Arsenal 1-1 Aston Villa

Aston Villa stretched their unbeaten run to eight matches across all competitions as they drew 1-1 with Arsenal in the Women's Super League on Sunday.

Chasity Grant opened the scoring inside 25 minutes at Emirates Stadium, finishing off a superb team counter attacking move.

However despite plenty of defensive resilience the away side were made to settle for a point when Alessia Russo equalised five minutes from time.

 The Villans return to B6 next weekend when they host Manchester United in the Women's Super League at Villa Park.

Before kick off in N5 both teams gathered around the centre circle to observe a moments' silence for Remembrance Day. 

It was a quiet start to proceedings on the pitch, with both teams content to exchange the early spells of possession before Akane Okuma made the game's first save in the 11th minute. 

The Villa stopper got down low at her near post to gather Caitlin Foord's speculative curler, before setting the visitors off on a dangerous transition up the other end.

Lynn Wilms latched onto an eventual ball over the top,  and fired an inviting cross towards Lucia Kendall on the penalty spot. However the offside flag was up before the midfielder could get a telling touch.

That attack served as a wake up call for the hosts who upped the ante in search of the opener.

Okuma stood tall at her near post to deny Georgia Stanway from a tight angle, before doing so again minutes later to thwart Taylor Hinds.

After coming through that heavy spell of Arsenal pressure, a ruthless Villa counter attack broke the deadlock in the 25th minute.

Okuma set Kendall driving forwards with a chipped goal kick into midfield, with Kendall repeating the favour for Chasity Grant to charge into the right channel. Then it was all down to composure.

Grant cut inside Steph Catley before her cross-goal drive deflected off the defender and over Misa Rodriguez into net.

Villa were made to fend off another Arsenal surge in the latter stages of the first half, though they held their nerve to maintain the one goal advantage into the break.

Stanway sent another long range strike into the midriff of Okuma, before striker Alessia Russo came closest to the leveller with a curling effort that drifted inches wide. 

While centre half Mathilde Harviken was on hand to head clear a late Ona Batlle cross before a red shirt could convert at the back post.

Arsenal flew out of the traps in the second half in a bid to equalise quickly, with half time introduction Emily Fox proving particularly effective.

Fox's menacing ball through the six yard box called Okuma into action, as she dashed off her line before a red shirt could reach it.

Then Villa skipper Anna Patten was required to make a last ditch block thwart the American's near post drive.

Yet Villa remained resolute in the face of the mounting pressure.

As Villa continued to battle significant pressure with 20 minutes to go, interim head coach Brian Sørensen turned to his bench in a bid to reinforce the defensive efforts.

Lucy Parker made her return from a recent injury in a back line re-shuffle, with former Gunner Noelle Maritz moving out to full-back in place of Wilms.

While Amalie Vangsgaard also made way for Maya Hijikata in the front line.

Arsenal tried to capitalise as Villa re-organised their shape, though Okuma was on hand again with a fingertip save to push Kim Little's shot over the bar.

The home side's pressure ultimately told in the 85th minute, as Russo met Stina Blackstenius' cross with a downward header into the net via the post.

Having finally been breached the Villa back line were made to dig deep through five minutes of stoppage time.

Okuma capped her stellar display with another superb stop, flying to her right to palm away Batlle's wicked drive, as the visitors secured a point at the Emirates for the second season in succession.

The Villans are now eight games unbeaten as they head back home to Villa Park for their next league game against Manchester United on Sunday 8 November (ko 12pm).