It was a tough night up north as we fell to a narrow loss against Manchester United in the Women's Super League.
Our injury-ridden Gunners put in a valiant performance but in the end, a first-half strike from Alessia Russo was the only difference between the two teams.
What happened
The hosts began the game on top, controlling the possession and putting our Gunners on the back foot in the opening ten minutes.
In a painfully familiar scene, our skipper Leah Williamson went down in the 15th minute after an awkward fall and we were forced into an early substitution.
There was a palpable energy shift after Williamson's injury and neither side looked particularly threatening in front of goal.
United took the lead with the last kick of the half, as former Gunner Nikita Parris sped down the right wing and cut back to Alessia Russo, who stroked the ball into the bottom corner.
Our Gunners dug deep in the second half and put on a display full of character, away from home. Steph Catley made her return to the field as a second-half substitute and we shifted to a back five with Jen Beattie also coming on.
Lotte Wubben-Moy put in a sterling performance - rock solid at the back and penetrating United's lines with surging runs and defence-splitting passes.
Victoria Pelova also showed promise down the wing and came close to finding a breakthrough as we left everything on the field.
In the dying seconds of the game, we were awarded a corner which even goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger went up for. United keeper Mary Earps punched the delivery away, the ball fell to Zinsberger on the volley and our keeper came close to scoring an exceptional equaliser.
Despite fighting for every ball and continuing to try new forms of chance creation, a result proved just out of reach on the night and the game ended 1-0 to Manchester United.
What it means
The win means that Manchester United consolidate their position at the top of the table. Our Gunners, meanwhile, remain in third.
We're back in action at the weekend with a trip to Wolfsburg on the horizon for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.
Team news
Arsenal Starting XI: Zinsberger (GK), Wienroither (Beattie, 46), Wubben-Moy, Rafaelle, Maritz, Williamson (C) (Gio, 15 > Taylor, 72), Walti, Maanum, Pelova, Kuhl (Catley, 46), Blackstenius
Subs not used: D'Angelo (GK), Marckese (GK), Goldie, Agyemang
Manchester United Starting XI: Earps (GK), Batlle, Mannion, Blundell, Le Tissier, Zelem (C), Ladd, Toone (Turner, 87), Parris (Thomas, 87), Galton, Russo (Williams, 72)
Subs not used: Baggaley (GK), Boe Risa, Riviere, Garcia, Tounkara, Cascarino
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