Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter dissects the main talking points from the second round of the Women's Super League, drawing readers closer to the pivotal narratives shaping the women's game. Arsenal have just established a new club record for the longest unbeaten run in the WSL – twenty matches without defeat.
Yet that milestone offers little solace to manager Renee Slegers after her side slipped up at the Emirates, conceding two points at home to a Manchester United outfit that has exposed a surprising number of frailties in the opening weeks of the campaign, even surrendering a league‑high seven goals. The Gunners have never been beaten 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 beautifully floated cross from Leah Williamson and smashed home an equaliser, preserving the unbeaten home record. The goal was well‑executed, but its brilliance was almost lost on an Emirates crowd that seemed more pre‑occupied with the déjà‑vu feeling of a goalless draw at Crystal Palace the previous weekend. The atmosphere hinted at a growing frustration: Arsenal appear to be squandering their chance to mount a genuine title challenge right from the outset, and once again they are stumbling at the first hurdle. Five points from three matches currently places Arsenal in sixth position in the newly expanded league, which now features fourteen teams instead of the previous twelve.
The expansion may provide a sliver of comfort – a longer season means more opportunities to climb the table – but it also means a 26‑game marathon where every slip can prove costly. In the short term this result can be labelled a "good point" when the season is over, but for now it is best described as a setback, another reminder of Arsenal's difficulty in keeping pace with the league's eventual champions.
Over the past seven seasons there has been little evidence that the Gunners can consistently challenge for the title, despite a runner‑up finish last term. So what does Arsenal stand for if not a title‑contending side?
Are they a team that only threatens to score without the conviction to finish? Their statistics underline the problem: out of sixty shots taken so far, they have found the net only twice, an expected‑goals (xG) shortfall of 3.84. Slegers certainly has time to respond to such criticism – no team should be dismissed after merely three games, and the season is barely past the halfway point of the first month.
Yet the three matches already reveal a deeper issue that goes beyond a simple loss of form. Opponents have discovered a tactical weapon against Arsenal: sit in a compact block and they will struggle to break you down.
Maintaining discipline against the Gunners often yields a point, rarely more, and a draw is a satisfactory outcome for almost every side except Arsenal themselves. Last season, four draws before Christmas effectively ended any realistic title hopes, and the club cannot afford a repeat. The urgency to change must be immediate.
The attacking fluidity that once defined Arsenal appears to be fading. Mariona Caldentey sent a careless lay‑off wide to Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius headed a point‑blank chance only to see Phallon Tullis‑Joyce smother it, and Chloe Kelly tried her luck from distance – all legitimate attempts, yet each was tinged with doubt. Their best moment came only with the final whistle, a late equaliser that did little to mask the underlying inefficiencies.
Both Slegers and her players should be questioned after such a passive start. Is the midfield balance correct? Georgia Stanway and Mariona Caldentey seem to be performing overlapping No 8 roles, potentially causing confusion about who should dictate play from deep. Should Alessia Russo be deployed as a true No 10, or perhaps be used more defensively as a shield for the back line?
Are the wingers reluctant to engage in one‑on‑one duels? Over the weekend, Lisa Baum and Olivia Smith combined for just one cross and a single successful dribble; the cross Baum delivered to Blackstenius should have produced a goal but did not.
Rather than exploiting Manchester United's transitional vulnerabilities under new manager Eva Olid, Arsenal spent much of the game standing off, too polite to fully engage. With a squad as talented as theirs, such restraint is puzzling.
Slegers needs to demand higher standards: sharper creativity from the playmakers, more incisive service from the flanks, and greater composure in front of goal. Every element of the final third can be accelerated a gear or two. Until that happens, Arsenal will likely continue to settle for disappointing draws. In contrast, Tottenham's Holdt appears immune to any confidence crisis in front of goal.
Since early February, only Bunny Shaw (with twelve goals) has outscored her, highlighting Holdt's prolific form. Spurs' attacking fluidity feels fresh and exhilarating. Crystal Palace managed to hold out for an entire half before succumbing to a 7‑0 demolition by Martin Ho's inventive side, netting six goals in a blistering 25‑minute spell.
Holdt's hat‑trick set the tone – a perfectly varied trio of strikes: a neatly worked throw‑in finish, an instinctive blast from a loose ball inside the box, and a clinical finish following a swift turnover. To my eye, Holdt exemplifies a blend of raw talent and determination, adapting to the league's demands faster than most peers. She is both a scorer and a creator, comfortable carrying the ball as well as distributing it.
In her first Spurs start of the season, she gave Ho plenty to think about, propelling his side up to second place in the table. The challenge now is to maintain that momentum.
Overall, Arsenal's early season narrative is one of unfulfilled potential and tactical rigidity. The record unbeaten run offers a silver lining, but the inability to convert chances and break down compact defenses threatens to relegate them to a mid‑table routine. For the Gunners to re‑establish themselves as genuine title contenders, they must rediscover the attacking verve that once made them feared, tighten their midfield roles, and ensure that their wide players are willing to take on defenders one‑on‑one. Only then can they transform the "good point" mentality into a sustained push for the championship.
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