Arsenal Women kicked off their pre-season preparations with a defeat to Bayern Munich Women.
The Gunners, who are the current Women’s Super League champions, went down 1-0 to the German side courtesy of captain Melanie Leupolz’s first-half goal.
Arsenal Women were competing in a revamped format of the Emirates Cup, which saw them play before the club’s men’s team as part of a double header.
However they were unable to mark the occasion with a win and there was also bad news as forward Danielle Carter was stretchered off late on with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
Despite being without several first-team players due to their involvement at this summer’s World Cup, Arsenal Women started brightly.
Kim Little and Katie McCabe were impressing in midfield, while Carter was looking dangerous in attack.
However, it was Bayern Munich Women who took the lead when Leupolz headed home at the back post from a free-kick after losing her marker.
That sparked Arsenal Women into life and Jennifer Beattie almost levelled the scores just before half-time, but she could only head Little’s free-kick wide.
In the second half Bayern looked to get the second goal that would kill off their hosts and they almost got it midway through the second half when Nicole Rolser’s cross picked out Linda Dallmann, but she couldn’t convert.
If Arsenal Women were to find an equaliser it looked like it would come through McCabe, however twice she had good efforts blocked by Bayern defenders.
The German side held on to claim the win, but of greater concern to Arsenal than the result was a potentially serious injury to Carter.
The forward appeared to injure her knee towards the end of the match and had to be stretchered off while receiving oxygen.
