Arsenal posted 25 shots and held 65 per cent possession yet drew 0-0 with Manchester United in matchweek 12 of the FA Women’s Super League on January 10, 2026. The match at Emirates Stadium drew 37,627 fans and saw Manchester United reduced to 10 players after Jayde Riviere’s 65th-minute red card.
This result updates Arsenal’s record to 6-6-1 with 24 points and Manchester United’s to 6-5-2 with 23 points. In the context of the FA Women’s Super League, where top positions secure European qualification, this draw highlights the challenges in converting dominance into points amid a competitive season.
Arsenal’s Penetration Failure in Arsenal vs Manchester United WSL Clash
Arsenal demonstrated clear edges in game control during the Arsenal vs Manchester United WSL encounter, as per fbref.com data. They held 65% possession compared to Manchester United’s 35%, completing 564 of 691 passes for 82% accuracy against 296 of 380 for 78%.
Touches totaled 814 for Arsenal and 545 for Manchester United, with Arsenal recording 59 touches in the attacking penalty area versus Manchester United’s 8. This disparity underscores Arsenal’s presence in dangerous zones without yielding goals.
In chance creation, Arsenal generated 25 total shots, 6 on target, amassing 2.1 expected goals (xG). Manchester United managed 4 shots, 1 on target, with 0.4 xG. The shot volume gap stood at 25 to 4, and the xG gap at 2.1 to 0.4.
Of Arsenal’s shots, 19 came from inside the box based on distances under 18 yards, including efforts from Alessia Russo at 4 yards (0.22 xG) and Stina Blackstenius at 5 yards (0.18 xG). Manchester United’s sole on-target shot was Fridolina Rolfö’s 7-yard header (0.31 xG), saved by Anneke Borbe.
Big chances data is not explicitly available, but high-xG opportunities like Russo’s 0.22 and Blackstenius’s 0.18 indicate missed openings. Possession translated into more chances for Arsenal, but efficiency in front of goal was low, with only 24% shots on target compared to Manchester United’s 25%.
Defensive performance saw Arsenal concede 4 shots, 0.4 xGA, with 1 save (100% save rate). Manchester United conceded 25 shots, 2.1 xGA, with 5 saves (83% save rate) by Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
Blocks and clearances further illustrate the defensive setup: Manchester United recorded 17 blocks and 68 clearances, while Arsenal had 6 blocks and 18 clearances. Arsenal allowed no goals for a clean sheet, as did Manchester United.
Key statistical differences include the possession versus chance creation, where Arsenal’s 65% led to 25 shots but zero goals, reflecting conversion issues. Manchester United’s compact approach limited their own creation but effectively neutralized Arsenal’s attacks.
Player contributions highlight these numbers. Alessia Russo led Arsenal with 7 shots, 2 on target, 0.4 xG, and 5 shot-creating actions. Mariona Caldentey added 6 shot-creating actions and 12 progressive passes. For Manchester United, Phallon Tullis-Joyce’s saves were pivotal, with a PSxG of 1.1.
Data explains the goalless result through Arsenal’s inability to convert high-volume opportunities against a resilient defense, exacerbated after the red card.
Compact Defense Pattern in Arsenal vs Manchester United WSL Fixture
The Arsenal vs Manchester United WSL match fits into a broader set of data points from Arsenal’s 2025-2026 season, where high possession has not always resulted in goals against compact defenses. In this fixture, Arsenal’s 65% possession and 25 shots yielded no goals, particularly notable after Manchester United went down to 10 players.
Season match logs show similar instances. On September 21, 2025, Arsenal drew 0-0 at Manchester United with 57% possession and 0 goals scored. On November 16, 2025, they drew 0-0 at Tottenham with 55% possession and 0 goals.
Additionally, on September 27, 2025, versus Aston Villa, Arsenal held 67% possession but scored only 1 goal in a 1-1 draw. On December 9, 2025, against Twente in the Champions League, 61% possession led to 1 goal in a 1-0 win.
These examples illustrate matches where Arsenal dominated possession over 55% but scored 1 or fewer goals, often against setups that concede space but defend compactly in the box. In the current match, Manchester United’s 68 clearances and 17 blocks align with this defensive compactness.
Individual data reinforces this. In the Arsenal vs Manchester United WSL game, Manchester United won 19 aerials to Arsenal’s 13, aiding their defensive efforts. Tackles were 21 for Manchester United and 27 for Arsenal, with interceptions at 11 and 8, respectively.
Offsides were 3 for Arsenal and 0 for Manchester United, suggesting a high defensive line at times, but the low xG conceded (0.4 for Arsenal) shows overall solidity. Goal kicks were 4 for Arsenal and 8 for Manchester United, with long balls at 56 and 50.
Substitutions occurred, with Arsenal introducing Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius at 63′, coinciding with the red card period. Manchester United substituted Lea Schüller and Simi Awujo at 60′, then Hanna Lundkvist at 71′ after the red.
The efficiency gap shows Arsenal’s 2.1 xG from 25 shots untranslated to goals, while Manchester United’s 0.4 xG from 4 shots also yielded none. This mirrors the pattern in prior fixtures, where dominance in stats like corners (8 for Arsenal, 0 for Manchester United) and crosses (34 vs 5) does not guarantee scores.
Player stats detail the struggle: Frida Maanum had 4 shots for 0.2 xG, Stina Blackstenius 4 for 0.5 xG, all without conversion. For Manchester United, Julia Zigiotti Olme contributed 5 tackles and 6 progressive passes in a containing role.
This data-based view positions the Arsenal vs Manchester United WSL draw as another case where open play leads to chances but compact defending prevents breakthroughs.
Implications for FA Women’s Super League Race
The 0-0 draw in the Arsenal vs Manchester United WSL fixture carries implications for both teams’ positions in the FA Women’s Super League. Post-match, Arsenal sit on 24 points from 12 matches, while Manchester United have 23 points from 12.
Verified standings as of January 11, 2026, from shows a tight top end, with Manchester City leading on 30 points from 11 matches, Chelsea on 24 from 11, Arsenal on 22 pre-match (adjusted to 24 post), and Manchester United on 21 pre (23 post). This keeps Arsenal in third and Manchester United in fourth, pending other results.
The league’s structure awards Champions League spots to the top three, making these points vital. Arsenal’s dropped points against a 10-player side could affect their chase, while Manchester United’s resilient point boosts their standing.
Broader patterns in the FA Women’s Super League include increasing defensive organization, with data showing more clean sheets in mid-season fixtures. This match’s entertainment value came from Arsenal’s pressure, but the lack of goals reflects a trend in closely contested games.
For Arsenal, the 2.1 xG without scoring highlights areas for review in upcoming matches. Manchester United’s performance post-red card, conceding no goals despite 35% possession, demonstrates defensive depth.
Links to more: Detailed stats available on the women’s football Zone. Further reading on the league at the WSL page.
The numbers from this 0-0 draw reveal Arsenal’s dominance in possession and chance creation, countered by Manchester United’s compact defense, with key factors like attacking penalty area touches disparity and post-red card resilience shaping the outcome.
