‘Nervous’ United hand the initiative to Arsenal

Manchester United manager Casey Stoney admitted her youthful team’s inexperience hindered them as their slow start aided top-three rivals Arsenal, who battled to a priceless victory in the race for European qualification.

Arsenal took an early lead through Millie Turner’s own goal before doubling their advantage shortly after half-time thanks to defender Lotte Wubben-moy’s powerful header from Katie Mccabe’s corner, and that was enough for the hosts despite them spending the final half an hour with 10 players, after Beth Mead was sent off.

“We looked nervous when we came out in the first half, we looked a little bit rattled,” a disappointed Stoney said. “We started in the worst possible way. We’ve not got a lot of experience in our team and I think that showed potentially early on, but after the goal we settled into the game really well and actually had really dominant spells. Unless you put the ball in the net you don’t give yourself a chance of winning. It’s taken Champions League qualification out of our hands now, which is what we didn’t want.”

Victory was Arsenal’s third in a row but perhaps the most important of manager Joe Montemurro’s tenure, after a hot-tempered match that could ultimately define both team’s medium-term futures.

His side’s feisty performance saw them grab the race for third place by the horns but he was not getting carried away. “We can’t lose focus now,” he said. “We have some very important games to play. Momentum has probably been our biggest issue this year. We know we’ve been able to compete, to stay at the top level. We knew today was going to be very important.”

Starting the night six points behind United but with a game in hand and a far greater goal-difference, Arsenal knew a win would put the battle for third firmly in their hands and they took control early.

Stoney’s visitors knew a draw or better for them would mean they simply had to match Arsenal’s results for the rest of the campaign

Lucky break: Jill Roord’s shot deflects off Millie Turner to give Arsenal an early lead

in order to finish above them for the first time and qualify for Europe.

Arsenal began the game with a notable urgency and forced the opener inside three minutes, when Australia forward Caitlin Foord fed Netherlands midfielder Jill Roord in the box and her effort looped into the far corner off Turner.

Stoney’s side responded and Christen Press went close three times, while 19-year-old striker Lauren James blazed over.

The friction and rivalry between the teams was clear to see, with Arsenal left-back Mccabe having a tense, physical tussle with forward Ella Toone, whose goal had settled November’s reverse fixture in United’s favour.

Wubben-moy stamped Arsenal’s authority on the contest as she headed in after the break, not long before Mead was dismissed for a second booking after a late challenge on Lucy Staniforth. However, Wubben-moy helped the hosts’ defence stand firm despite being a player down.

Arsenal will now leapfrog United into third spot if they win their game in hand at home to West Ham, with Stoney’s side – who were top at Christmas – left to wonder what might have been.

Arsenal

Booked Manchester United

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