Alessia Russo salvaged a point for Arsenal with a header late in the second half of their 1-1 Women's Super League draw with Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.

Chasity Grant opened the scoring in the 25th minute with Villa's only shot of the contest, the second time in as many WSL matches the Gunners had conceded from their opponents' first shot.

Russo nodded home from substitute Stina Blackstenius' delivery to draw the sides level in the 85th minute, but Arsenal could not make any more of their numerous chances count.

It was a dominant start from the Gunners, whose first real opportunity fell to Caitlin Foord, and the Australian fired straight at Akane Okuma.

Foord directed her next effort wide, and there were attempts from Georgia Stanway and Taylor Hinds before Villa scored against the run of play.

Lucia Kendall released Grant, whose shot took a deflection off Steph Catley before looping past the hapless Misa Rodríguez.

Arsenal were back on the front foot by the end of the first half, but their efforts were either off-target or too soft to pose any real threat to Okuma.

The Gunners kept knocking on the door after the break, when the introduction of Emily Fox and Lisa Baum into Renee Slegers' side added to their threat, but clear-cut opportunities remained elusive.

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Arsenal finally gave Okuma something to do with 15 minutes remaining when substitute Kim Little's cross looped goalwards, forcing the Villa keeper to tip it over.

They were finally rewarded for their sustained pressure when Blackstenius floated a pinpoint cross into the area for Russo, who emphatically nodded home off the left post.

Stanway squandered a stoppage-time chance to claim all three points, skimming wide from an off-balance position, and Villa held on to preserve the draw.