Laura Hunter, a columnist for Sky Sports, breaks down the most compelling narratives emerging from the second round of the Women's Super League, offering readers a deeper look at the issues shaping the women's game today. Arsenal have just set a new club milestone by going 20 matches unbeaten in the WSL, the longest run in the club's history. Yet that achievement offered 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 allowed a league‑high seven goals in the opening weeks. At the Emirates Stadium the Gunners have never been beaten on their own turf under Slegers, so it was perhaps inevitable that Smilla Holmberg would seize a perfectly timed, lofted cross from Leah Williamson and head home a 95th‑minute equaliser to keep the unbeaten run intact.
The strike was technically sound, but the reaction from the crowd was muted. Many fans had just travelled to Crystal Palace the previous weekend to watch a goalless draw, and both fixtures left supporters with a strange sense of déjà vu.
Once again, Arsenal appear to be squandering the chance to launch a serious title bid right at the start of the campaign. Five points from three games currently places Arsenal in sixth position in a league that has been expanded to 14 clubs, up from the previous 12. The extra two places may provide a small buffer for Slegers, as a 26‑match season inevitably offers more opportunities to pick up points.
In hindsight, a draw earned today might be labelled a "good point" when the season is over. For the moment, however, the result is best described as a setback – another obstacle in a pattern that has persisted for seven seasons.
Despite finishing runners‑up last term, Arsenal have struggled to keep pace with the team that ultimately proves strongest each year. This raises the question: what does Arsenal represent if not genuine title contenders? Are they a side that can only threaten with the promise of goals, lacking the conviction to finish them?
So far, Arsenal have attempted 60 shots but have found the net just twice, an expected‑goals (xG) shortfall of 3.84. Slegers will undoubtedly have a rebuttal ready. No team should be judged after merely three fixtures; the season is still in its infancy.
Yet the first three outings have already highlighted a deeper problem that opponents seem to have identified and are exploiting. When teams set up in a compact block, Arsenal find it difficult to break them down. Maintaining defensive discipline against the Gunners often earns the opposition a point, and a draw is a satisfactory outcome for everyone except Arsenal themselves. Securing four draws before Christmas was enough to knock them out of the title race last year, and they cannot afford a repeat.
The attacking fluidity that once defined Arsenal appears to be fading. Mariona Caldentey sent a careless lay‑off to Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius headed a ball straight at goalkeeper Phallon Tullis‑Joyce, and Chloe Kelly tried her luck from distance – all legitimate attempts, yet each was tinged with a lack of confidence. Their most promising moment came only in the dying seconds of the match.
Both Slegers and her players need to reflect on this subdued start. Is the balance of the midfield correct? Georgia Stanway and Mariona Caldentey both seem to be operating as the primary number‑8, potentially overlapping responsibilities and leaving the team without a clear deep‑lying playmaker.
Should Alessia Russo be deployed as a traditional number‑10, or perhaps as a more defensive option to protect the back line? Are the wingers hesitant to take on defenders one‑on‑one? Over the weekend, Lisa Baum and Olivia Smith combined on just one cross and one successful dribble; the cross Baum delivered to Blackstenius should have resulted in a goal but did not.
Instead of exploiting Manchester United's transitional weaknesses under new coach Eva Olid, Arsenal spent much of the game standing off, too polite to engage fully. A squad of this calibre should not be content with restraint. Slegers must demand higher standards: sharper creativity from the midfield, more incisive service from the flanks, and greater clinical finishing. Every element of the final third needs to shift up a gear if Arsenal are to avoid settling for draws.
While Arsenal wrestle with these issues, Tottenham's forward Holdt appears to be flourishing. Since February, only Bunny Shaw (with 12 goals) has outscored her, highlighting Holdt's growing confidence in front of goal. Spurs play with a fresh, exciting attacking rhythm; after a half‑hour of resistance, Crystal Palace collapsed under Martin Ho's inventive side, conceding seven goals in a 25‑minute blitz that featured a hat‑trick from Holdt. Her three distinct strikes – a well‑executed throw‑in finish, a powerful strike from a loose ball in the box, and a clinical finish following a quick turnover – showcased her versatility and composure.
Holdt embodies a blend of talent and determination, adapting to the league's demands faster than many peers. She can both create and finish, and on her first start of the season for Spurs she gave Ho plenty to consider as his side climbed to second place in the table. The next challenge for Tottenham is to maintain that momentum.
In summary, Arsenal's early season performance raises doubts about their title credentials. The unbeaten run is impressive, but the inability to convert chances and the tendency to settle for draws could prove costly over a 26‑match campaign. To re‑establish themselves as genuine contenders, Slegers must fine‑tune the midfield balance, unlock the attacking potential of her forwards, and encourage a more aggressive, decisive approach in the final third. Only then will the Gunners be able to translate their historic unbeaten streak into a realistic shot at the championship.