VIVIANNE MIEDEMA helped Arsenal snatch a dramatic stoppage-time draw with Tottenham in an enthralling Women’s Football Weekend encounter.
The WSL ace’s header cancelled out a Rachel Williams goal to deny Spurs’ boss Rehanne Skinner a birthday win at The Hive.
While the result saw Tottenham break their hoodoo of WSL losses to their rivals they were denied a famous win and the chance to leapfrog champions Chelsea to second spot.
Skinner, who turned 42, said: “You come into the game with the players so focused and ready to put in a performance.
“I was just hoping as all managers do, that they pull that together and deliver on that.
“Massive credit to them. I am so proud of their performances and everything they do as a team together. It’s a great point on my birthday.”
Arsenal, who had dispatched their hosts on three previous occasions notching up 11 goals in the process, went on the attack in the opening minutes.
The visitors had some of the strongest chances in the first half hitting the crossbar at least twice in the opening half.
Miedema had an opportunity to open her side’s account following a neat exchange with Noelle Maritz.
The Dutch ace evaded her marker before cutting the ball onto her left foot and forcing a fine 21st minute save from Tinja-Rikka Korpela with her walloped effort.
And the hosts looked to get forward themselves moments later with Kyah Simon’s long ball aimed for Rachel Williams before the visitors knocked the ball out of danger.
Arsenal, who had 19 shots on target, came close to netting near the half-hour mark with Mead crashing the crossbar with a thunderous free-kick.
And an Ashleigh Neville flicked error saw Miedema twist and turn before delivering a low cross in the box which Tottenham’s defenders managed to clear.
The hosts, desperate to keep a first-half clean sheet, were willing to put their bodies on the line.
Maeva Clemaron needed treatment in the 36th minute after blocking a shot on goal with her face.
This was followed by Katie McCabe clanging the woodwork and Kim Little forcing a save from the impressive Korpela after unleashing a shot on the edge of the 30-yd box.
The second half saw Tottenham determined to attack but with their ball in the final third letting them down.
And there was an angry exchange between McCabe and Clemaron in the opening moments with the Gunners ace unhappy with a challenge from the France midfielder.
Korpela pulled off some impressive saves to keep the scoreline level including a superb 50th minute stop to deny Mead the chance to get a shot off in the penalty box.
The hosts went on to take the lead courtesy of Kit Graham shot being blocked and the ball ending up at the feet of Williams who bundled it home.
Later they missed a superb chance to double their advantage with Ashleigh Neville sending her close-range effort over the bar in the 70th minute.
The league leaders would go on to deny Tottenham the win with Miedema heading home from an injury-time corner.
The result saw Arsenal drop two points ahead of their trip to Manchester United.
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall said: “We should have won the game. We created so many goalscoring opportunities that we should have been able to win three or four nothing at least.
“We’re disappointed when we look at it overall, but we still need to value this point.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
