Arsenal women's player ratings vs Man City: Chloe Kelly's revenge counts for nothing! Lionesses star cannot stop the Gunners falling to dramatic defeat as unbeaten WSL start ends

It looked like the script was written. With seven minutes remaining, Chloe Kelly had come back to haunt her former side, levelling things up for Arsenal at Manchester City with a superb strike that seemed to swing the momentum in the Gunners' favour. But the player who has so often been the hero in 2025, for club and country, would see her efforts reduced to a footnote as Iman Beney's even later effort condemned the north London side to a 3-2 defeat, one which ended their unbeaten start to the new Women's Super League season and leaves their title charge in a precarious position already.

Having come into the game off the back of draws at Manchester United and at home to Aston Villa, Arsenal have now dropped points on as many occasions through the first five games of this campaign as Chelsea did in the entirety of last year, to clinch their sixth successive league triumph. Slip-ups are going to have to be few and far between if anyone is going to dethrone the Blues and unfortunately for the Gunners, that hasn't been the case thus far this term.

It was a barn-storming game, in which Arsenal had to twice come from behind. Khadija Shaw gave City the lead and should've really made it 2-0, while the Gunners could've been level-pegging earlier had Stina Blackstenius finished a chance one-on-one after Mariona Caldentey got the visitors on the scoresheet. Even once Kelly did that, with 83 minutes on the clock, Slegers' side threatened and had their opportunities, but it was the talented teenager Beney, off the bench for City, who decided this five-goal thriller, moving the hosts into second while the Gunners remain fifth.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the Joie Stadium...

Goalkeeper & Defence
Daphne van Domselaar (6/10):
Made some crucial saves to keep Arsenal in it, even if she did still have some iffy moments.
Emily Fox (5/10):
Had a few sloppy moments and could've done better for City's opener.
Lotte Wubben-Moy (4/10):
Her and Catley should've kept more of an eye on Shaw at various moments, including for the opening goal, rather than being drawn towards the ball. Didn't cover herself in glory for the winning goal.
Steph Catley (5/10):
Solid in possession but, again, could've kept more of a handle on Shaw, who found herself in good space on more than one occasion.
Katie McCabe (5/10):
Has some sloppy moments in terms of her defensive positioning and didn't do enough to prevent City's winners.

Getty Images
Midfield
Kim Little (6/10):
Fantastic on the ball to ensure Arsenal had several dominant spells.
Mariona Caldentey (5/10):
Scored a terrific goal to level the scores just after half time but didn't create as much for others as usual.
Victoria Pelova (5/10):
Had some nice moments in possession and worked hard in the press, but struggled to get involved in key areas for the most part.
Getty Images
Attack
Olivia Smith (5/10):
Was excellent in running at her marker and in her pressing, but her final ball so often let her down.
Alessia Russo (5/10):
Struggled for any sort of service all game.
Caitlin Foord (6/10):
A constant threat down the left and in central areas when she drifted inside.

Subs & Manager
Chloe Kelly (6/10):
Scored a terrific goal off the bench. A real surprise she hasn't been more involved through the start of this season.
Beth Mead (6/10):
A lively introduction who posed problems for the City back line.
Stina Blackstenius (4/10):
Provided a different kind of threat and got a few looks at goal but really should've scored to level things up earlier, when put through one-on-one.
Kyra Cooney-Cross (N/A):
Only on for the final 10 minutes after a frustrating lack of game time so far this term.
Frida Maanum (N/A):
Another late sub.
Renee Slegers (4/10):
Made a bold call in swapping the in-form Reid out for Wubben-Moy in the back line and it wasn't one that paid off. Subs were effective and her team fought back twice, but the defence let the Gunners down.

Goalkeeper & Defence

Midfield

Attack

Subs & Manager