LONDON — Arsenal stretched their club-record unbeaten streak in the Women's Super League to 20 games but needed a 95th-minute equaliser at Emirates Stadium to rescue a draw against Manchester United, leaving Renee Slegers' side sixth with five points from three games in the expanded 14-team, 26-game season. The late point contrasted sharply with Tottenham's statement 7-0 drubbing of Crystal Palace that lifted Spurs to second.
Smilla Holmberg preserved Arsenal's home unbeaten record under Slegers when she latched onto a flighted cross from Leah Williamson to level late, a well-worked goal that masked another wasteful display. Arsenal have managed just two goals from 60 attempts for an xG underperformance of 3.84, following a goalless stalemate at Crystal Palace last weekend. United arrived having shipped a league-high seven goals in the opening weeks under new manager Eva Olid but left with a point.
The pattern is familiar. Slegers' side struggled to break a compact block, with Mariona Caldentey blasting Alessia Russo's lay-off wide, Stina Blackstenius heading straight at Phallon Tullis-Joyce from point-blank range and Chloe Kelly threatening only from distance. Questions persist over balance, with Georgia Stanway and Caldentey both operating as the primary No. 8 and Russo deployed as a No. 10 rather than on the last line, while wingers Lisa Baum and Olivia Smith managed just one cross and one dribble between them despite Baum picking out Blackstenius for what should have been a goal. Four draws before Christmas effectively ended last season's title challenge after a second-place finish, and Arsenal again look vulnerable to disciplined, low-block opponents.
Tottenham provided the weekend's attacking contrast. Olivia Holdt scored a hat-trick in the 7-0 win over Crystal Palace, with six goals coming in a devastating 25-minute spell in the second half after Palace held out until the break. Since the start of February only Bunny Shaw with 12 has scored more than Holdt's eight, and her treble — a worked throw routine, an instinctive finish from a loose ball and a strike from a high turnover — underlined her blend of scoring, creating and ball-carrying under Martin Ho. On her first Spurs start this season, Holdt gave Ho plenty to consider as Tottenham moved up to second.