Miedema Scores At Former Club To End Poor Man City Record At Arsenal
On the opening weekend of the Women's Super League season, Vivianne Miedema scored for Manchester City against former club Arsenal to help them to a point at the Emirates Stadium.
After an eighth minute goal by Norwegian Frida Maanum gave Arsenal the lead. Miedema silenced the 42,818 crowd who gave her a rapturous welcome when her name was announced before the game, by equalising with a shot heavily deflected off Laia Codina.
Playing in a deep-lying position behind last season's top scorer, Khadija Shaw, Miedema pulled all the strings as they struggled to get back into the game after falling behind. In the 42nd minute, she seized her opportunity, robbing Lotte Wubben-Moy before scoring. Despite punching the air in relief, she deigned to celebrate the goal against her former team who she starred with for seven years.
A stunning second half strike from England midfielder Jess Park - arrowing in off the underside of the crossbar - looked to be enough to give Manchester City a first victory away to Arsenal in three years. Yet nine minutes from time, it was ironically Miedema's partner Beth Mead who came of the substitute's bench to salvage a point for Arsenal.
Speaking to The Women's Game podcast , Miedema professed to being glad that her return to play away at Arsenal had come on the opening day of the season so "we get it done and over with, and I will have massive anxiety around it probably."
It could have been even better if, moments before Arsenal scored, Miedema had capitalised after dispossessing Kim Little 35 yards from goal. Her instant shot from long-range beat Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger but dribbled agonisingly wide of the right-hand post.
Thereafter, Manchester City struggled to break down the North London side who were rapier like on the counter-attack. Stina Blackstenius latched onto a long pass by Katie McCabe and rounded City goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita only to roll the ball against the outside of the post.
Manchester City went into the game with a poor record playing away to Arsenal in the Women's Super League, losing six of their previous seven games. Crucially, none of those encounters were held at the Emirates Stadium which, many believed, would suit Manchester City's expansive passing style and key wide players.
Last season, Manchester City had gone on a record-breaking run of 14 consecutive league victories which had put them in pole position to secure their first WSL title in eight years going into their last match against Arsenal. Only requiring a point to leave their destiny in their own hands, City squandered a first-half lead by conceding two goals in the final few minutes. Chelsea subsequently drew level on points and eventually won the title on goal difference.
After Emma Hayes left Chelsea in May to become the new head coach of the United States Women's National Team, City's Gareth Taylor became the longest-serving coach in the league. Yet his record against Arsenal's Jonas Eidevall was poor, recording just one win in six league games.
Added to that, was an animosity between the two coaches stemming from last season's encounter at Borehamwood after which Taylor accused Eidevall of "bullying" the fourth official, comments which the Arsenal coach claimed were "borderline slander. . . I have not spoken to Gareth. I don't think his comments are acceptable and I would expect him to reach out with an apology but I am not sure this is going to happen."
Miedema's goal helped earn Manchester City their first point away to Arsenal since February 2021. A scorer in that game was the now retired Ellen White. White also previously played for Arsenal in her career and could not understand why Arsenal did not offer Miedema a new contract.
Speaking to the BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly in May, White said "I think it's an absolutely shocking decision by the club to be honest. I just think it's shocking that they haven't shown her the love to want to keep her at the club."
Adding that it was "written in the stars" that Miedema would score against Arsenal, White said "if she does want to go to someone else in the WSL, I hope she goes to that team and sticks two fingers up at Arsenal and scores a few goals and celebrates hard."
