Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter breaks down the headline moments from the second round of the Women's Super League, drawing readers into the pivotal narratives shaping the women’s game. Arsenal have just set a new club benchmark by going unbeaten for 20 consecutive league matches, the longest run in their Women’s Super League history.
Yet that achievement offered little solace to manager Renée Slegers after her side slipped up at home against Manchester United, conceding two points and allowing the opposition to register a league‑high seven goals in the opening weeks. At the Emirates, the Gunners have never been defeated on their own turf under Slegers, so it was almost inevitable that a late drama would unfold. In the 95th minute, Smilla Holmberg latched onto a perfectly lofted cross from Leah Williamson and headed home an equaliser, preserving the club's unbeaten home record. The goal was technically sound, but the quality of the strike was lost amid an expectant crowd that had just traveled to Crystal Palace the previous weekend for a goalless draw, leaving fans with a strange sense of déjà vu.
Once again, Arsenal appear to be squandering their chances of mounting a genuine title challenge right from the outset. Five points from three fixtures currently places them sixth in an expanded league that now features 14 teams instead of the previous 12. The increase in participants may offer Slegers a small consolation, as the longer 26‑game schedule provides more opportunities to recover lost ground. What looks like a "good point" today could become a pivotal moment later in the season, but for now it must be framed as a setback – another reminder of Arsenal’s chronic inability to keep pace with the league’s eventual champions.
Over the past seven seasons there has been scant evidence to suggest they have broken this pattern, even after finishing runners‑up last term. So, what do Arsenal stand for if not title contenders?
Are they a side that merely threatens to score without the conviction to finish? Their statistics tell a sobering story: out of 60 shots taken so far, they have found the net only twice, delivering an expected‑goals (xG) shortfall of 3.84.
Slegers will undoubtedly have a response – no team should be written off after three games, especially when the season is still in its infancy. Yet the three outings have exposed a deeper issue that opponents seem to have identified and are exploiting. When other teams set up in a compact block, Arsenal struggle to break them down.
Maintaining discipline against the Gunners often yields a point, rarely more, and a draw is a valuable result for anyone other than Arsenal themselves. Four draws before Christmas were enough to effectively end their title hopes last season, and they cannot afford a repeat. The urgency to reverse this trend must be felt immediately, but how? The fluidity and unpredictability that once characterised Arsenal’s attack appear to be fading.
Mariona Caldentey’s careless lay‑off to Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius’s point‑blank header that missed Phallon Tullis‑Joyce, and Chloe Kelly’s speculative long‑range effort all illustrate a lack of cutting edge. Their best moment arrived only at the final whistle, underscoring a passive start that raises questions for both Slegers and her players.
Is the midfield balance correct? Both Georgia Stanway and Mariona Caldentey are deployed as primary number‑8s, seemingly overlapping in responsibilities. Who should be dictating play from deep?
Should Alessia Russo operate as a true number‑10, or be positioned higher as a striker? Are the wingers shy of one‑on‑one duels? Over the weekend, Lisa Baum and Olivia Smith combined for just one cross and a single successful dribble, and the delivery from Baum that found Blackstenius should have resulted in a goal but did not. Rather than exploiting Manchester United’s growing pains under Eva Olid, Arsenal spent much of the match standing off, too polite to engage fully.
With a squad as talented as theirs, such restraint is puzzling. Slegers must demand more: sharper decision‑making from the playmakers, better service from the flanks, and more clinical finishing.
The entire final third needs to shift into a higher gear, or else Arsenal will continue to settle for disappointing draws. In contrast, Tottenham’s Holdt appears immune to any confidence crisis in front of goal. Since February, only Bunny Shaw (12) has scored more than her eight goals.
Spurs play with a fresh, fluid attacking style that excites fans. After a solid first half, Crystal Palace finally felt the full force of Martin Ho’s inventive side, which unleashed a 7‑0 demolition, netting six goals in a blistering 25‑minute spell.
Holdt’s hat‑trick set the tone for that victory: a neatly executed throw‑in finish, an instinctive strike from a loose ball inside the box, and a powerful finish following a rapid turnover. She blends talent with determination, adapting to the league’s demands faster than most peers. As a scorer and creator, she can both carry the ball and distribute it effectively.
Her first start for Spurs this season gave Ho plenty to consider as his side climbed to second place in the table, and the challenge now is to maintain that position. Overall, Arsenal must confront the uncomfortable truth that their current trajectory does not align with the expectations of a title‑challenging side. They need to refine their tactical approach, encourage more daring forward play, and convert the numerous chances they create into goals.
Only then can they transform their impressive unbeaten run into a genuine championship bid, rather than a series of near‑misses that leave fans questioning the club’s true identity.