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 understanding of the issues shaping the women's game today. While Arsenal have just set a new club benchmark by going unbeaten for 20 league matches, the achievement feels hollow for manager Renee Slegers after a home draw against Manchester United that exposed significant frailties.
United, despite conceding a league‑high seven goals in the opening weeks, managed to secure two points at the Emirates, leaving the Gunners with a bitter taste. The home record under Slegers has been immaculate – Arsenal have never lost at the Emirates since she took charge. It was therefore almost inevitable that a late surge would salvage a point.
In the 95th minute, Smilla Holmberg latched onto a perfectly timed, lofted cross from Leah Williamson and headed home to equalise. The goal, while technically sound, was almost lost in the noise of a crowd that had just endured a goalless draw at Crystal Palace the weekend before, creating a strange sense of déjà vu among supporters. That single point leaves Arsenal with five points from three games, a tally that currently places them sixth in a league that has expanded to 14 teams.
The expansion does provide a marginal cushion – there are more matches to recover lost ground – but it also means a longer season and more opportunities for rivals to close the gap. In a 26‑game campaign, each point becomes precious, and a draw at this stage can feel like a setback rather than a stepping stone. For now, the draw must be framed as a warning sign.
It adds another notch to the list of moments where Arsenal have struggled to keep pace with the league’s elite. Over the past seven seasons, the Gunners have consistently fallen short of the top spot, even after a runner‑up finish last term. The question therefore arises: what does Arsenal represent if not genuine title challengers?
Is the club merely a side that threatens to score without the conviction to finish chances? Their statistics back up this concern – from 60 shots taken so far, they have found the net only twice, indicating an expected‑goals (xG) shortfall of nearly four.
Slegers certainly has the right to defend her team; three games is a small sample size and the season is still in its infancy. Yet the patterns emerging are worrying.
Opponents have discovered a tactical formula that works against Arsenal: sit deep, stay compact, and force the Gunners into a stalemate. When teams manage to hold Arsenal to a draw, they often walk away with a valuable point, while Arsenal’s own ambitions are stalled. Last season, four draws before Christmas effectively ended Arsenal’s title hopes, and repeating that scenario would be disastrous.
The team’s attacking flair appears to be waning. Mariona Caldentey’s misplaced pass to Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius’s header that failed to beat goalkeeper Phallon Tullis‑Joyce, and Chloe Kelly’s long‑range attempts all illustrate a lack of cutting edge. These efforts, while earnest, were tinged with doubt and failed to produce the decisive moments needed. A deeper analysis suggests structural issues within the squad.
Both Georgia Stanway and Mariona Caldentey are being deployed in similar midfield roles, essentially competing for the same No. 8 responsibilities. This overlap creates confusion about who should dictate play from deeper positions.
Meanwhile, Alessia Russo is often positioned as a No. 10, yet she frequently drifts into defensive zones, limiting her impact in the final third. The wingers, Lisa Baum and Olivia Smith, contributed only one cross and a single successful dribble over the weekend, and even Baum’s well‑timed delivery to Blackstenius did not result in a goal. Instead of exploiting Manchester United’s transitional weaknesses under new manager Eva Olid, Arsenal spent large portions of the match standing off, reluctant to press aggressively.
Given the talent at their disposal, such restraint is hard to justify. Slegers must demand higher standards: sharper decision‑making from the creative midfielders, more incisive service from the flanks, and greater composure in front of goal.
Elevating the quality of play in the attacking third could transform draws into victories. In contrast, Tottenham’s forward Holdt appears to be thriving. Since February, only Bunny Shaw has scored more goals than Holdt’s eight.
Spurs’ attacking fluidity is evident in their recent 7‑0 demolition of Crystal Palace, where they scored six goals in a 25‑minute burst. Holdt’s hat‑trick showcased a variety of finishes – a well‑executed set‑piece, a instinctive strike from a loose ball, and a composed finish after a quick turnover.
Her blend of talent, determination, and adaptability makes her a dual threat as both scorer and creator, and her performance helped propel Spurs to second place in the table. The broader lesson for Arsenal is clear: they cannot afford to rely on a few moments of brilliance to salvage points. Consistency, tactical flexibility, and a renewed attacking mindset are essential if they wish to convert their unbeaten run into a genuine title challenge. The season is long, and while the expanded league offers more games to make up ground, each draw now feels like a missed opportunity.
Arsenal must address the tactical redundancies, sharpen their finishing, and unleash the creative potential of players like Stanway, Caldentey, and Russo. Only then can they move beyond being a team that merely threatens to win and become a side that consistently delivers victories.