Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter breaks down the main 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 chalked up a club‑record unbeaten run in the WSL – twenty matches without a loss – a milestone that would normally be cause for celebration.
Yet for manager Renee Slegers the achievement feels hollow after the Gunners slipped two points at home to a Manchester United side that has shown surprising frailties early in the campaign, conceding a league‑high seven goals in the process. Historically, Arsenal have never been defeated at the Emirates under Slegers, so it was perhaps inevitable that a late drama would unfold. In the 95th minute, Smilla Holmberg latched onto a perfectly timed cross from Leah Williamson and nudged home an equaliser, preserving the club’s unbeaten home record.
The goal was technically sound, but its quality was almost lost on a crowd that seemed more pre‑occupied with the déjà‑vu feeling of the previous weekend’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace. Fans left the stadium with a lingering sense that Arsenal are squandering the first real opportunity to mount a credible title challenge. Five points from three games currently places Arsenal in sixth position in an expanded league that now features fourteen teams instead of the previous twelve. The increase in fixtures may offer Slegers a sliver of comfort – there are more chances to climb the table over a 26‑match season – but at this stage the setback feels like a clear warning sign.
It adds another notch to the long list of moments where Arsenal have struggled to keep pace with the league’s eventual champions, a pattern that has persisted for seven seasons despite a runner‑up finish last term. So, what does Arsenal stand for if not a genuine title contender? Can the club still claim to play an attractive, attacking brand of football that translates into results? The numbers suggest a problem: out of sixty attempts on goal so far, Arsenal have scored only twice, a glaring under‑performance compared with an expected‑goals (xG) value of 3.84.
Slegers certainly has time to defend her side – three games is a tiny sample and the season is barely past the halfway point. Yet the issues highlighted in these early outings point to deeper tactical concerns that opponents are already exploiting.
When teams set up in a compact block against Arsenal, they often force the Gunners into a stalemate, earning themselves a point that can be decisive in a tightly contested league. Four draws before Christmas were enough to derail Arsenal’s title hopes last season, and the club cannot afford a repeat of that pattern. The attacking spark that once defined Arsenal appears to be fading.
Mariona Caldentey’s careless lay‑off to Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius’s close‑range header that was comfortably saved by Phallon Tullis‑Joyce, and Chloe Kelly’s long‑range attempts all illustrate a lack of confidence in the final third. These missed opportunities underscore a broader hesitation within the squad. Key questions arise for Slegers and her players after such a subdued start.
Is the midfield balance correct? Both Georgia Stanway and Mariona Caldentey are being deployed as central midfielders (the No 8 role), potentially overlapping responsibilities and diluting creative influence.
Who should be dictating play from deep? Should Alessia Russo operate as a true No 10, or would she be more effective pressing higher up the pitch?
Are the wide players, such as Lisa Baum and Olivia Smith, too reluctant to take on one‑on‑one battles down the flanks? Over the weekend they combined for just one cross and one dribble, and even the promising delivery from Baum that found Blackstenius failed to produce a goal.
Rather than exploiting Manchester United’s defensive vulnerabilities as they adapt to Eva Olid’s new system, Arsenal spent much of the match on the back foot, appearing overly polite and hesitant to engage fully. With a squad of this calibre, such restraint is puzzling. Slegers must demand higher standards: sharper decision‑making from the playmakers, more incisive service from the wings, and greater composure in front of goal.
Every element of the attacking third needs to shift into a higher gear if Arsenal are to convert draws into victories. In contrast, Tottenham’s Holdt provides a case study of confidence and efficiency.
Since February, only Bunny Shaw (with twelve goals) has outscored her, highlighting Holdt’s emerging status as a reliable finisher. Spurs’ attacking fluidity is refreshing; after a half‑hour of resistance, Crystal Palace were overwhelmed by Martin Ho’s inventive side, which rattled off seven goals in a 25‑minute burst, including a hat‑trick from Holdt.
Her three distinct strikes – a well‑rehearsed throw‑in finish, a instinctive volley from a loose ball, and a clinical finish after a quick turnover – showcase a blend of talent, determination, and adaptability that Arsenal seem to lack at the moment. For Arsenal, the challenge is clear: they must rediscover the attacking verve that once made them a perennial title threat.
This involves re‑evaluating player roles, encouraging wingers to take on defenders, and ensuring that the midfield’s creative engine runs at full capacity. Only by addressing these tactical nuances and restoring confidence in the final third can Arsenal hope to turn their record unbeaten streak into a genuine title push rather than a footnote in a season of missed opportunities. The upcoming fixtures will be a true test of whether the Gunners can translate potential into performance before the winter break.