Norwegian on recovering from collapse at Molineux, European hopes and being ‘the spider in the net’ in midfield

Frida Maanum stabbed her forefinger at the cannon on her chest and screamed open-mouthed towards the sea of red and white in the stands as she wheeled away. The midfielder had just thundered the ball into the net to give Arsenal an early lead in what would end up a 2-2 draw with Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

It was Maanum’s second goal of the season, her first coming in the 1-0 defeat of Rosenborg that secured Arsenal’s passage into the second round of Champions League qualifying two weeks before their Women’s Super League opener with City. They were drawn to face BK Hacken and welcome the Swedish side to Borehamwood on Thursday night seeking to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg.