READING FC WOMEN were shot down by Arsenal in their third successive Women’s Super League defeat of the season.
The Royals went a goal behind after half an hour after Stina Blackstenius scored for the Gunners.
Goalkeeper Jackie Burns kept the Royals alive after an hour when she made a magnificent stop to keep out Kim Little’s penalty.
Despite a spirited second-half display, which saw Natasha Dowie go close on two occasions, Kelly Chambers’ team were unable to find an equaliser and are left without a point after three WSL games.
Looking to get their first points of the season in a tricky test up against Arsenal, Kelly Chambers made two changes to her team from the Conti Cup defeat to Tottenham.
Emma Harries and Justine Vanhaevermaet both came into the side to make their first starts of the campaign, while Becky Jane featured on the bench for the first time since rejoining the Royals this summer.
Arsenal were without England captain Leah Williamson after she picked up an injury prior to international duty, while the league’s top scorer Beth Mead returned to the starting eleven.
Arsenal flew out the traps and almost caught Reading asleep at the back within 30 seconds when Stina Blackstenius raced onto a through ball to go one on one with Jacqueline Burns, but the Royals keeper got low to make a vital stop on her WSL debut.
Reading settled into the game after a shaky start as Emma Harries looked to get her team on the front foot but couldn’t find a teammate with her cross.
Royals full-back Lily Woodham was fortunate to escape without a booking after a cynical foul on Beth Mead on the halfway line.
The Gunners went close through Mead when she was played in by Vivianne Miedema only to see her blasted shot deflected behind for a corner.
Jonas Eidevall’s side began to take control of the contest and should have gone in front when Caitlin Foord drifted an inviting ball to the back post for Laura Wienroither, but with the goal gaping, she volleyed wide.
Having held out for half an hour, Reading’s defence were breached when Blackstenius picked out the bottom corner from outside the box.
After some neat build up play, the Swedish striker was fed by Kim Little, spun past her marker and arrowed a shot low past Burns.
Reading had to stay alert to prevent Arsenal extending their lead when Tia Primmer kept close to Little to ensure she had no space to strike at goal.
Caitlin Foord went close on the stroke of half-time when her shot from a narrow angle whistled just wide of the far post.
Lily Woodham joined Primmer in the referee’s notebook when she fouled Mead on the right byline as Reading went into the break a goal down.
Kelly Chambers made a switch at the break that saw Faye Bryson take the place of Emma Mukandi.
Arsenal were denied by the post twice in the space of a few moments. Katie McCabe’s cross was almost inadvertently deflected in by Deanna Cooper, but she was saved by the frame of the goal.
From the resulting corner, Blackstenius found space and nodded the ball into the post.
Reading responded with their best opening of the game when Harries struck the bouncing ball and forced Manu Zinsberger into an impressive stop with her leg before the ball squirmed away to safety for the visitors.
With an hour played, Arsenal were given the chance to double the lead when the referee awarded them a penalty after a handball in the box.
Arsenal captain Kim Little stepped up to the spot but Royals keeper Burns made a tremendous save as she dove to her right to parry it away to keep her team in the game.
The Gunners made a triple change with just over 20 minutes to play that saw Jordan Nobbs, Lina Hurtig and Frida Maanum replace Miedema, Foord and Lia Walti.
Reading struck the frame of the goal directly from a corner as Woodham’s inswinging delivery smacked the upright.
With a little over 15 minutes remaining, Lauren Wade replaced Primmer as the Royals searched to find something from the match.
A determined recovery run and tackle from Bryson ensured that Blackstenis wouldn’t haven’t have the chance to sprint through on goal.
Reading kept pushing and forced another vital save from Zinsberger who stuck out a leg to prevent Natasha Dowie from finding a leveller.
The resulting corner provided another save for the Gunners as Maanum had to head over the bar after Dowie’s powerful initial header.
Reading were unable to find a leveller throughout six minutes of additional time as the Gunners took a narrow victory.
Next up for Reading is an away trip to West Ham United next Sunday.
Reading: Burns, Mukandi (c), Evans, Cooper, Vanhaevermaet, Woodham, Rowe, Primmer, Eikeland, Dowie, Harries
Subs: Poulter, Bryson, Wellings, Wade, Caldwell, Jane, Meadows Tuson
Arsenal: Zinsberger, Wienroither, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe, Little (c), Walti, Miedema, Mead, Blackstenius, Foord
Subs: Marckese, Beattie, Maritz, Reid, Nobbs, Maanum, Iwabuchi, Hurtig, Agyemang
Goals: Blackstenius 30’
