Old comrades: Arsenal general manager Vic Akers and Steph Houghton

Published: 22 May, 2014
by CATHERINE ETOE

FORMER Arsenal skipper Steph Houghton captained Manchester City to their first FA Women’s Super League win on Sunday – a victory that came at the expense of the Gunners.

England striker Toni Duggan scored from close range after just 11 minutes as City stunned Arsenal at Boreham Wood FC.  

“Once we got the goal it was all about hard work and determination,” said Houghton, who admitted that it was strange to face the side she had won seven major titles with. “I have some really special memories here and I’ve still got some good friends, it’s such a wonderful football club.

"It was weird coming back,” Houghton added. “But at the end of the day I have to be professional and it was all about trying to get three points for City.”

City’s win capped a miserable week for the Gunners. Last Thursday they suffered a shock 2-0 Continental Cup defeat at the hands of Reading – an FA WSL 2 side now managed by former Arsenal skipper, Jayne Ludlow.

With Arsenal sitting bottom of WSL 1 and struggling in the Continental Cup group table, manager Shelley Kerr said goals are now imperative for her team.

“It’s important that we score a goal early, and so far in games we haven’t managed that and that’s difficult. It puts pressure on the players and pressure is everything in football,” she said.

“We need to be more clinical and creative in the final third. We have enough quality in our team to be doing better.”