potential Ellen White debut. The summer signing is yet to feature for the club due to injury but she is finally closing in on fitness. Someone else who has a fitness concern is Arsenal forward Vivienne Miedema, who facing a late test to see if she can play.
Should be an interesting game, that’s for sure.
Kick off: 2.30pm GMT
