Chloe Kelly comes up clutch! Lioness helps Arsenal secure simpler Champions League pathway at Man Utd's expense in straight shootout for WSL's second place - with Ella Toone's efforts in vain

It took the Gunners just two minutes to break the deadlock as Chloe Kelly capitalised on Phallon Tullis-Joyce's error and scored the opening goal. The hosts' celebrations, however, were short-lived as Kelly's England team-mate Ella Toone equalised for United with a clinical header.

After an evenly contested first 45 minutes, an Arsenal barrage early in the second period ultimately settled the game. First, Grace Clinton tripped Caitlin Foord inside the United box and Mariona Caldentey scored her team's second goal from the spot in the 50th minute.

Six minutes later, Frida Maanum followed a through ball from Katie McCabe and found the back of the net to increase her team's lead, and just a minute past the hour mark, Kelly turned provider with an assist for Kim Little.

Just when it seemed that the north London side had taken an unassailable lead, the visitors staged a strong comeback. Elisabeth Terland intercepted a poor short pass from McCabe on the edge of the Arsenal box and pulled one back for the Red Devils in the 70th minute. McCabe then committed yet another mistake as her poorly-timed challenge on Celin Bizet led to United winning a penalty and Maya Le Tissier further reducing the gap.

Arsenal eventually survived the late scare as they secured crucial three points and sealed a second-placed finish at the end of the 2024-25 Women's Super League campaign. The final standings mean the Gunners will have a longer summer break and shorter pathway in Champions League qualifying.

With a goal and an assist, Kelly was Arsenal's star of the match as the Lioness vitally helped her side clinch second position in the league table. The winger bagged an early goal to hand her side the lead before providing an assist for Little for what was the deciding fourth.

While the entire Red Devils backline crumbled at the start of the second half, leading to the Gunners scoring three goals in a spell of 15 minutes, with the goal arguably very avoidable. That capitulation could prove costly in Champions League qualifying, where WSL teams have struggled in the past.

Taking second will allow the Arsenal players to get some extra days off following a hectic summer that will see top European nations compete at the 2025 Women's Euros. Finishing runners-up means the Gunners will play their Women's Champions League third qualifying round on September 11, their first match of the new season. United, on the other hand, will play the first leg of their second qualifying round on August 27.