Arsenal delivered a decisive statement to title‑holders Manchester City on Saturday, thumping league bottom‑dwellers Leicester City 7‑0 at the Emirates Stadium and underlining that the Women’s Super League championship is still very much up for grabs. The Gunners’ attacking display was spearheaded by Stina Blackstenius and Smilla Holmberg, each of whom found the net twice, while Mariona Caldentey and Leah Williamson added further goals after Frida Maanum opened the scoring on her landmark 100th WSL appearance.
The victory lifted Arsenal into third place, overtaking Manchester United and leaving them just two points behind second‑placed Chelsea and eight points adrift of leaders City. Despite the progress, the North London side still have two matches in hand and four games remaining in total, meaning the gap can still be closed if they maintain this level of performance.
Arsenal’s next fixture is a trip to Brighton on Wednesday, 6 May, at 7.45 pm, broadcast live on Sky Sports Football. Leicester, on the other hand, suffered their 15th defeat of the campaign and are now destined to finish at the foot of the table. As per league rules, they will face the third‑placed team from the WSL 2 division—likely Charlton Athletic, Birmingham City or Crystal Palace—in a promotion‑relegation playoff that will determine whether they retain their top‑flight status.
There was speculation that Arsenal manager Renee Slegers had chosen to rest several key players, including Leah Williamson and Alessia Russo, ahead of the upcoming Champions League semi‑final second leg against Lyon. The match, however, took a while to find its rhythm. It wasn’t until the 25th minute that Arsenal began to assert real control, and once they did, the tempo never slackened. Maanum’s milestone evening proved pivotal.
After she scored the opening goal, she supplied the ball to Holmberg, who netted her first goal for the club just two minutes later—a quick strike that marked her first tally since moving from Hammarby in January. Emily Fox then rattled the cross‑bar as Arsenal pressed forward, but the scoreline was already 3‑0 by the 41st minute when Maanum floated a delicate chip to Blackstenius, who finished with a deft touch. In first‑half stoppage time, Blackstenius added a second, converting a pass from Victoria Pelova that found the net untouched.
That goal was Arsenal’s 100th under the Slegers era, a symbolic milestone that was quickly followed by the 101st when Holmberg tapped in a rebound after Olivia Smith’s precise delivery. Leah Williamson then capped the first‑half onslaught with a powerful near‑post finish, prompting many observers to wonder whether the record for the biggest WSL victory—Arsenal’s 11‑1 demolition of Bristol City in December 2019—might be eclipsed, especially with nearly half an hour still remaining in the game. In the second half, the Gunners eased off slightly, but still managed to add two more goals, bringing the final tally to a comfortable 7‑0. The result stands as Arsenal’s joint‑third biggest win in the competition’s history and serves as a stark reminder of the attacking firepower they possess when everything clicks.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Slegers highlighted the importance of focus and adaptability during a congested schedule. “It’s the Arsenal way you saw today. With these short turnarounds and being active in different competitions, it’s really important to be in the here and now and focused on the task, and we were,” she said. She praised the team’s discipline, the versatility of players in different positions, and the clean sheet that capped a dominant display.
“The readiness of the players is so good and we trust every single player to play. We know they can play different roles for the team as well. Everyone knows the role they can play and everyone is bringing their strengths,” Slegers added, emphasizing the high levels of communication and trust both on and off the pitch. Slegers was cautious about the title chase, noting that the battle with Manchester City is far from decided.
“I don’t know if we can catch Man City. We go step by step. Today was one game and we did what we needed to do.
That’s really good, but we have to recover straight after and, in three days, we have the next game coming up against Lyon,” she concluded. Leicester manager Rick Passmoor, also speaking to Sky Sports, described his side’s performance as “disappointing” and acknowledged the uphill task that lies ahead. He reminded his players that the focus now shifts to the remaining two league fixtures, which will determine their positioning for the upcoming playoff. Passmoor praised the team’s defensive effort before the first goal, stating, “We defended well and played well.
We looked after the ball really well at times. We’ve got to make sure that when the tide turns, we are staying in the games.” He stressed the importance of unity, confidence and morale as the squad prepares for the crucial playoff, noting that a single scrappy goal could change the group’s mindset. Overall, Arsenal’s emphatic victory not only bolsters their own title aspirations but also serves as a warning to Manchester City that the gap can be narrowed. With a strong defensive record, a versatile attacking lineup, and a manager who stresses collective responsibility, the Gunners are well‑positioned to keep the title race alive as the season enters its final stretch.
The upcoming matches against Brighton and later against Lyon in Europe will test their depth and resilience, but the performance against Leicester suggests that Arsenal have the quality and the mentality to remain in contention for the WSL crown.