In what was presumably the most highly anticipated clash of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup fifth round, Meadow Park would play host Arsenal and Manchester City in what was sure to be a scintillating fixture.

Arsenal’s track record against the Cityzens in Borehamwood has proved strong over recent seasons, as the Gunners search to bounce back from last week’s disappointing defeat in East London.

Jonas Eidevall’s Gunners lined up with three outfield changes from their last outing, as Steph Catley, Vivianne Miedema, and Lia Wälti make way for Katie McCabe, Kyra Cooney-Cross, and Frida Maanum.

Eidevall’s armoury also sees goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo back in the starting line up, as Manuela Zinsberger makes way.

Gareth Taylor makes two alterations to his side coming off the back of their victorious midweek encounter with Tottenham Hotspur. Alanna Kennedy and Filippa Angeldahl make way for Kerstin Casparij and Laura Coombs.

ARS: D’Angelo; Fox, Wubben-Moy, Williamson, McCabe, Cooney-Cross, Maanum, Pelova, Mead, Foord, Russo

MCI: Keating; Aleixandri, Greenwood, Ouahabi, Casparij, Coombs, Park, Hemp, Shaw

It was the visitors who kicked off proceedings from the centre spot, as play went underway in North London.

Manchester City would act first, as Chloe Kelly teed up a searching effort from a corner. Despite the delivery arriving at the back post, Lauren Hemp’s wide header wouldn’t do enough to worry Sabrina D’Angelo between the goalposts.

Jess Park would be next to prove threatening, as she claimed the territory over the field’s central areas. Finding an advancing Hemp out wide, the England forward’s strike was well anticipated by D’Angelo inside of the area.

The Gunners broke the line next, as Frida Maanum found space through the field’s spine. Her immediate ball saw Caitlin Foord stream forward with an intent, working to evade a lunging Kerstin Casparij. Despite her best efforts, the Australian’s strike did not contain the intended power, proving no challenge for Khiara Keating on the goal line.

Meadow Park continued to play audience to attacking football from end to end, as Kelly streamed down the wide area with conviction. Her searching cross was well teed up for an unmarked Hemp, though the strike was mistimed and flew over the cross bar.

Home grown Gunners Leah Williamson and Lotte Wubben-Moy kicked off the opening 30 minutes in turbulent fashion, working in cohesion to nullify the looming threat of a firing Bunny Shaw leading City’s line.

Tensions were rising along City’s right side, as McCabe and Hemp involve themselves in a heated scuffle. Kelly made the call to switch positions with her City counterpart, as Hemp travelled over to Emily Fox’s right side.

The home side began to test the last line of the Cityzens, as Cooney-Cross sent a searching cross-field ball into the path of an awaiting Beth Mead. Mead’s header was mistimed, though the offside flag was raised irregardless of the outcome.

All square at the break, as neither side were able to break the deadlock in the first half of proceedings.

The home side got play back underway for the second half of proceedings, as both teams search to break the deadlock after the interval.

Bunny Shaw looked hungry to pull the Cityzens ahead, bodying a marking Cooney-Cross out of possession. Ignoring calls from Hemp in the wide space, Shaw’s ambitious shot-off was ineffective.

Victoria Pelova executed her footwork brilliantly, working to evade the Manchester City midfield with expertise. Her left-foot strike curled well, but narrowly missed the target to the left side.

The home side began to find their feet, as Foord took her opportunity to look dangerous. Claiming the wide area with intent, Foord entered the box with conviction before her cross off was deflected outside for a corner by a tangle of legs.

The Cityzens saw the ball into the area, as Shaw rose inside of the area. Her header looked to break the deadlock, but a stellar lunge from D’Angelo saw the strike palmed away at it’s highest point. Deja vu just moments later, as Shaw’s head once again made pearling connection with Kelly’s cross. This time it would be Leah Williamson making the stretching save, as the North Bank erupted behind her.

Despite what seemed to be a pressing display from the home side, it would be Manchester City who broke the deadlock. A free kick in an opportunistic position saw Kelly send the ball into the midst, before a scuffle of legs allowed Laia Aleixandri to send the net rippling from the penalty area.

Arsenal desperately searched to make up the deficit as the clock ran down, as Lia Wälti sent a searching cross inside of the area. Despite making good contact in the air, Keating’s safe hands maintained City’s advantage.

Arsenal captain Kim Little sent a flying strike toward Keating, though the save from the Manchester City captain was sublime, seeing the ball over the cross bar. Found in a similar situation just moments later, a controversial lack of movement from the referee saw Arsenal fans vocal, pleading the case that the ball fell over the line.

Despite the six minutes of additional time providing Arsenal a hopeful light, their best efforts wouldn’t prove enough on the day. The final whistle blew in Borehamwood, as Manchester City claimed a 0-1 victory in the capital.

The victory on the road sees Manchester City back in the hat, progressing through to the quarterfinal stages of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.