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Arsenal rebounded from two back-to-back draws and a week of speculation about their squad harmony as Stina Blackstenius’s late strike gave them all three points against Liverpool. They had taken an early lead through Olivia Smith, but they shrank into themselves after Beata Olsson’s equaliser until Blackstenius delivered in the 87th minute.
The home team had got off to a blistering start after a full-voiced rendition of North London Forever. The breakthrough came in the 16th minute, when the former Liverpool forward Smith shrugged off three challenges as she drifted towards the edge of the area and lashed in.
The Gunners squandered numerous chances to double their lead. They were unlucky when Kirby picked up Hannah Silcock’s back pass and the referee, Kirsty Dowle, waved play on, but they were also profligate and were punished for that at the half-hour mark.
Liverpool are an improving side, their position at the foot of the WSL table not reflective of the team they are growing into under Gareth Taylor. Their limited resources were reflected in their bench of four outfield players, including 16-year-old Maizie Trueman.
The two points Liverpool have picked up this season came in their two previous games, against Brighton and then, impressively, against reigning champions Chelsea.
The Arsenal goalkeeper, Anneke Borbe, in for the injured Daphne van Domselaar, sent the ball forward and it was cushioned by Blackstenius, then flicked on by Frida Maanum but straight to Mia Enderby, whose pass found Olsson in acres of space. The Sweden forward skipped free from Steph Catley and rifled the ball into the bottom corner to become the first WSL player to score in four of her first five starts.
There was a momentum shift after the goal as Arsenal wilted. The past month has been a struggle for them. A battling 2-1 win over Real Madrid before the international break halting a run of three games without a win, draws against Tottenham and Chelsea sandwiching the concession of a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, their dressing room culture has been questioned with reports of friction taking their toll.
Chance after chance was wasted as Arsenal hunted for the winner. Twice in quick succession substitute Blackstenius was thwarted by Gemma Evans, the first after she had rounded Kirby only for the defender to deflect her shot wide.
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It felt like it would be another one of ‘those days’ but the Gunners dug deep and Blackstenius converted perhaps the hardest of her chances to raise the roof at the Emirates, bringing the ball down with her shoulder before twisting and firing in from the edge of the box.
The relief was palpable, only dampened a little but the announcement of seven added minutes but they held out and the final Emirates home crowd of the season celebrated wildly on the final whistle. There is still lots for Arsenal to get right, but this was a much-needed result.
