Report: Defiant Palace Women hold Arsenal at the Emirates

Summary:

• One change for Palace from last weekend's win over Everton, with Larkin replacing England
• 2: Fine stop from Peyraud-Magnin denies the hosts an early goal
• 6: Caldentey strikes the bar from just inside the box
• 16: Another save from the Palace stopper, this time from Russo
• 27: Bartrip blocks one off the line
• 31: Stanway misses from close range
• 35: Goldie heads just over from a well-worked set piece
• 36: Russo misses a golden opportunity
• HT: Arsenal 0-0 Palace
• 47: Strong save from Peyraud-Magnin denies Baum at the near post
• 57: The ball hits the bar after a fingertip save from the Palace 'keeper
• 66: Lloyd-Smith gets the better of her defender and finds Blanchard, but her touch is too heavy
• 84: Dangerous free-kick for Arsenal but Smith blazes it well wide
• FT: Arsenal 0-0 Palace

Palace Women earned a hard-earned point on their first-ever trip to the Emirates Stadium, holding Arsenal to a 0-0 draw.

Despite having 20% possession, the Eagles battled defiantly to claim a point and keep the hosts from scoring.

Palace were under pressure for most of the first-half in North London, with the hosts eager to take an early lead.

Summer loan signing Pauline Peyraud-Magnin was called into action a number of times - denying Alessia Russo and Lisa Baum from grabbing the go-ahead goal.

Molly Bartrip was called into action on the goal-line too, as she blocked an effort destined for the back of the net on 27 minutes.

Palace had a few opportunities - the best of which fell to Teyah Goldie who headed just over the bar.

For all of Arsenal's domination though - the scores were level at half-time.

The second-half started in much the same way as the first, with the Gunners dominating the ball and the majority of the chances.

Peyraud-Magnin was called into action a number of times, with her producing a superb stop to deny Baum on 47 minutes.

After Arsenal's initial domination, their intensity dropped and Palace began to find pockets of space up the field.

Lexi Lloyd-Smith continued her strong start to life at Palace and forged a quality chance on 66 minutes, beating her defender all ends up and squaring the ball to Annabel Blanchard.

The midfielder's touch was heavy though, and Arsenal soon recovered.

Shannon O'Brien also could have bagged a late winner after pouncing on a loose ball, but Lotte Wubben-Moy managed to reclaim the ball in time.

For all Arsenal's possession, they created few high-quality chances in the second-half - with the Palace defence repelling everything that came it's way.

There were roars of celebration from the coaching staff and the away end at full-time as Palace secured a point on the road and a consecutive clean sheet in the WSL.

This result moves Palace into fifth-place in the WSL, with Spurs visiting Selhurst Park next Sunday.

Tickets for that game are still available - click the button below to get yours!

Arsenal: Rodríguez (GK), Fox, Wubben-Moy, Stanway, Williamson, Caldentey (Little, 75), Kelly (Smith, 60) Baum (Foord, 75), Batlle, Russo (Maanum, 85), Cooney-Cross (Blackstenius, 60)

Subs: Borbe (GK), De Almeida, Catley, Holmberg

Palace: Peyraud-Magnin (GK), Napier (Swaby, 67), Everett, Lloyd-Smith, Larkin (Sharpe, 88), Blanchard (Howat, 67), Goldie, Hopcroft, Tsunoda, O'Brien, Bartrip

Subs: Yañez (GK), Erhabor (GK), Enge, Weerden, Nolan