Jayde Riviere’s red card forced the Red Devils into a defensive masterclass at the Emirates, as United move to 5th in the WSL standings.
Manchester United manager Marc Skinner praised his side’s “heart and desire” following a gritty 0-0 draw against Arsenal on Saturday. Despite playing the final 25 minutes with ten men, United secured a crucial point at the Emirates Stadium in what was Skinner’s 100th Women’s Super League match in charge of the club.
The Turning Point: Riviere’s Red Card The match shifted dramatically in the 65th minute when Canadian full-back Jayde Riviere received a second yellow card from referee Abigail Byrne. Speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle, Skinner admitted he had “no argument” with the dismissal, noting that the team must learn from putting themselves in such vulnerable positions.
“I felt that we were fantastic in our defensive work, and we needed to be,” Skinner said. “Once you go down to 10 players, it becomes a challenge and a fight. It just shows my team are fully up for that fight.”
Early Dominance and Missed Chances United started the contest aggressively, nearly taking the lead when Fridolina Rolfö’s header was tipped onto the crossbar by Arsenal’s Anneke Borbe. Skinner highlighted this opening phase as a positive, though he regretted letting the Gunners find their rhythm late in the first half.
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The match also saw debuts for January signings Hanna Lundkvist and Lea Schüller, though their impact was limited by the tactical shift required after the red card.
League Standings and What’s Next The draw leaves Manchester United in 5th place with 22 points, now 11 points adrift of league leaders Manchester City. However, the Red Devils have a busy January schedule ahead:
- Women’s FA Cup: United travel to face Burnley this Sunday, January 18th, in the fourth round.
- League Cup Semi-Final: A massive rematch against Arsenal awaits on Wednesday, January 21st (19:00 GMT) at Meadow Park, with a spot in the final on the line.
