Laura Hunter, a columnist for Sky Sports, breaks down the most pressing issues emerging from the second round of the Women’s Super League, offering readers a deeper look at the narratives shaping the women’s game. Arsenal have just set a new club benchmark by going unbeaten for 20 matches in the WSL – a record that would normally be a cause for celebration.
For manager Renée Slegers, however, the achievement feels hollow after the Gunners slipped up at home against Manchester United, conceding two points and allowing the visitors to register a league‑high seven goals. Historically, Arsenal have never been beaten at the Emirates under Slegers, so it was almost inevitable that a late drama would unfold.
In the 95th minute, Smilla Holmberg latched onto a perfectly weighted cross from Leah Williamson and nudged home an equaliser, preserving the unbeaten home record. The goal was technically sound, but the quality of the strike was lost on a crowd that had just endured a goalless draw at Crystal Palace the previous weekend – a match that left fans with a sense of déjà vu. Once again, Arsenal seem to be squandering any realistic chance of mounting a genuine title challenge from the very first hurdle.
Five points from three games currently leaves Arsenal sitting sixth in a league that has been expanded from twelve to fourteen clubs, meaning a 26‑match campaign rather than the previous 22. The expansion may offer a sliver of comfort – there will be more opportunities to pick up points later in the season – but for now the setback is stark. It adds another chapter to a narrative that has persisted for seven seasons: Arsenal struggle to keep pace with the league’s leading side, despite finishing runners‑up last term. So what does Arsenal represent if not title contenders?
Are they a team that merely threatens to score without the conviction to finish? Their statistics underline the problem: out of 60 shots taken so far, they have only found the net twice, a glaring under‑performance compared with an expected‑goals (xG) figure of 3.84.
Slegers certainly has the right to defend her side – three games is a tiny sample, and the season is barely over its opening break. Yet the pattern emerging from those three outings points to deeper tactical issues that opponents have already identified. When a compact defensive block faces Arsenal, the Gunners struggle to break it down. Maintaining discipline against them often earns the opposition a point, and a draw against Arsenal can be a valuable result for any club other than the Gunners themselves.
Four draws before Christmas were enough to derail Arsenal’s title hopes last season, and they cannot afford a repeat. The problem appears to be a loss of pace and unpredictability in the attacking phase.
Mariona Caldentey’s misplaced lay‑off to Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius’s header that failed to beat Phallon Tullis‑Joyce, and Chloe Kelly’s long‑range attempts all illustrate a lack of cutting edge, despite being legitimate chances. The decisive moment came at the very end of the Manchester United game, when Arsenal finally produced a spark. Yet the overall performance was too passive to be acceptable.
Questions now arise for Slegers and her squad: Is the midfield balance correct? Both Georgia Stanway and Mariona Caldentey are deployed as central midfielders, effectively sharing the No. 8 role.
Who should be the deep‑lying playmaker? Should Alessia Russo operate as a traditional No.
10, or be positioned 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 for just one cross and one successful dribble, and the solitary delivery from Baum that found Blackstenius should have resulted in a goal.
Rather than exploiting United’s growing pains under Eva Olid, Arsenal spent much of the match standing off, too polite to engage fully. The talent in the squad suggests they are capable of more aggressive, decisive play. Slegers must demand higher standards – sharper creativity from the midfield, better service from the flanks, and more clinical finishing.
The entire final third needs to shift into a higher gear; until that happens, draws will remain the baseline expectation. In contrast, Tottenham’s forward Holdt appears to be thriving. Since February, only Bunny Shaw (with 12 goals) has outscored her, highlighting Holdt’s confidence in front of goal.
Spurs’ attacking fluidity is fresh and exciting; after a tight first half against Crystal Palace, they unleashed a 7‑0 demolition, scoring six times in a 25‑minute burst. Holdt’s hat‑trick showcased a variety of finishes – a well‑executed throw‑in routine, a powerful strike from a loose ball inside the box, and a high‑tempo finish from a turnover.
She blends talent with determination, adapting quickly to the league’s demands, and can both score and create. Her debut start for Spurs this season gave manager Martin Ho plenty to contemplate as his side climbed to second place. The next challenge is maintaining that position. Overall, Arsenal’s early season narrative is one of missed opportunities and tactical rigidity.
To revive their title ambitions, they must inject urgency, diversify their attacking options, and convert the chances they create. Only then can they shed the label of perpetual runners‑up and become genuine contenders once more.