Manchester United’s Alessia Russo ends Arsenal hopes in Women’s League Cup

Marc Skinner praised the “spirit and togetherness” of Manchester United after Alessia Russo’s fine header late on in a fiery encounter with Arsenal took his team into the semi-finals of the Continental League Cup.

“I’m so proud of everyone and all the staff. They’ve worked tirelessly. But we’ve done nothing but get to a semi-final, we’ve got work to do,” he cautioned.

“We’ve beaten Arsenal but if you make that your mantle then you don’t ever grow because you’re only ever chasing teams. We have to focus on what we can do and how good we can be and see past the ceilings that people give us.”

Arsenal had introduced a clutch of new signings and returning players to swing momentum the home side’s way after a cagey opening half but were made to suffer a fifth defeat in six games after Russo rose highest from a free-kick in the 85th minute.

Arsenal have been on the ropes since the start of December. The Gunners’ sole match of 2022 prior to this – thanks to last Sunday’s game against Reading being postponed at the request of the Royals due to Covid and injuries – was a shock 2-0 defeat to the then bottom-placed Birmingham. Jonas Eidevall absorbed the blame for that disjointed performance but at a bitterly cold Borehamwood his side looked far more organised and he was somewhat surprisingly bright afterwards because of it.

“Today was a big step in the right direction, and that’s where your focus needs to be, on your own performances,” he said. “We need to build on that, and attack the next game against Manchester City.”

Boosted by the return from injury of Leah Williamson, who signed a new contract with her childhood club last week, and the USA forward Tobin Heath, who both made the bench, the home team matched the high press of