Arsenal women's player ratings vs Leicester: Alessia Russo pounces as Frida Maanum scores the winner but Gunners must thank debutante Daphne van Domselaar for first WSL win of the new season

The Foxes should've got something from a game that their opponents, looking sluggish after midweek Champions League action, struggled to put to bed

Exactly 24 hours after watching the men's side need stoppage time heroics to avoid dropping points against Leicester, Arsenal's women's team headed up to the King Power Stadium on Sunday hoping for a less eventful afternoon but the same outcome, that being a victory and three points towards a title chase - and that's exactly what they got. In a cagey game of few chances, it was a backpass pounced on by Alessia Russo and a simple finish from Frida Maanum that downed the Foxes on this occasion, in a 1-0 win for the Gunners.

Unlike Saturday's Premier League fixture, for a while, it looked like Arsenal could have some trouble in getting the goal needed for a victory in this one. Russo hit the side netting from an angle with what was little more than a half-chance, while Lia Walti brought the best out of Leicester goalkeeper Liza Kop with a powerful strike from range. That came just a few minutes after Jutta Rantala had done the exact same at the other end, with Arsenal debutante Daphne van Domselaar tipping her effort onto the crossbar.

That these were the most notable incidents of the first half illustrated how tight it was, the kind of affair that, as the old cliché goes, would be decided by a moment of magic or a mistake. Unfortunately for Leicester, it would be the latter, with Russo alert to a short pass back to Kop and able to cleverly tee up Maanum for a tap-in that, thanks to two big saves from Van Domselaar in the closing stages, would secure Arsenal's first win of the new Women's Super League season.

GOAL rates the Gunners' players from the King Power Stadium...

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Goalkeeper & Defence
Daphne van Domselaar (8/10):
Made three brilliant saves to keep a vital clean sheet on a strong debut.
Emily Fox (7/10):
Leicester focused a lot of play down Arsenal's right but Fox stood up well and defended brilliantly.
Lotte Wubben-Moy (6/10):
Great on the ball and was especially good at slowing the tempo down as Arsenal saw the game out.
Laia Codina (6/10):
Popped up with a couple of important interventions in her own box.
Katie McCabe (7/10):
Supported the attack well but also honoured her defensive duties to keep Leicester quiet on her side.

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Midfield
Lia Walti (7/10):
Fantastic in possession. Would've broken the deadlock if not for a terrific Kop save.
Kyra Cooney-Cross (6/10):
Sprayed the ball around nicely and battled well to win possession back plenty.
Frida Maanum (6/10):
Wasn't as involved as usual but got the goal that broke the deadlock.
Attack
Beth Mead (6/10):
Arsenal's most creative player before she was subbed off around the hour.
Alessia Russo (7/10):
Runs on the ball were great and opened up space for others. Showed great composure to tee up Maanum for the opener.
Caitlin Foord (5/10):
Struggled to get into the game in the first half and was then put in a vulnerable and unnatural position at left-back in the closing stages.

Subs & Manager
Mariona Caldentey (5/10):
Some nice touches and bursts of energy off the bench, albeit without adding to the scoreline.
Stina Blackstenius (5/10):
Like Caldentey, was bright off the bench but without helping Arsenal enjoy a more comfortable end to the game.
Kim Little (5/10):
Even her class in midfield couldn't stop Arsenal having a really sloppy end to this game.
Rosa Kafaji (N/A):
On in the closing stages.
Jonas Eidevall (6/10):
A sluggish display that was telling of a frantic start to the new season. Did his best to rotate amid injuries and was limited in that sense when he opted to give McCabe a rest in the second half, but his decision to put Foord in her left-back position allowed Leicester to get in a lot down that side and create chances they should've converted.

Goalkeeper & Defence

Midfield

Attack

Subs & Manager