Arsenal were mightily relieved as a 95th-minute equaliser from Smilla Holmberg rescued them a point at home to a much-improved Manchester United side, but the draw will not be enough to eradicate concerns about how far behind the leaders Manchester City they are slipping already.

A defiant Manchester United stunned the north Londoners as Eva Olid’s side claimed the first point of her tenure with a performance that defied all of the pre-match scripts, but it was very nearly a victory, had it not been for Holmberg’s last-gasp back-post finish from Leah Williamson’s deep, diagonal ball into the box, which finally broke the visitors’ stubborn resistance.

Widely criticised for their dismal displays in their opening two defeats against London City Lionesses and Chelsea, Manchester United were heavily tipped to struggle again at the Emirates but an encouraging defensive effort and an against-the-run-of-play Julia Zigiotti Olme strike gave them a precious lead in a display that will buy the former Hearts manager Olid plenty of time to continue working on her style on the training ground and quieten those doubting her.

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WSL roundup: Chelsea's Potter and Malard sink Birmingham

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Chelsea and London City Lionesses climbed the Women’s Super League table with respective victories over Birmingham and Charlton.

After thumping Manchester United 5-0 last weekend, Chelsea won again as Lexi Potter and Melvine Malard secured a 2-0 win. Potter found the roof of the net in the eighth minute (the celebrations pictured above) and in the 71st minute the France star Malard made a quick impact from the bench with her first goal at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea moved up to second and with their goal difference were likely to stay there.

London City lost 2-1 to West Ham last time out but impressed in a 4-1 triumph at promoted Charlton. Isobel Goodwin’s double had London City two goals ahead after 15 minutes and, despite Jodie Hutton halving the deficit in the 39th minute with a fine finish, Jana Fernández restored their advantage before half-time. The German forward Nicole Anyomi made sure the outcome was no longer in doubt with the Lionesses’ fourth after 76 minutes. They sit third, a point behind Chelsea. Press Association

Photograph: Yaroslav Dunka/Shutterstock Editorial

Instead it will be Arsenal now facing major scrutiny as they failed to win at home for a second straight game and slipped four points behind the defending champions Manchester City after just three rounds of fixtures. Last term, Manchester City only dropped points in four games and the early-season leaders have a 100% record so far.

Despite their late leveller, this, therefore, was a result that Arsenal could ill-afford, especially after last weekend’s goalless draw at home to the newly-promoted side Crystal Palace, where the north Londoners were surprisingly wasteful in the final third. Renée Slegers’ team had scored just one goal from 43 shots across their opening two league fixtures. Surely, therefore, a home match against a side who conceded five goals last time out was the perfect opportunity to banish any concerns of a lack of clinical quality in the final third? Think again.

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