Key events
87 min Codina plays a nicx ball into Fox, who turns adroitly, racing towards goal and feeding a low shot that passes through Greenwood’s legs, clipping one of them … before sliding just wide.
86 min Change for City, Angeldahl replacing Park.
86 min This game has, I’m afraid, been a colossal disappointment. Not that City will mind – if they can hang on, a win like this will do wonders for their confidence. But both teams have been unduly cautious and are capable of so much better.
84 min Williamson is named fans player of the match, and that makes some sense. I guess I’d have gone for a City defender, Aleixandri given she’s also scored, but the Arsenal skipper is a class act on and off the pitch; it’s great to see her back.
83 min Codina spreads to Fox, who wins a throw, but a poor touch from Mead sees the ball trickle behind for a goalkick.
83 min Final change for Arsenal, Little replacing Maanum.
81 min I know why Eidevall took off Russo – playing poorly, Blackstenius on the bench – but perhaps he might’ve figured that his system wasn’t working, and gone for another striker then asked for balls into the box.
79 min Without Miedema, Arsenal look painfully short of guile. Mead can’t get into the game, and a defence as confident as City’s will back themselves to clear crosses.
78 min Good enough. She claims really well, and City, though under a bit of second-half pressure, have limited Arsenal to a few crosses and a few shots from the edge.
76 min Arsenal win a free-kick out on the left, dangerous position; how is Keating’s neck?
75 min Changes for Arsenal, Walti for Cooney-Cross and Codina for Williamson.
GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Manchester City (Aleixandri 74)
Kelly’s ball is alright, but it’s the touch the ball takes off Catley that makes this goal – she can’t sort out her feet, and Aexiandri punches home the opener from close range.
73 min Keating pings a decent ball out to Fowler, she finds Kelly, and Foord fouls Kelly, who will now stick the free-kick into the box from out on the right touchline…
72 min Hemp runs at Williamson, who stands up well and kicks behind. She’s playing very nicely indeed, and the watching Sarina Wiegman will be delighted, I’m certain.
70 min Blackstenius, having pulled right, is nicely found and cuts back, but Maanum can’t get a shot away thanks to Aleixandri’s timely challenge, then Mead shoots straight at Keating.
70 min Wubben-Moy spreads wide to Foord, who controls beautifully. But her cross is rushed and Greenwood heads clear under nae pressure.
69 min Hemp is now playing as a false nine, with Fowler replacing her on the left-hand side.
68 min Yup, Shaw is now on the bench icing a leg. Hopefully it’s just precautionary.
67 min City send on Fowler for Shaw, who must surely be injured given she almost opened the scoring twice just a few minutes ago.
66 min Ch ch ch changes, Arsenal withdrawing McCabe and Russo for Blackstenius and Catley.
64 min And again! This time, Kelly’s corner picks out Shaw beyond the back post, and her header is kicked off the line by Williamson!
63 min And Kelly’s delivery is excellent, picking out Shaw a fair way out. But she jumps superbly, directing her header goalwards, and D’Angelo claws behind at full stretch! Having barely had a kick this half, City almost take the lead!
63 min Kelly teases McCabe – good luck with that – standing still and waving foot over ball. She wins a corner….
61 min A fine ball in behind for Russo – Williamson is finding her range – stretches City. But her low cross, seeking Mead, is cleared.
60 min Mead sticks a low one into the box and the ball won’t quite drop for Russo, so City clear.
59 min This is much more like it, Cooney-Cross picking up the second ball and swinging in a terrific cross, Keating doing enough to get it behind.
58 min Ah, the ball didn’t go behind off Foord, so Keating must now defend a corner … which yields another then another, Russo’s header hitting a defender and flying behind.
57 min Keating is down, receiving treatment for what looks like a neck situation, hacing dived low to cut out the attempted cross. I think she’ll be OK.
55 min Hasegawa, who’s been quiet, passes straight to Foord, and again Arsenal move the ball from side to side, until Foord picks up again down the left, isolating Casparaji, diddling her on the outside and racing across the by-line as the challenge comes in. If she goes down, I think she gets a penalty, but she stays up and her cut-back hits Hasegawa, hits her, and bounces behind.
54 min Arsenal are much the better side now, but both their shots on goal this half have come from outside the box. Here they come again, though, Fox winning a challenge with Kelly and sending Russo away down the right. With few options inside the box, though, her cross is easily cleared.
51 min D’Angelo takes a risk, coming out of her box and finding herself under pressure from Shaw, her pass out going straight to Hemp … who’s quickly crowded out.