Arsenal vs Aston Villa Women: Alessia Russo rescues 1–1 draw with late equaliser

Alessia Russo headed an 85th-minute equaliser as Arsenal were held to a frustrating 1–1 draw by Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.

The Arsenal vs Aston Villa Women result denied the hosts a second successive league victory, with Chasity Grant’s first-half goal keeping Villa ahead until the closing stages.

Arsenal vs Aston Villa Women: Grant puts visitors ahead

Arsenal created the early chances but could not beat Akane Okuma. The Villa goalkeeper saved from Caitlin Foord, Georgia Stanway and Taylor Hinds before the visitors took the lead.

Lynn Wilms supplied Grant, who finished into the bottom-left corner in the 25th minute.

Géraldine Reuteler had an opportunity to reply soon afterwards, but Okuma saved her effort from inside the penalty area.

Blackstenius helps Russo rescue a point

Villa’s resistance lasted until five minutes from the end, when Russo headed in Stina Blackstenius’ cross.

Blackstenius had replaced Kyra Cooney-Cross in the 83rd minute and provided the assist within two minutes of coming on.

Arsenal could not find a winner. Sky Sports’ match coverage recorded 27 Arsenal attempts to Villa’s one, with Okuma making eight saves.

Another setback after Arsenal’s derby win

Arsenal had ended a five-match league winless run by beating Tottenham in their previous WSL fixture. Villa arrived after successive league victories, including a 3–2 win at Everton.

Those results had given both sides momentum heading into the Emirates meeting, as outlined in our WSL weekend preview.

Starting line-ups

Arsenal: Misa, Batlle, Williamson (c), Catley, Hinds, Cooney-Cross, Stanway, Smith, Reuteler, Foord, Russo.

Aston Villa: Okuma, Patten (c), Harviken, Deslandes, Wilms, Kielland, Jean-François, Maritz, Kendall, Grant, Vangsgaard.

Match facts

• Result: Arsenal 1–1 Aston Villa.
• Half-time: Arsenal 0–1 Aston Villa.
• Scorers: Alessia Russo, 85 minutes; Chasity Grant, 25.
• Venue: Emirates Stadium.
• Competition: Women’s Super League.
• Date: Sunday 1 November 2026.