Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter breaks down the major talking points from the second round of the Women's Super League, giving readers a deeper look at the narratives shaping the women's game. Arsenal have just set a new club record by going 20 matches unbeaten in the WSL, the longest run in the league’s history.
Yet that achievement offers little solace to manager Renee Slegers after her side slipped up at the Emirates, conceding two points at home to a Manchester United team that has exposed surprising frailties in the early weeks of the campaign, even allowing a league‑high seven goals. The Gunners have never been beaten on home soil under Slegers, so it was only natural that a late drama unfolded. In the 95th minute, Smilla Holmberg latched onto a perfectly lofted cross from Leah Williamson and headed home to force a draw, preserving the unbeaten home record. The goal was technically sound, but it barely sparked any enthusiasm among the Emirates crowd, many of whom had just travelled to Crystal Palace the previous weekend to watch a goalless stalemate.
The two matches left supporters with a strange sense of déjà vu, as if the excitement they craved was being repeatedly deferred. Arsenal now appear to be squandering their chances of mounting a genuine title challenge right from the first hurdle – again. With five points from three games they sit only sixth in a league that has been expanded from twelve to fourteen clubs, a change that gives Slegers a thin slice of comfort. Over a 26‑match season there will inevitably be more opportunities to claw back points, and this draw might later be labeled a "good point" when the season’s narrative is fully written.
For now, however, it must be seen as a setback, another nail in the coffin of Arsenal’s long‑standing inability to keep pace with the league’s eventual champions. In the past seven seasons there has been little evidence to suggest otherwise, despite a second‑place finish last term.
So what does Arsenal stand for if not title contention? What identity do they claim if not a blend of attractive football and consistent results? Are they a side that merely threatens to score but lacks the conviction to convert chances?
The statistics underline the problem: from 60 attempts they have scored only twice, an expected‑goals shortfall of 3.84. Slegers will undoubtedly have a rebuttal ready. No team should be dismissed after just three fixtures; the season is barely over the halfway point of the first month. Yet the pattern emerging from Arsenal’s first three outings points to a deeper tactical issue that opponents have already begun to exploit.
When a rival sets up in a compact block, Arsenal struggle to break it down. Maintaining defensive discipline against Arsenal is often enough to earn a point, and very rarely more.
A draw therefore becomes a valuable result for almost every team except the Gunners themselves, who need victories to stay in the title race. Four draws before Christmas were enough to effectively end Arsenal’s title hopes last season, and they cannot afford a repeat. The urgency to reverse this trend must be felt immediately.
The root of the problem appears to be a waning speed and unpredictability in Arsenal’s attack. Missed opportunities are evident: Mariona Caldentey sent Alessia Russo’s lay‑off wide, Stina Blackstenius headed her chance straight at goalkeeper Phallon Tullis‑Joyce, and Chloe Kelly tried her luck from distance, each effort respectable but tinged with doubt. Arsenal saved their most promising moment for the final whistle, a habit that does not inspire confidence. Questions now arise for both Slegers and her players after such a tentative start.
Is the team’s balance correct? Georgia Stanway and Mariona Caldentey appear to be performing overlapping roles in midfield, both acting as a primary No 8. Who is supposed to dictate the tempo from deep?
Should Alessia Russo be deployed as a true No 10, or is she better suited to a more defensive role on the last line of press? Are the wingers hesitant to take on one‑on‑one duels?
Over the weekend Lisa Baum and Olivia Smith combined for just one cross and one successful dribble, and the lone delivery from Baum that found Blackstenius should have resulted in a goal but did not. Instead of targeting Manchester United’s weaknesses as they adapt to Eva Olid’s new system, Arsenal spent much of the match standing off, too polite to engage fully. This squad possesses enough talent to play with greater intent.
Slegers must demand more: sharper creativity from the playmakers, better service from the flanks, and more clinical finishing. The entire final third needs to shift up several gears.
Until that happens, Arsenal are likely to settle for disappointing draws. In contrast, Tottenham’s Holdt appears to be thriving, showing no signs of a confidence crisis in front of goal.
Since February, only Bunny Shaw (with twelve goals) has outscored her. Spurs’ attacking fluidity feels fresh and exciting. Crystal Palace managed to hold out for an entire half before feeling the full force of Martin Ho’s inventive side, which later produced 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 shot following a quick turnover.
To my eye, she embodies a perfect mix of talent and determination, adapting to the league’s demands faster than most. She can both score and create, carrying the ball as well as distributing it. On her first Spurs start of the season she gave Ho plenty to think about as his side moved up to second place in the table. The challenge now is to maintain that position.
Overall, Arsenal’s early season narrative is one of missed opportunities and tactical rigidity. Their record unbeaten run is impressive, but without a more incisive attack and clearer role definitions, the club risks slipping further behind the league’s front‑runners. Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see whether Slegers can inject the necessary urgency and creativity before the next set of fixtures turn the season into a distant memory of what could have been.