They say the best form of defence is attack. Arsenal, without their two first choice centre backs, could have done with their forwards being more clinical. They beat Reading 1-0 thanks to Stina Blackstenius' first half strike but it could and should have been more.
This was not Arsenal at their free-flowing best but they showed enough grit to see out this narrow victory and go joint top of the Women's Super League.The build-up to this game had focused on how the Gunners would cope without their centre back parntership of Leah Williamson and Rafaelle.
Both have been instrumental in their strong start to the season and Arsenal's run of eight WSL clean sheets prior to last night. That record is now nine, but the new pairing of Lotte Wubben-Moy and Steph Catley still needs work.
A Wubben-Moy mistake almost gifted Reading an equaliser while the hosts had a late flurry of chances they failed to convert. There is no doubt Arsenal's defence will be tested more when they play Champions League winners Lyon on Wednesday.
Losing Williamson to injury last season arguably cost Arsenal the title. What's worse about this blow is that it came just after centre back partner Rafaelle was ruled out for a number of weeks with a foot injury sustained against Ajax.
Williamson, who was injured in England training, was seen on crutches and wearing a protective boot while watching the Lionesses' victory over the USA from the stands. She does not require surgery but will miss next month's international fixtures. Rafaelle also does not need surgery but both players face up to a month on the sidelines.
The good thing for Arsenal is that they do not play Chelsea until after the winter break, but they do have in-form Manchester United immediately after the next international window.
Here though, they had little defending to do, especially in the first half. Blackstenius should have put Arsenal ahead inside 25 seconds when she was played through on goal by Catley, but the striker's effort was too close to Reading goalkeeper Jackie Burns, who got down well to make the save.
Laura Wienroither was the next to miss a gilt-edged chance, firing Caitlin Foord's cross wide at the back-post. The deadlock was finally broken on the half hour mark. Kim Little teed up Blakstenius on the edge of the box and she turned neatly before firing into the bottom left corner.
Vivianne Miedema almost doubled Arsenal's lead shortly after half-time as she forced Burns into a low save before the Gunners hit the post twice. First, Katie McCabe's cross was deflected goalwards, then Blackstenius headed the resulting corner against the woodwork.
Reading had failed to have a shot in the first 55 minutes but a long ball over the top almost undid the new-look Arsenal defence. Wubben-Moy could only head the ball into the path of Emma Harries, but the striker's shot was saved by the legs of Manuela Zinsberger.
Arsenal then had another chance to make it 2-0 as referee Louise Saunders awarded the visitors a penalty after Lily Woodham blocked Beth Mead's cross with her hand. Little stepped up but her effort was tame and Burns got down to her right to make the save.
Reading almost equalised in bizarre fashion when Woodham's corner hit the top of the crossbar. But their best chance came when Amalie Eikeland's cross found Natasha Dowie in the box. The striker could not get enough power behind her shot and Zinsberger saved with her feet. Frida Maanum then cleared Justine Vanhaevermaet's header off the line. Arsenal held out, just. But there are tougher tests to come.
