Goodwin strikes, Earps saves as London City hold Arsenal to stay third

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LONDON, Nov 15 : London City Lionesses tightened their grip on third place in the Women's Super League after goalkeeper Mary Earps produced a string of superb saves, including a stunning late intervention, to secure a 1-1 draw at Arsenal on Sunday.

Earps finished with eight saves in her third start for Lionesses, preserving a valuable point in the closing stages when Frida Maanum lofted an audacious effort towards the top corner, only for the former England goalkeeper to get the slightest touch on the ball and divert it onto the crossbar.

The visitors had fought back from an early setback through Isobel Goodwin, whose equaliser came barely a minute after Maanum had given Arsenal the lead in the 10th minute with a composed finish from Alessia Russo's cutback.

Arsenal, who have yet to win a league game at home this season, looked set to take control at the Emirates Stadium when Russo burst into the area and pulled the ball back for Maanum to sweep into the bottom corner.

But London City responded immediately as Goodwin broke free of Leah Williamson and rifled a powerful finish high into the net to silence the home crowd.

"It's obviously a big point away from home," Earps told Sky Sports. "I thought either team probably could have won it in terms of chances, a lot of counter-attacking.

"But really happy that we got the point. Would have liked three, so we'll go back to the training ground and work out how we could have made that difference to get the three points."

Arsenal pressed for a winner after the break, but Earps repeatedly frustrated the hosts and capped her display with the dramatic late save from Maanum's looping effort. The eight saves were her most in a WSL game since 2017.

The result kept London City third on 20 points, six behind leaders Chelsea, while Arsenal remained sixth on 14 points.

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