Days after a shock West Ham loss hurt their Women's Super League title bid, the Gunners crashed out of the cup thanks to Laia Aleixandri's strike
Manchester City dealt Arsenal another huge blow on Sunday, knocking them out of the Women’s FA Cup in the fifth round with a 1-0 win that leaves the Gunners’ season hanging by a thread. It was only seven days ago that Jonas Eidevall’s side suffered a shock loss to West Ham that left them six points off the pace in the Women’s Super League title race, and now, the Continental Cup may be their only chance of silverware this year.
It was an uneventful game for large parts, Caitlin Foord’s strike straight into the arms of Khiara Keating the biggest chance of the first half. City had two big penalty shouts, though, most notably when Lotte Wubben-Moy’s forearm connected with Khadija Shaw to leave the Jamaica international on the ground – but without a spot-kick.
Arsenal started the second half stronger and Alessia Russo had a shot well-blocked by Leila Ouahabi in the best moment of a bright spell, but City went down the other end just minutes later to start their own bit of pressure, with Shaw denied acrobatically by Sabrina D’Angelo.
It was a warning sign, as shortly afterwards another delivery into the area proved decisive. Chloe Kelly whipped in a ball that was missed by Leah Williamson and Wubben-Moy, catching Steph Catley by surprise as she failed to clear and Laia Aleixandri instead intervened to put City ahead.
There were still chances for the Gunners to equalise, but Keating was determined to keep her clean sheet, making incredible stops to frustrate Laia Codina and Kim Little, though Stina Blackstenius should’ve done better with a golden chance that she headed right at the teenage goalkeeper in the 90th minute.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Meadow Park…
GettyLOSER: Alessia Russo
There were plenty of Lionesses for Sarina Wiegman to keep an eye on as she sat in attendance at Meadow Park on Sunday, but one she didn’t see much of was Russo. The Arsenal star was constantly on the edge of the game, struggling to get involved due to a lack of service and quality in possession from the Gunners. There were not enough bodies around the England forward for her to work off, either, with her left isolated throughout.
Russo did have one snapshot effort early in the second half, but a good block from Ouahabi thwarted her before she was subbed off just past the hour for Blackstenius. It still feels like Eidevall hasn’t figured out how to get the best out of her.
AdvertisementWINNER: Khiara Keating
Last time Keating was at Meadow Park, she had one of the toughest moments of her young career. Having made a stand-out penalty save to deny Little in the first half of City’s WSL clash with Arsenal, the game looked set to peter out into a draw until Keating made a mess of a long ball forward and allowed Blackstenius to win the game late on.
Keating was visibly distraught in the aftermath of the goal and at the full-time whistle, but the message from City boss Gareth Taylor was strong. “I think it's unfortunate, but it's all good learning for her,” he said. “It's something that makes you as a player and she'll come through it. We'll support her in the right way and she'll be back out there before you know it, doing great things like she always has.”
On Sunday, Keating returned to the scene of that difficult afternoon and had herself a day of redemption. Though relatively untroubled for most of the game, the teenager was called upon to make two truly outstanding saves late on, one to claw away Codina’s looping header and another to push Little’s strong volley over the bar.
Keating did momentarily spill the ball from a corner late on and it nearly crept over the line for a dramatic Arsenal equaliser, but she recovered to catch it on the second attempt and keep it out as City held on, the goalkeeper playing a huge role in getting the win.
Getty ImagesLOSER: Jonas Eidevall
It’s been an extremely damaging seven days for Arsenal. A week after a shock defeat to West Ham left their title challenge hanging by a thread, City ruined their FA Cup dream in the fifth round, ending the Gunners’ eight-match winning streak at home.
It’s hard to suggest that head coach Eidevall is under pressure given that he only signed a new contract back in early October, just days after elimination in the first round of Champions League qualifying was followed up by a surprise loss to Liverpool. However, questions are certainly being asked of him – and that move by the club – after a damning couple of defeats.
Arsenal are still in the Conti Cup, but a win over Manchester United on Saturday is imperative if they are to keep up in the title race and stay alive in more than one competition, with at least one of Chelsea or Man City set to drop points the night before in a clash of the league’s top two.
Getty ImagesWINNER: Laia Aleixandri
Aleixandri is having a truly superb season, and her winning goal on Sunday offered her a rare chance to soak up the limelight that can often evade a centre-back. The former Atletico Madrid star was in the right place at the right time after Kelly’s free-kick caused chaos in Arsenal’s box and she deserves all the plaudits that will come her way after sending City into the quarter-finals.
Composed, wise in her positioning and good on the ball, Aleixandri has formed a superb partnership with Alex Greenwood in the heart of City's defence, and they more than did their part to restrict Arsenal to few chances, leaving Russo on the edge of the game for its entirety and preventing Blackstenius from getting seriously involved when she came on, too.
A nominee for the Women’s Super League Player of the Month award for January, perhaps that was a sign that a little more recognition is going to start coming Aleixandri’s way. This crucial winner will only help her earn such deserved attention.