There is perhaps some irony that it was Beth Mead who denied Vivianne Miedema a perfect return to the Emirates.
Miedema, who spent seven years with Arsenal, had scored the goal that got Manchester City on level terms after Frida Maanum had opened the scoring. Jess Park’s superb half-volley had then edged City in front and when Miedema went off in the 74th minute to a standing ovation from both sets of supporters, she looked to be ending her debut with a well-earned victory.
But Mead, her long-term partner, had other ideas. Off the bench just past the hour mark, the forward volleyed in an 81st minute equaliser to salvage a point for the Gunners.
Miedema was embraced by her former team-mates at the full-time whistle and City boss Gareth Taylor admitted she had found the return to her old side difficult.
‘It was a big day for her today and it’s a tough one for her to get through,’ Taylor said.
Vivianne Miedema (left) scored on her return to the Emirates but was denied victory
Miedema scored with an emphatic shot to initially pull Man City level against Arsenal
Beth Mead rescued Arsenal a point in their WSL opener with a late goal at the Emirates
‘I had some good conversations with Viv all week and I could tell that this game was one that she just wasn’t comfortable with and we can understand all of the reasons why.
‘It’s really difficult when you go back to a former club, particularly going back to a club where you’ve been so long at. I think she’s glad to have put it to one side now.’
City had dominated possession in the early stages and were inches away from opening the scoring when Miedema robbed Kim Little of possession. The forward looked to catch out Manuela Zinsberger with a long-range effort but the ball bounced just wide.
In a matter of seconds, Arsenal went down the other end to take the lead. Caitlin Foord found space on the right and her cross was touched back by Stina Blackstenius to Maanum, who fired emphatically into the top right corner.
City continued to see more of the ball but looked vulnerable to Arsenal’s counter-attacks, with Blackstenius nearly doubling their lead with an effort that sailed just wide.
City were struggling to make their possession count but, just before half-time, Miedema took matters into her own hands. Arsenal failed to clear their lines and Midema muscled Little off the ball before nut-megging Lotte Wubben-Moy. The forward’s curling shot took a big deflection off Laia Codina and wrong-footed Zinsberger to hit the back of the net.
Alessia Russo was unable to finish a golden one-v-one opportunity in the closing stages
Gunners boss Jonas Eidevall watched his side throw away their initial lead before coming back to level late on
Foord thought she had put Arsenal back in front just after half-time but the forward was flagged offside, though replays showed she was level with the last defender.
City got back on top and took the lead in spectacular fashion just before the hour mark. Lauren Hemp’s cross was cleared only as far as Park, who took one touch before firing a half-volley that hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced over the line.
Jonas Eidevall brought on Mead and Alessia Russo in the search of an equaliser and the former should have got it when she found herself 1v1 with Ayaka Yamashita, but the forward could only send her shot straight at the City goalkeeper.
Where Russo failed, Mead did not. City believed there was a foul from Katie McCabe on Chloe Kelly in the build up but referee Abi Byrne waved play on and Rosa Kafaji raced forward to send a shot against the outside of the post, with Mead there to volley home the re-bound.