Hemp double helps Manchester City beat Arsenal 4-2 to maintain perfect WSL start

Manchester City maintained their perfect start to the Women's Super League season with a 4-2 victory over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Lauren Hemp scored twice as the champions recovered from two deficits to secure a fifth win in five league matches, according to Reuters' match report published by CNA.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2gB7WGey_M

Lisa Baum opened the scoring for Arsenal in the 43rd minute, before Hemp brought City level in first-half stoppage time. Alessia Russo restored the visitors' advantage shortly after the restart. Arsenal were therefore ahead in both halves but could not turn either lead into a result against the defending champions.

Kerstin Casparij supplied City's second equaliser in the 63rd minute, with Hemp making it 3-2 nine minutes later. Bunny Shaw completed the scoring in the 84th minute, taking her league tally for the season to five. Reuters reported that Arsenal remain without a league victory since the opening day and have now suffered consecutive defeats following their loss at Chelsea.

The contribution from City's bench proved significant. Sky Sports reported that Casparij scored with her first touch after coming on, curling a shot into the far corner. Hemp subsequently controlled a ball over the top before finishing through goalkeeper Anneke Borbe's legs. Shaw's late goal came as Arsenal pushed players forward in search of a way back into the match.

Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers told Sky Sports that her team were not currently part of the title-race conversation. She described the mental demands of repeatedly seeing promising positions slip away and said the international break would give players a change of environment. Slegers also said the club would review its work, including the training programme, to identify areas for improvement.

City head coach Andree Jeglertz offered a different assessment of Arsenal's longer-term prospects, saying he still expected them to compete near the top in the spring. In comments carried by Sky Sports, he praised his own players' quality and mentality in overturning another deficit, while acknowledging that Arsenal had periods of control. City enter the international break with their winning league record intact.