Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter breaks down the most pressing issues emerging from the second round of Women's Super League fixtures, offering readers a deeper look at the narratives shaping the women's game today. Arsenal have just set a new club record by going unbeaten for 20 consecutive Women's Super League matches. While that achievement sounds impressive, it offers little consolation to manager Renée Slegers after her side slipped up at home against Manchester United, surrendering two points and exposing a side that has already shown alarming defensive frailties, conceding a league‑high seven goals in the opening weeks. At the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners have never been beaten under Slegers, so it was only natural that Smilla Holmberg would seize a perfectly delivered cross from Leah Williamson and level the score in the 95th minute.
The goal was technically sound, but its brilliance was almost invisible against a crowd that seemed more pre‑occupied with the déjà vu of a goalless draw at Crystal Palace the previous weekend. That sense of repetition has left many supporters wondering whether Arsenal are squandering their chance to mount a genuine title challenge right from the outset – and again. Five points from three games currently places Arsenal in sixth place in a league that has been expanded to 14 teams, up from the previous 12.
The enlargement of the competition may provide a small comfort to Slegers, as the longer season (26 games) inevitably creates more opportunities to recover lost ground. What looks like a modest setback now could be re‑framed as a "good point" later in the campaign, but for the moment it remains a clear indication that Arsenal are struggling to keep pace with the league’s elite.
Historically, Arsenal have been unable to match the consistency of the top‑ranked side each season. Over the past seven years there has been little evidence to suggest a shift in that pattern, despite a second‑place finish last term. The question now is: what does Arsenal represent if not a genuine title contender? Are they a team that only threatens to score without the conviction needed to convert chances?
So far, they have taken 60 shots and found the back of the net just twice, resulting in an expected goals (xG) shortfall of 3.84. Renée Slegers certainly has ample time to defend her tactics – three games is a tiny sample size, and the season is only just beginning.
Yet the first three outings have already highlighted a deeper problem: opposing managers seem to have discovered a tactical formula that neutralises Arsenal’s usual fluidity. When opponents sit in a compact block, Arsenal struggle to break them down.
Maintaining defensive discipline against Arsenal often earns the opposition a point, and more often than not that point is a draw – a result that benefits everyone except the Gunners. Four draws before Christmas were enough to derail Arsenal’s title hopes last season, and they cannot afford a repeat of that scenario. The team’s attacking spark appears to be fading.
Mariona Caldentey’s careless lay‑off to Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius’s missed header that barely brushed past Phallon Tullis‑Joyce, and Chloe Kelly’s long‑range attempts all illustrate a collective hesitation and lack of confidence in the final third. The decisive moment came at the very end of the match, when Arsenal finally produced a glimmer of quality.
Yet that single flash of brilliance cannot mask the broader issues that need addressing. Questions must be asked of both Slegers and her squad after such a passive start.
Is the midfield balance correct? Georgia Stanway and Mariona Caldentey appear to be performing overlapping roles as the primary number‑8, which may lead to confusion over who should dictate play from deep positions. Alessia Russo is often deployed as a traditional number‑10, but perhaps her skill set would be better utilised higher up the pitch, acting as a secondary striker rather than a creative hub. Meanwhile, the wide players have been overly cautious.
Lisa Baum and Olivia Smith combined for just one successful cross and a single dribble over the weekend. Baum’s delivery to Blackstenius was of sufficient quality to merit a goal, yet the finishing touch was missing. Instead of exploiting Manchester United’s transitional weaknesses under new coach Eva Olid, Arsenal spent much of the game in a passive stance, reluctant to engage fully.
This restraint is puzzling given the squad’s talent pool. Slegers must demand more from her team: sharper decision‑making from the playmakers, better service from the flanks, and a higher conversion rate in front of goal.
Every element of the attacking phase needs to be accelerated by at least one gear before the Gunners can start earning more than disappointing draws. 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. Spurs’ attacking fluidity feels fresh and exciting.
After a dominant 7‑0 victory over Crystal Palace – a match in which Martin Ho’s side scored six goals in a 25‑minute burst – Holdt’s hat‑trick set the tone. Her three goals showcased a range of techniques: a well‑rehearsed throw‑in finish, an instinctive strike from a loose ball inside the box, and a clinical finish following a swift turnover.
Holdt embodies a blend of talent and determination, adapting quickly to the league’s demands. She can both score and create, and she distributes the ball with confidence.
Her performance in Spurs’ first start of the season gave Ho a platform to push his side up to second place in the table, and the challenge now lies in maintaining that momentum. Overall, Arsenal’s early season narrative is one of missed opportunities and tactical rigidity.
While the unbeaten streak remains a club record, the quality of the performances and the inability to turn chances into goals are cause for concern. If the team does not find a way to diversify its attacking options, sharpen its finishing, and break down compact defensive blocks, the season could quickly turn into a series of draws that keep them perpetually out of the title race. The upcoming fixtures will test whether Slegers can recalibrate her approach and reignite the attacking flair that once made Arsenal a feared force in women’s football.