Bristol City 1-2 Arsenal: McCabe double secures Arsenal win in front of record Robins crowd

Katie McCabe struck twice as Arsenal beat Bristol City to claim their first away win of the Women’s Super League this season in front of a club-record women’s attendance of 12,008 fans at Ashton Gate.

Rachel Furness’ expert header had drawn City level within 10 minutes of McCabe’s opener, but the newly-promoted side could not reward the impressive crowd with a first point of the campaign which would have lifted them off the foot of the table.

Northern Ireland record scorer Furness darted in front of Laia Codina to score with City’s only attempt on goal, arrowing Jamie-Lee Napier’s inviting cross past Manuela Zinsberger.

The Gunners dominated possession but struggled to match opportunities with accuracy and found debutant goalkeeper Olivia Clark in fine form.

Clark repeatedly denied Caitlin Foord and tipped a McCabe shot around a post on a night when two-time WSL top scorer Vivianne Miedema returned as a second half substitute after 11 months out with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

Beth Mead was also introduced from the bench for a second successive match as the England international continued her own return from the same injury.

Arsenal are next in action on 5 November when they host early leaders Manchester City, who will start the game three points above Jonas Eidevall’s team.

The Robins will seek their first points of the campaign when they visit West Ham United later on the same day.

Spirited City give Arsenal scare

On a landmark night off the pitch – City described the support of their sizeable crowd as “phenomenal” – Lauren Smith’s players produced a much-needed improvement following their 5-0 thrashing at Manchester City a week ago.

Furness’ terrific goal gave them hope of a memorable result against one of the heavyweights of the division, although the Championship winners’ dearth of chances and the ball made an equaliser seem unlikely once Arsenal had gone ahead.

McCabe made the most of the ample space she was afforded for both of her goals, and visiting manager Eidevall must have felt a murmur of relief with the win after Arsenal took one point from their first two league games and needed two added-time goals to beat Aston Villa last Sunday.

Only 10 of Arsenal’s 25 attempts were on target, and they could not capitalise on a 16-0 corner count in their favour as City’s stubborn defending gave their loyal supporters reason to be proud.

England striker Alessia Russo, who opened her Arsenal account with the 94th-minute winner against Villa, had the second-fewest touches of any visiting outfield player and did not test Clark.

Whether or not she is ready to impact their meeting with unbeaten City next, Arsenal have been given a huge boost with the return of Miedema, as they were when Mead made her comeback.

WSL all-time record scorer Miedema has 74 goals in the top flight and the creativity and influence to potentially turn Arsenal’s early-season grind into a more convincing long-term title challenge.