Georgia Stanway made a costly Arsenal mistake but her performance told another story

Georgia Stanway put in a genuinely world-class display against Man United. Throughout the entirety of the match, she was all over the pitch, involving herself in Arsenal's patient build-up play. She demonstrated, yet again, her impressive range of passing.

Then, it happened. The moment all Arsenal fans feared when it was starting to feel like Arsenal were sluggish, but it couldn't have happened to a less deserving player.

One momentary blip doesn't define Georgia Stanway

Stanway, unfortunately, made the error that led to Man United's game opener from Julia Zigiotti. This one moment shouldn't steal the headlines for Stanway.

Before the error, and indeed after it, Stanway was Arsenal's best player. It is easy to overlook her performance today because you just come to expect it from a player of Stanway's calibre, but she was important throughout.

As someone with the CV she's had, she will naturally be her own harshest critic, but these things happen. Passes get misplaced all the time; it's very rare that a player will finish a game with 100% pass accuracy, particularly a player who is always asking for the ball like Stanway is.

It just so happened that Zigiotti was lurking, and it puts the error from Stanway up in lights.

Nevertheless, Stanway made a respectable 106 touches, more than any player on the pitch. If she puts herself in this position of authority, then great things will happen. Naturally, errors will happen, too. It is a responsibility she takes on the chin.

In truth, the goal from Man United only confirmed Arsenal fans' biggest fears. It felt like Arsenal were too focused on not drawing that they forgot about the possibility of losing.

Thankfully, losing isn't the reality that Arsenal fans need to swallow. Smilla Holmberg managed to claw back a point with an excellent finish late on.

This is a very new-look Arsenal team. The summer saw wholesale upgrades to the squad, so it's bound to take Renee Slegers and co. time to gel. Wherever Arsenal are involved, the aim is always trophies as a minimum; however, hindsight is always a beautiful thing to remember.

This was Stanway's third WSL game for Arsenal, third. For her to already be making the impact she is making is seriously impressive. The more that she darts into pockets of space to pick up the ball, the more she raises the floor for those around her.

Add us as a preferred source on Google