Arsenal and Manchester United played out a tense and goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon, in a Women's Super League clash with significant implications for the race for Champions League qualification.
Pre-Match Build-Up and Team News
The match, which kicked off at 12.30pm GMT on Saturday 10th January 2026, saw a crowd of approximately 37,000 fans fill the Emirates. The fixture marked a significant milestone for Manchester United manager Marc Skinner, as it was his 100th game in charge of the club.
In a touching pre-match moment, Arsenal players posed for a team photograph holding up a shirt with the message "We're all with you Jess" in support of teammate Kyra Cooney-Cross's mother.
Arsenal manager Renée Slegers was able to name Leah Williamson in her starting lineup for the defender's first league start of the season following her return from injury. Goalkeeper Anneke Borbe also started with Daphne van Domselaar still sidelined. Manchester United's two new signings, striker Lea Schüller and defender Hanna Lundkvist, began the match on the bench.
A Tight and Tense Encounter
The match itself was a cagey affair, with both sides understanding the high stakes. A defeat for either team would have been a major blow in their pursuit of league leaders Manchester City and the battle for a top-three finish.
Arsenal enjoyed the better of the early possession, but it was United who created the first clear chance of the game. In the 6th minute, a period of sustained pressure from the visitors culminated in a shot from Fridolina Rolfö, which was superbly saved by Arsenal's Anneke Borbe to keep the scores level.
United continued to apply pressure in the following minutes, with Rolfö again involved as she appealed for a free-kick on the edge of the Arsenal box, but the referee waved play on. Neither side was able to create a clear-cut opportunity thereafter, with both defences largely on top.
Context and Consequences
The result leaves the league table tightly packed. Coming into the match, Arsenal were in third place with Manchester United just behind in fourth. With Tottenham Hotspur only a few points adrift and playing Leicester City the following day, the pressure on both sides was palpable.
The draw means both teams drop two potentially crucial points in the race to catch Manchester City and secure a Champions League spot for the following season. The shared points also keep the battle for third place wide open, ensuring a fascinating second half of the WSL campaign.
In related news, the January transfer window provided a backdrop to the match. Aston Villa confirmed the loan signing of Arsenal defender Jenna Nighswonger, which includes an option to buy. Furthermore, Aston Villa are also set to sign French midfielder Oriane Jean-François from Chelsea for a club-record fee of £450,000. England international Georgia Stanway's announcement that she will leave Bayern Munich at the season's end has also sparked considerable transfer speculation, with Arsenal among the clubs linked.
