Arsenal beat Manchester United to second place in the Women’s Super League after a thrilling 4-3 win at the Emirates Stadium on the final day.
Despite heavy back-to-back disappointments in their previous two league matches, the Gunners entered their season finale knowing a point would be enough to secure runners-up behind champions Chelsea.
Renee Slegers’ side took 110 seconds to establish a lead via Chloe Kelly, after an uncharacteristic mistake from goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, before Ella Toone nodded an equaliser 10 minutes later.
Arsenal, who had shipped nine goals to Aston Villa and Brighton on the road, looked much more assured on home turf, and scored three times in a sublime 16-minute blitz after the break to ultimately take the game away from the visitors, despite them forcing a grandstand finish.
Frida Maanum of Arsenal celebrates scoring her team’s third goal
The Gunners three-goal advantage, earned by Mariona Caldentey, Frida Maanum and Kim Little, was reduced to one in the space of six error-strewn minutes after a rare pair of Katie McCabe blunders.
Substitute Elisabeth Terland intercepted a wayward pass to score her 10th goal of the season before a trip on Celin Bizet allowed Maya le Tissier to score from the penalty spot.
It was more nervy than it needed to be but Arsenal stood firm to end their league campaign on 48 points, four above United, but an incredible 12 shy of unbeaten Chelsea.
