Sports
IT seemed as if Manchester City were cruising towards the Women’s Super League title.
But suddenly, the champions-elect are looking over their shoulders as Arsenal start to make up ground.
“We like to be in a hunting position,” Gunners midfielder Frida Maanum said following Wednesday’s emphatic 7-0 victory over Leicester.
“We are in a good position, we want to hunt them [Manchester City] from the back and try to catch them.”
Arsenal’s spectacular win condemned the Foxes to a relegation play-off, while it closed the gap on the leaders to eight points and boosted the Gunners’ goal difference.
It seems a significant margin to overcome at this stage of the season, but the Gunners do have two games in hand over the league leaders.
So, can they actually catch City and win the WSL?
“I don’t know,” was the humble response from Arsenal boss Renee Slegers. “We have nothing yet so we have to keep on pushing.”
Why Arsenal believe
After watching Manchester City slip to a 3-2 defeat by Brighton on Saturday, Arsenal fans started to believe they had a chance.
And Slegers’ team made sure to capitalise on the opportunity with seven unanswered goals against Leicester, improving their goal difference to 33 – six behind City.
Leah Williamson’s glancing header – the Gunners’ seventh against Leicester – also took their tally to 103 goals under Slegers. No WSL team has scored more since she was appointed – initially as interim boss – in October 2024.
“Clean sheet, seven goals scored, different scorers – it was a great night for us,” Slegers said to Sky Sports.
“You saw so many players playing the Arsenal way, we played attractive football and we were very brave in everything we did.”
What will also boost Arsenal’s belief is their squad’s strength in depth.
With the second leg of their Women’s Champions League semi-final against Lyon awaiting on Saturday, Slegers rested Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Mariona Caldentey, Caitlin Foord and Alessia Russo against the Foxes.
Their replacements did the job.
On her 100th WSL appearance, Maanum scored the opening goal and assisted two more, while Smilla Holmberg bagged her first two goals in an Arsenal shirt.
Stina Blackstenius has often had to play second fiddle to Russo, but the Swede, who scored the winning goal in last season’s Champions League final, showed her quality with two goals in the space of nine minutes.
“Everyone knows their role and brings their strengths. There are such high levels of communication and trust within the team, on the pitch, off the pitch,” Slegers added.
Why City remain favourites
The bad news for Arsenal is that the title race remains in Manchester City’s control.
If Andree Jeglertz’s side win their last two fixtures, they will lift the WSL trophy for the first time since 2016 regardless of what the Gunners do.
City end their campaign with games against Liverpool and West Ham, placed 10th and 11th respectively, with an FA Cup semi-final sandwiched in between.
“Man City know it’s in their hands,” former City and Arsenal forward Nikita Parris told Sky Sports. “Arsenal can put on all the pressure they like but it’s up to Manchester City to get the job done.”
Arsenal, meanwhile, will face Brighton, Aston Villa and Everton before a trip to Liverpool on the final day of the season.
While City could drop points again, Jeglertz has a world-class squad that has set the pace all season.
Striker Khadija Shaw has scored 19 WSL goals this season, seven more than anyone else, while Vivianne Miedema and Kerolin have 10 and nine respectively.
Kerstin Casparij has excelled at right-back, grabbing seven assists, while winger Lauren Hemp also has six assists to her name.
With firepower, creativity and experience throughout the side, City still have every reason to believe the title is still firmly within their grasp.
A.I
April 30, 2026
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