Arsenal let two-goal lead slip in France | OneFootball

Arsenal looked to be getting a confidence-boosting win away to Paris FC until a late fightback, helped by an unusual penalty, saw the points shared.

Renée Slegers' side have struggled for goals so far this season and they got one just five minutes before the break. England striker Alessia Russo had yet to score this campaign but she did well to take Georgia Stanway's pass, hold off the defenders, and then finish.

Just five minutes after the break, the lead was doubled. This time Emily Fox put in a ball from the left that Stanway got to, chested down, and converted to score her first goal in an Arsenal shirt.

From that point on it should have been the three points for the Gunners but Paris FC fought back, helped by some poor defending.

The first Paris goal came in the 72nd minute with Evelyne Viens finding Clara Matéo on the left to then round Misa Rodríguez and to give her side hope.

The equaliser was a farcical one from an Arsenal standpoint. Rodríguez had the ball for a goal kick and knocked it to Leah Williamson who stopped it with her hand to 'take' the set-piece. The referee awarded a penalty for handball, a decision that was upheld by VAR despite Arsenal protests.

Substitute Maeline Mendy fired home the resulting penalty to make it 2-2 on the night with Arsenal having only themselves to blame for throwing away the win.