Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter breaks down the major talking points from the second round of the Women's Super League, drawing readers into the narratives that shape the women's game today. Arsenal have just set a new club benchmark by going 20 matches unbeaten in the WSL, the longest run in the team's history. Yet that achievement offered little comfort to manager Renée Slegers after the Gunners slipped up at home against Manchester United, conceding two points in a match that exposed a surprising number of frailties.
United, despite a shaky start to the campaign, managed to find the back of the net seven times, the highest tally in the league so far. At the Emirates, Arsenal have never lost under Slegers, so it was almost inevitable that a late drama would unfold. In the 95th minute, Smilla Holmberg latched onto a perfectly weighted cross from Leah Williamson and nudged home an equaliser, preserving the club's unbeaten home record.
The goal was technically sound, but the reaction from the crowd was muted. Many fans had just traveled to Crystal Palace the previous weekend to watch a goalless draw, and the atmosphere felt oddly repetitive, as if the two fixtures were echoing each other.
The point earned against United leaves Arsenal with five points from three games, a tally that currently places them sixth in a league that has been expanded from twelve to fourteen clubs. The extra two spots may provide a small cushion for Slegers, but the reality is that a 26‑match season offers many more chances to slip up, and this draw could later be labelled a "good point" when the final table is settled. For now, however, the result is best described as a setback—a further reminder that Arsenal have struggled to keep pace with the league's eventual champions over the past seven seasons, even after finishing runners‑up last term. It raises the question: what does Arsenal represent if not genuine title contenders?
Are they a side that promises attractive football but fails to translate that promise into decisive outcomes? So far, the Gunners have taken 60 shots and found the net only twice, an expected‑goals (xG) shortfall of 3.84. Slegers will undoubtedly have a rebuttal ready. No team should be judged after just three fixtures, and the season is still in its infancy.
Yet the patterns emerging from Arsenal's early games hint at deeper tactical issues that opponents are already exploiting. When other clubs set up in a compact block, Arsenal struggle to dismantle them. Maintaining defensive discipline against the Gunners often yields a point, and for most teams a draw is a satisfactory result—something Arsenal cannot afford if they aim to challenge for the title.
Four draws before Christmas were enough to derail Arsenal's title bid last season, and repeating that trend would be disastrous. The team needs to reign in the tendency to settle for a single point. Their attacking fluidity appears to be waning; Mariona Caldentey's pass to Alessia Russo was carelessly wide, Stina Blackstenius' near‑goal header was saved by Phallon Tullis‑Joyce, and Chloe Kelly's long‑range effort lacked the necessary precision.
All three attempts were legitimate, yet each was tinged with a lingering doubt that the side could not shake. The decisive moment came in the final kick of the game, when Arsenal finally broke through. That late strike, however, underscores a broader problem: the team often waits until the dying minutes to produce something of substance. Both Slegers and her players must confront uncomfortable questions after such a passive start.
Is the midfield balance correct? Georgia Stanway and Mariona Caldentey appear to be sharing the same central role, both operating as a number eight. Who should be the deep‑lying playmaker dictating tempo? Should Alessia Russo be deployed as a true number ten, or is she better suited to a more defensive position on the back line?
Are the wide players too hesitant to take on defenders one‑on‑one? Over the weekend, Lisa Baum and Olivia Smith combined for just one cross and one dribble; Baum's delivery to Blackstenius was of such quality that it should have resulted in a goal.
Instead of exploiting Manchester United's transitional weaknesses—especially as United adapt to Eva Olid's new system—Arsenal spent much of the match standing off, almost too polite to engage fully. With a squad as talented as theirs, such restraint feels misplaced. What Slegers needs now is a demand for higher standards: sharper decision‑making from the creative midfielders, more incisive service from the flanks, and a finishing edge that turns chances into goals. Every facet of Arsenal's final third must be accelerated a gear or two.
Until that transformation occurs, the team will likely continue to settle for draws that feel more like a consolation than a statement. In contrast, Tottenham's forward Holdt appears to be thriving.
Since February, only Bunny Shaw (with twelve goals) has outscored her, highlighting Holdt's growing confidence in front of goal. Spurs' attacking play is fluid and exciting; they dismantled Crystal Palace after a half‑hour of resistance, scoring seven times in a 25‑minute burst that included a hat‑trick from Holdt.
Her three different types of strikes—a well‑orchestrated set‑piece finish, a instinctive volley from a loose ball, and a clinical finish after a quick turnover—demonstrate a blend of talent and determination that has adapted to the league's demands faster than most. Holdt's impact on her first Spurs start this season gave manager Martin Ho a platform to push his side up to second place in the table.
The real challenge now is maintaining that momentum. Overall, Arsenal's early season narrative is one of promise tempered by frustration.
Their record unbeaten run shows resilience, but the inability to convert dominance into wins threatens to relegate them to the role of perpetual runners‑up. The coming weeks will be critical: will Slegers tweak tactics and spark a more decisive attack, or will the Gunners continue to collect points the hard way, watching the title race slip further from reach?
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