Arsenal were forced to fight back from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw with Manchester United in a tense Women's Super League clash at the Emirates Stadium, with substitute Smilla Holmberg netting a dramatic equaliser deep into stoppage time.
The opening 45 minutes produced few clear-cut opportunities, though both sides created moments of promise. Arsenal's best chance of the half fell to Stina Blackstenius, who rose to meet an inviting cross from Frida Maanum but saw her powerful header brilliantly parried away by United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who produced an acrobatic save to keep the scores level heading into the interval.
Manager Renée Slegers made a double substitution at the break, introducing Kim Little and Holmberg in place of Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo's strike partner Beth Mead's teammate Frida Maanum's fellow attacker... In truth, the changes came for Caldentey and Emily Smith, as Arsenal searched for greater incisiveness against a well-organised United defence.
Despite Arsenal's territorial dominance, it was Manchester United who broke the deadlock in the 67th minute. A miscommunication between Leah Stanway and Beth Catley proved costly, as Stanway underhit a pass that fell straight into the path of the alert Zigiotti. The United forward pounced, dispossessing Catley and racing clear before slotting a low finish beyond Rodríguez to silence the home crowd.
Arsenal responded by throwing men and women forward in search of an equaliser, but were repeatedly denied by Tullis-Joyce, who continued her outstanding display with further crucial interventions. The United keeper produced a fine reflex save to deny Caitlin Foord after Holmberg had created the opening, while moments later she thwarted a fierce Chloe Kelly effort from range that had bounced awkwardly in front of her.
Arsenal also had penalty appeals waved away deep into stoppage time when Selina Cerci went down under pressure inside the box, but the closest they came before their eventual leveller was a goal-line clearance from Maya Le Tissier, who denied Alessia Russo's point-blank header after a corner had been recycled into the danger area.
Just when it appeared United would hold on for their first victory of the campaign, Arsenal found their moment. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, captain Leah Williamson delivered a pinpoint ball to the back post, where Holmberg arrived to smash a close-range finish past Tullis-Joyce and spark wild celebrations among the home support.
The result means the fixture between these two sides has now failed to produce a winner in three consecutive WSL meetings, following two goalless draws between the clubs last season.
For Arsenal, the point extends their unbeaten start to the campaign, though question marks remain over their inability to sustain the attacking pressure they showed after falling behind throughout the full ninety minutes. United, meanwhile, will rue missing out on a first win of the season after seeing victory snatched away in the most agonising of circumstances.
Both managers will have plenty to reflect on ahead of their next fixtures, with Arsenal's Slegers likely to demand greater urgency from the opening whistle, while United can take encouragement from a resilient defensive display undone only by a moment of brilliance in the dying seconds.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.