Manchester United vs Arsenal LIVE: Women’s Super League result, final score as Lacasse scores late Gunners equaliser
Arsenal travel to Manchester United in the second round of fixtures in the WSL on Friday night
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal’s Chloe Lacasse scores a late equaliser to ensure her side left the game against Manchester United at the Leigh Sports Village with a point.
Arsenal suffered a shock home defeat to Liverpool in the first WSL game last weekend, after failing to reach the group stages of the Champions League last month, but bounced back to secure a 2-2 draw against United.
Arsenal may feel aggrieved they did not get more from the game, with two stunning goals, while United’s came from mistakes from their opponents rather than any particular amount of individual skill, unlike Lacasse’s stunning strike in stoppage time to level the game.
It has been a rocky start to the season for Jonas Eidevall’s side, despite the talisman signing of Alessia Russo from Manchester United in the summer transfer window.
Manchester United - under Marc Skinner - won their first match against Aston Villa 2-1.
Follow all the action from the clash at Leigh Sports Village here:
WSL: Manchester United vs Arsenal
The players have come out and are lining up in front of the small but sold-out stadium.
WSL: Manchester United vs Arsenal
Last season Arsenal lost twice to Manchester United and they won three matches, losing two against the top four in the WSL.
WSL: Manchester United vs Arsenal
The teams are getting ready to come out onto the pitch at the Leigh Sports Village for this Friday night WSL clash...
WSL: Manchester United vs Arsenal
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall brushed off suggestions that summer signing Alessia Russo will put herself under extra pressure when she faces former side Manchester United on Friday.
The 24-year-old England striker completed the free transfer in July before she left for the Women’s World Cup in Australia, though it was the conclusion of a courtship that extended at least as far back as the January transfer window.
Russo may be met with disappointment from the home support on her first trip back to Leigh Sports Village, but Eidevall insisted she is taking everything in stride.
Jonas Eidevall: Alessia Russo won’t put herself under pressure on Man Utd return
The 24-year-old England striker completed the free transfer in July.
WSL: Manchester United vs Arsenal
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall has signed a new “long-term” deal, the Women’s Super League side have announced.
The PA news agency understands the Swedish head coach, who was first appointed in June 2021, has agreed to a three-year contract with the Gunners.
Last season, the 40-year-old led Arsenal to the Continental Cup trophy and steered his side to the Champions League semi-finals.
He said: “I’m full of pride to have signed a new contract with this football club.
Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall signs new long-term contract
The PA news agency understands Eidevall, who was first appointed in June 2021, has agreed to a three-year contract with the Gunners.
WSL: Manchester United vs Arsenal
Here’s a reminder of how Arsenal got on in the first game of the season:
This was not the start to the new Women’s Super League season that any of the record-breaking crowd at the Emirates had been expecting. Arsenal, the big movers of the summer transfer window, are playing catch-up already after Miri Taylor silenced the record WSL crowd of 54,115 and earnt an organised and impressively resilient Liverpool a shock victory.
What was written as the grand unveiling of new striker Alessia Russo suddenly became an opening-day setback for Jonas Eidevall’s side when Taylor steered Liverpool ahead shortly after half time. The Gunners were expected to lead a stronger challenge to champions Chelsea in this season’s title race but England star Russo, after arriving from Manchester United on a free transfer, was the landmark signing who struggled on her debut. Collectively, Arsenal did not play with their usual fluency and Liverpool survived the late pressure to claim a famous win.
Arsenal break Women’s Super League record – but suffer shock Liverpool defeat
Arsenal 0-1 Liverpool: A record crowd at the Emirates was stunned as the Reds came away with a shock opening win
WSL: Manchester United vs Arsenal line-ups
Manchester United XI: Earps, George, Le Tissier, Blundell, Toone, Zelem, Galton, Ladd, L. Garcia, Turner, Geyse
Arsenal XI: D’Angleo, Beattie, Catley, Little, Waltie, Maritz, Pelova, Russo, Blackstenius, Codina, Ilestedt
WSL: Manchester United vs Arsenal
Here’s a look at how the defending Champions Chelsea got on in their opening match:
Champions Chelsea opened their Women’s Super League title defence with a 2-1 win over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.
Australia striker Sam Kerr, who had been injured at the World Cup, was not in the squad - but Chelsea debutant Mia Fishel headed the home side into a 27th-minute lead.
England international Lauren James added another early in the second half from a cross by Guro Reiten, whose initial effort looked to have been cleared away from behind the line.
Lauren James on target as Chelsea open WSL title defence with win over Tottenham
There were also wins for Manchester United and Manchester City on the opening weekend
WSL: Manchester United vs Arsenal
Here’s a look back at the summer transfer window:
As the women’s game in England continues to grow, so do transfer fees with one Women’s Super League manager describing this summer’s window as “wild” following plenty of big spending.
Fifa reported three million US dollars (£2.4m) was spent during the 2023 mid-year transfer window, which was double the amount (£983,000) that women’s clubs outlay across the globe in 2022.
While the spending in women’s football is far behind the sums chucked around in the men’s game, the past 12 months in particular has seen spending rise rapidly as more funds are used following a golden period for the Lionesses.
Women’s football sees ‘wild’ record transfer spending ahead of new WSL season
Baroness Sue Campbell, the FA director of women’s football, has promised some future limits on spending
WSL: Manchester United vs Arsenal
Jonas Eidevall’s Arsenal will be looking to show that their surprise defeat at home to Liverpool in front of a sold-out crowd during the WSL’s opening weekend was a blip.
Arsenal narrowly pipped Manchester City to third place last season, but just a few weeks after the World Cup final, their tired squad was unable to qualify for the Women’s Champions League group stage, and they were knocked out by Paris FC.
Manchester United finished second in the WSL last year, qualifying automatically for the group stages, and managed to win on the opening weekend.
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