The crowd has certainly been lifted by Reading's renaissance.

Incredible effort from the home side, who are valiantly battling for their first point of the new WSL season.

Leila Dickinson
Former Reading captain on BBC Radio Berkshire

The crowd are fantastic. In the front rows. They must be soaking wet but still cheering their teams on. Seats further up but staying where they are. These are proper football fans.

That save by Zinsberger leads to a Reading corner... and that is almost converted!

Rachel Rowe climbs the highest and nods towards goal... but the ball is deflected before Zinsberger can try to get there.

Was this the chance? Reading striker Natasha Dowie prods towards the bottom corner from close range.. she thinks she's scored.

But Arsenal keeper Manuela Zinsberger has other ideas. She sticks out a left foot and denies the home side.

Instinctive and brilliant.

What a covering tackle by Reading's Amalie Eikeland! It keeps her side in the match.

Beth Mead's right foot is like a meat cleaver, slicing open the heart of the Reading defence.

But Eikeland races back, with Arsenal players either side, to nip in first.

Still Arsenal threaten. Stina Blackstenius, who has scored the only goal of the game, fires at goal from a tight angle but that is never going to beat Reading keeper Jackie Burns.

Some Beth Mead magic would dampen the Reading fire though. The Arsenal star dances through a tackle or two in the Reading box, but can't get the ball to sit kind enough for a clean strike.

A change for Reading, who are showing more belief they can get something from this match.

Lauren Wade comes on for Tia Primmer, providing some fresh legs further up the field.

Who would have thought Reading would still be in with a shout going into the final 20 minutes or so? Not many.

Kudos to the home team though. They stayed resolute and not lost belief, despite being on the back front for most of the match.

Reading almost do grab an equaliser! A corner from the right is swung in from Lily Woodham and the ball crashes against the bar.

It caught everyone by surprise and not convinced the Reading left-back meant that.

Reading will be hoping they might be able to advantage as Arsenal readjust from those changes.

Seemingly with an eye on the midweek Women's Champions League match at Lyon, the Arsenal boss makes three substitutions.

Vivianne Miedema is not happy, to put it mildly, she's been hooked. Caitlin Foord and Lia Wälti take the news a little better.

Jordan Nobbs, Lina Hurtig and Frida Maanum trot on.

Looks like Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall is planning to shake things up...

Beth Mead has shown flashes of her brilliance tonight and here's another one. The England star jinks her way towards goal but fires just wide of the right-hand post.

Image source, Reuters

Reading's Jackie Burns is making her WSL debut tonight...

Could that be the spark which reignites Reading? They're still in it.

Kim Little never misses these, says one of my colleagues confidently.

Turns out Kim Little does miss these!

The Arsenal star hits a poor penalty down the middle and Reading keeper Jackie Burns saves it.

Image source, Getty Images

Hang on! Arsenal win a penalty out of virtually nowhere. A stunned silence around the Madejski...

Looks like Lilly Woodham is adjudged to have handled Beth Mead's cross in the box.

Reading suddenly have the bit between their teeth now. The confidence is flowing as they press again, but are unable to create another chance.

What a smash and grab this would have been!

Reading's Deanna Cooper pops up in the Arsenal box and almost converts.

Great stop from Manuela Zinsberger.