Laura Hunter, a columnist for Sky Sports, breaks down the most significant storylines emerging from the second round of the Women's Super League, offering readers a deeper look at the narratives shaping the women's game. In this analysis she focuses on Arsenal’s recent performance, the club's historic unbeaten run, and the questions that arise when a team that appears strong on paper struggles to convert that promise into points.
Arsenal have just set a new club record by going 20 matches without defeat in the Women's Super League – a milestone that would normally be celebrated as a sign of dominance. Yet for manager Renee Slegers the achievement feels hollow after the Gunners slipped up at home against Manchester United, conceding two points in a match that exposed vulnerabilities the side has not shown for much of the season.
United, despite a shaky start to their campaign, managed to net a league‑high seven goals in the opening weeks, highlighting the fine margins that separate the top‑flight clubs. The Emirates Stadium has been a fortress for Arsenal under Slegers, and the expectation was that the home side would continue that trend. In the 95th minute, Smilla Holmberg latched onto a perfectly timed cross from Leah Williamson and forced an equaliser, preserving the unbeaten record at the venue.
While the goal was technically well‑executed, the reaction from the crowd was muted; many fans were still processing the goalless draw they had witnessed at Crystal Palace the previous weekend, creating a strange sense of déjà vu for supporters who hoped for a more decisive display. The result leaves Arsenal with five points from three matches, a tally that currently places them sixth in a league that has been expanded to 14 teams.
The expansion provides a theoretical cushion – there are more fixtures and therefore more opportunities to climb the table – but it also means a longer season in which consistency becomes even more crucial. In a 26‑game campaign, a single dropped point can feel like a setback, yet it may also be framed later as a "good point" if the team manages to recover and finish strongly.
At present, however, the draw can be seen as another indicator of Arsenal’s difficulty in keeping pace with the league’s leading side, a pattern that has persisted for the past seven seasons. Despite finishing runners‑up last term, the Gunners have struggled to translate their possession‑based, attractive style into the decisive goals needed to mount a serious title challenge. So far this season they have managed just two goals from 60 attempts, an expected‑goals (xG) shortfall of 3.84, suggesting a severe lack of clinical finishing.
Slegers will undoubtedly have a response to such criticism – it is premature to write off any team after only three games – but the underlying issues appear to extend beyond a small sample size. Opponents have discovered a tactical formula that works against Arsenal: sit in a compact block, remain disciplined, and force the Gunners into a low‑scoring stalemate. For most clubs a draw against Arsenal is a satisfactory result; for Arsenal themselves it is a missed opportunity. Four draws before Christmas were enough to derail Arsenal’s title hopes in the previous season, and repeating that pattern could be disastrous again.
The team’s attacking fluidity seems to be waning. Mariona Caldentey’s misplaced pass to Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius’s header that was comfortably saved by Phallon Tullis‑Joyce, and Chloe Kelly’s long‑range attempts all illustrate an attack that lacks the sharpness and confidence required at this level. Key questions emerge for Slegers and her squad: Is the midfield balance correct? Both Georgia Stanway and Mariona Caldentey appear to be occupying similar No.
8 roles, potentially creating redundancy and limiting creative freedom. Who should be orchestrating play from deeper positions? Should Alessia Russo be deployed as a true No. 10, or is she better suited to a more defensive role?
Are the wide players, such as Lisa Baum and Olivia Smith, hesitant to take on defenders one‑on‑one, as evidenced by their limited crosses and dribbles over the weekend? Their solitary successful dribble and cross failed to produce a clear goal, underscoring a lack of decisive execution in the final third. Instead of exploiting Manchester United’s transitional weaknesses, Arsenal spent much of the match standing off, appearing overly cautious. Given the talent at their disposal, this restraint feels unnecessary.
Slegers must demand higher standards: sharper decision‑making from the playmakers, more incisive service from the flanks, and a higher conversion rate in front of goal. Until those improvements materialise, Arsenal are likely to settle for draws that do not reflect their true potential. By contrast, Tottenham’s Holdt has shown no sign of a confidence crisis. Since February she has outscored all but one teammate, Bunny Shaw, with eight goals.
Tottenham’s attacking play is fluid and exciting; their recent 7‑0 demolition of Crystal Palace, highlighted by a six‑goal burst in just 25 minutes, demonstrates how a team can dominate when it embraces an aggressive, creative approach. Holdt’s hat‑trick – comprising a well‑rehearsed throw‑in finish, a powerful strike from a loose ball, and a clinical finish after a turnover – exemplifies the kind of decisive finishing Arsenal lack.
Holdt blends talent with determination and has adapted quickly to the league’s demands, serving both as a scorer and a creator. Her performance on her first Spurs start this season gave manager Martin Ho a blueprint for moving his side up the table, now sitting second.
The challenge for Arsenal is to find a similar spark, to stop relying on defensive solidity and start producing the attacking edge required to compete for the title. In summary, Arsenal’s record unbeaten run is impressive, but without a more potent attack and clearer tactical roles, the club risks being labeled perpetual runners‑up rather than genuine title contenders. The coming weeks will be decisive: will Slegers adjust her system and extract the needed firepower, or will the Gunners continue to settle for draws and watch the title race slip further away?