On May 5, 2024, Arsenal pulled off a nifty comeback to beat Manchester City 2-1 at Joie Stadium. It was a game that really kept everyone guessing till the last minutes.

Manchester City’s line up: Keating, Casparij (87′ Kennedy), Aleixandri, Greenwood (C), Ouahabi, Park, Hasegawa, Coombs (57′ Angeldal), Fowler, Kelly and Hemp. 

Arsenal’s line up: Zinsberger, Fox (63′ Catley), Williamson (C), Codina, McCabe (82′ Wienroither) Pelova, Cooney-Cross (62′ Blackstenius), Mead, Leonhardsen-Maanum (46′ Little), Lacasse (63′ Foord) and Russo. 

The Lowdown

City took the lead pretty early with Lauren Hemp finding the net in the 17th minute, thanks to an assist from Leila Ouahabi. They held onto this slim lead for most of the game, looking like they might just sneak away with all three points. The game was largely a midfield battle with both teams locking down defensively, leading to few real scoring opportunities. It wasn’t until the closing stages that the game truly came alive.

But Arsenal wasn’t having any of it. Stina Blackstenius turned the tables late in the game, scoring twice — once in the 89th minute and then again in the added time at 90+2 minutes. Her first goal was set up by Caitlin Foord and the second by Kim Little. Talk about clutch!

A Bit More About the Teams

City and Arsenal are pretty big names in the Women’s Super League and their matchups usually draw quite a bit of attention. This game was no different, and it had its fair share of drama, making it a cool addition to their ongoing rivalry.

Key Players

For City, Lauren Hemp was all over the place, in a good way. She’s always a threat and she proved it again by scoring. As for Arsenal, Blackstenius was obviously the standout with her late-game heroics snatching the victory from City. As well as, Kim Little who altered the game once she was brought on. 

Wrapping Up

This match was a great example of why you shouldn’t switch off the TV until the final whistle. Arsenal showed some real grit to come back from behind and snag a win.