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. Her analysis begins with a striking statistic: Arsenal have just set a new club record by going unbeaten for 20 league matches, the longest run in the team's Women's Super League history.
While the achievement is impressive, it offers little consolation to manager Renee Slegers after her side slipped up at home against Manchester United, conceding two points and allowing the opposition to score a league‑high seven goals in the opening weeks of the campaign. Arsenal have not lost a home game under Slegers, so the expectation was that they would at least secure a win.
Instead, Smilla Holmberg seized a perfectly timed cross from Leah Williamson to equalise in the 95th minute, salvaging a point and preserving the unbeaten home record. The goal was technically sound, but the quality of the strike was almost lost on the Emirates crowd, many of whom had just travelled to Crystal Palace the previous weekend for a goalless draw that left fans with a feeling of déjà vu. Arsenal now appear to be squandering their chances of mounting a genuine title challenge right from the outset, and the pattern is beginning to repeat itself.
With five points from three games, Arsenal sit only sixth in a league that has been expanded from twelve to fourteen clubs, meaning a 26‑match season rather than the usual 22. The expansion does provide a few extra opportunities to climb the table, and some might argue that a point earned in these circumstances could be deemed a "good point" when the season is viewed in hindsight.
Nonetheless, for the moment the result is best described as a setback – another hurdle for a side that has struggled to keep pace with the league's eventual champions over the past seven seasons, despite finishing second last term. The pressing question is: what does Arsenal stand for if not a title‑contending side? Is the club merely a collection of players capable of creating chances without the conviction to finish them? So far, Arsenal have attempted 60 shots but have only found the net twice, an expected‑goals (xG) shortfall of 3.84.
Slegers will undoubtedly have a rebuttal ready; three games is a tiny sample size and it is premature to write off any team. Yet the early performances have exposed a deeper tactical issue: many opponents seem to have discovered a reliable defensive formula against Arsenal.
When teams sit in a compact block, Arsenal struggle to break them down. Maintaining defensive discipline against the Gunners often yields a point, and very rarely more. For most clubs, a draw against Arsenal is a satisfactory result, while for Arsenal it feels like a missed opportunity.
Four draws before Christmas were enough to derail their title hopes last season, and the club cannot afford a repeat of that scenario. The urgency to reverse this trend is palpable, but the path forward is not straightforward. Arsenal's attacking fluidity appears to be waning. In the recent fixture, Mariona Caldentey sent an errant lay‑off to Alessia Russo, who then played a careless ball wide.
Stina Blackstenius attempted a point‑blank header that was comfortably saved by Phallon Tullis‑Joyce, and Chloe Kelly tried her luck from distance, each effort lacking the sharpness that has defined Arsenal's best moments. The team saved its most promising chance for the final kick, only to come away with a draw. These observations raise several tactical questions for Slegers and her squad.
Is the midfield balance correct? Georgia Stanway and Mariona Caldentey appear to be sharing the same No.
8 responsibilities, potentially causing redundancy. Who should be orchestrating the play from deep? Is Alessia Russo being utilized in her optimal role as a No.
10, or would she be more effective dropping deeper to protect the back line? Are the wide players 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, and the delivery that Baum produced for Blackstenius should have resulted in a goal but did not. Rather than exploiting Manchester United's defensive frailties as they adapt to Eva Olid's new system, Arsenal spent much of the match standing off, too polite to engage fully.
Given the talent at their disposal, such restraint is hard to justify. Slegers must demand higher standards: more incisive creativity from the midfield, better service from the flanks, and sharper finishing in the final third. Raising the intensity of the attack by even a few gears could transform draws into victories.
In contrast, Tottenham's Holdt exemplifies a player who has not suffered a confidence crisis in front of goal. Since February, only Bunny Shaw (with twelve goals) has outscored her, highlighting Holdt's consistency. Tottenham's attacking play is fresh and exhilarating; after a tight first half against Crystal Palace, Martin Ho's side unleashed a 7‑0 demolition, scoring six goals in a 25‑minute burst. Holdt's hat‑trick set the tone, featuring a composed finish from a rehearsed throw‑in, a powerful strike from a loose ball in the box, and a clinical finish after a quick turnover.
Her blend of talent, determination, and adaptability makes her a dual threat as both scorer and creator, capable of advancing the ball and distributing it with equal proficiency. On her first start for Spurs this season, Holdt gave Ho plenty to consider as his side climbed to second place in the table. The challenge now is to maintain that momentum and keep the club in the upper echelons of the league.
Overall, Arsenal must confront the reality that a series of draws will not be enough to satisfy the ambitions of a club that aspires to win titles. The team needs to rediscover the attacking verve that once made them feared, tighten defensive cohesion, and ensure that every player understands their specific role within the system. Only then can they convert their record unbeaten run into a genuine title challenge rather than a footnote in a season of missed opportunities.