Grant goal and Okuma saves earn Aston Villa Women a point at Arsenal

Aston Villa Women came within five minutes of a famous win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, before a late Alessia Russo header earned Arsenal a 1-1 draw in the Women's Super League.

Chastity Grant's first-half goal had given Villa the lead, and Brian Sorensen's side defended with real discipline for most of the afternoon against one of the strongest teams in the country.

Grant strikes against the run of play

Villa went ahead in the 25th minute. Grant latched onto a ball from Lynn Wilms, raced past Arsenal's Steph Catley and slotted her shot into the bottom corner.

It came against the run of play, with Arsenal dominating possession, and Grant almost broke clear again before half-time, only for Catley to make a brilliant tackle to stop her.

Okuma stands firm

After going ahead, Villa were content to let Arsenal have the ball and protect their lead, and their plan almost worked perfectly. Goalkeeper Akane Okuma was outstanding, making a fine save from a Georgia Stanway shot from 25 yards and brilliantly tipping over a strike from Kim Little in the 75th minute.

Arsenal's Kyra Cooney-Cross also headed wide when unmarked in the box as the home side's pressure grew.

Villa's resistance was finally broken in the 85th minute, when substitute Stina Blackstenius crossed from the right and Russo flicked a header inside the far corner.

A point well earned

The statistics show how hard Villa had to work. Grant's goal was their only shot of the match, while Arsenal had 28, with eight on target. To leave the Emirates with a point after that kind of pressure is a sign of a team that knows how to dig in.

The draw leaves both sides on 10 points, with Arsenal sixth and Villa eighth in the table.

For Arsenal, it was a fourth consecutive home draw and another afternoon of missed chances. The Gunners have had 163 shots in eight league games but scored from only eight of them, a problem that will concern their manager, Renee Slegers.

It was also the third time this season Arsenal have had to come from behind to rescue a point, and it followed wins against Tottenham and Benfica that had suggested they were finding their rhythm. Villa's display showed exactly how hard it can be to break down a side that is well drilled and willing to defend deep.

Building blocks for Villa

For Villa, the result is one to build on. Taking points from the sides at the top of the WSL is never easy, and a well-organised performance away from home, with a goalkeeper in this kind of form and a forward as sharp as Grant, gives Sorensen's team plenty of confidence for the weeks ahead.