Arsenal Women 1-1 Villa Women: Lucy Parker's late equaliser secures point

Lucy Parker's stoppage-time equaliser secured a 1-1 draw for Aston Villa Women at the Emirates, with Arsenal Women punished for their sometimes passive play.

The five-goal thrashings in the opening two WSL matches must seem like a distant memory for Renee Slegers' side, who have now drawn back-to-back league games with just one goal scored.

Despite having 19 shots and 46 touches in the opposition box, only Frida Maanum found the net for Arsenal.

It was from a mistake of Aston Villa's own making, too as their attempt to play out from the back early in the first half was intercepted by Mariona Caldentey. She tapped the loose ball into Maanum's path, who then slotted under Sabrina D'Angelo.

Maanum should have doubled the Gunners' lead just after the half an hour as a free kick was nodded across the face of goal. But the Norway international was just a toe away from poking the ball home at the right post.

For the opening half an hour of the second half, Aston Villa had the better of the play. Chasity Grant was inches away from equalising soon after the break in the pick of the chances, but her attempt wriggled past the far post.

But amid a late Gunners surge, the visitors made the breakthrough and punished Arsenal's apathy in the fourth of seven added minutes. The hosts failed to clear Lyn Wilms' corner and Parker was there to power home from close range.

It is a vital point for Villa away at one of the WSL's biggest sides, and it was celebrated like a victory. For Arsenal, they miss the chance to go top of the league ahead of Sunday's games and open up more ground on the teams around them.