Renee Slegers’ side took the lead in the 10th minute and were largely in control of the game in the first half, but that lead should’ve been extended and the fact it wasn’t would be Arsenal‘s undoing, as Villa bagged an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time to leave the Gunners already four points behind a Chelsea side that won the WSL last year without losing a single game.
There is, of course, still plenty of football left to play – however, in a way, there is also not. Each side still plays just 22 games in the WSL and, as such, these slip-ups are much more costly than in other divisions. That’s why it’s absolutely vital for Arsenal to overcome this lack of consistent ruthlessness if they are to seriously challenge a Chelsea side that has won six successive league titles.
Renee Slegers’ side took the lead in the 10th minute and were largely in control of the game in the first half, but that lead should’ve been extended and the fact it wasn’t would be Arsenal’s undoing, as Villa bagged an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time to leave the Gunners already four points behind a Chelsea side that won the WSL last year without losing a single game.
There is, of course, still plenty of football left to play – however, in a way, there is also not. Each side still plays just 22 games in the WSL and, as such, these slip-ups are much more costly than in other divisions. That’s why it’s absolutely vital for Arsenal to overcome this lack of consistent ruthlessness if they are to seriously challenge a Chelsea side that has won six successive league titles.
Slegers is well aware of how much these results can hurt her team’s chances, too. “I know,” she replied when the shrinking margin for error was pointed out to her on Saturday, after a frustrating draw followed a goalless stalemate at Manchester United the weekend prior. “There is pressure because, now, we’ve lost four points and that’s not what we wanted.”
Arsenal sit fifth in the WSL table, behind a Chelsea team that has four wins from their four games, an unbeaten Man Utd side which has won three of four and Man City, who have bounced back from defeat at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend with three wins on the spin. Rubbing salt in the wound, albeit at an early stage, is the presence of Tottenham in the place directly above the Gunners.
But it is the early advantages the rest of the ‘big four’ have on Arsenal which is most concerning when it comes to the battle for this year’s WSL title.
There are several things that one can point to when it comes to why the Gunners have had these early setbacks but a lack of ruthlessness stands out. After taking the lead so early on Saturday, one would’ve expected a team like Arsenal – with the firepower at their disposal, the Emirates crowd behind them and the desire to challenge for an honour they’ve not won since 2019 – to really put Villa to the sword. But they didn’t.
“I just don’t think we have the intensity and urgency in and around the box to kill the game, because we get an early goal,” Slegers said, damningly, at full time. “I don’t think we were at the level that we need to be able to create bigger, clear cut chances today.”
It’s hard not to compare that to Chelsea, who have set the bar extremely high in this league. Just over 24 hours after watching Arsenal drop points, the Blues travelled to West Ham as heavy favourites and, after taking the lead with eight minutes on the clock through Aggie Beever-Jones’ terrific free-kick, did exactly what the Gunners failed to. Seven minutes later, it was 3-0 and the game was over. “I think when you are clinical like that, you just kill the opposition’s hope,” Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor said afterwards. “In these games, that’s really important.”
Nothing supported her point more than Villa’s fight-back in north London the day before, a result she took particular note of. “Before the game we talked a little bit with the players about the table,” she admitted. “We wanted to remain top of the table, we wanted to extend the lead over Arsenal and that’s always important when you have that opportunity.”
It’s not that Arsenal are perennial strugglers against teams they are expected to beat – not any more, at least. Under Jonas Eidevall, Slegers’ predecessor, the Gunners’ struggles to break down low blocks, and thus their tendency to slip-up against less-favoured sides, was so often their undoing when it came to the WSL title race. But Slegers, after taking the job last October, made tweaks to address this, allowing her side to win 13 of their next 15 league games, with the only blots on their copybook coming in a defeat to Chelsea and a draw with Man Utd.
That trend continued into this new season, when they beat London City Lionesses 4-1 on the opening weekend and followed that result up with a 5-1 battering of West Ham. In general, beating those beneath them in the table isn’t really an issue anymore.
But in the two games since, that lesser ruthlessness Arsenal have compared to a team like Chelsea has been apparent. The Blues are a team that can turn up almost every week and win, no matter what. Even if the performances or the intensity isn’t there, they find a way to get a result.
Arsenal certainly haven’t produced as many of these disappointing results under Slegers but last weekend in particular showed that they can still crop up and when it comes to competing for the WSL title, they need to minimised as much as possible. Chelsea dropped points in just three games last season as they won the title. Arsenal have already done so twice, in four games.
Fortunately, the Gunners have a big chance to make amends this weekend as they travel to Man City for a Saturday lunchtime clash, with Chelsea’s trip to Man Utd the evening prior making it a huge couple of days in the WSL title race, even at this early stage. It is a real opportunity for Arsenal in particular. Wounding another title rival would at least repair some of the damage done in recent weeks, while the chances of the pacesetters slipping up is also slightly increased.
The Gunners have a good recent record in these big games, too. Last season, they beat both Manchester clubs at home and picked up points in both of the reverse fixtures. The year prior, they beat all of Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea at home, while also collecting four points from two trips to Manchester.
That will surely lift the spirits of fans who, after seeing their team become champions of Europe back in May, must’ve thought their team was ready to take that next step in the WSL this season and really challenge Chelsea for the trophy. Arsenal’s early slip-ups, though, highlight just how difficult it is to do what the Blues have for each of the last six seasons – win no matter what.
After all, it’s clear that the Gunners have the quality to be the champions of England again. They showed that against Real Madrid, Lyon and Barcelona on their run to that Champions League title, and they showed it in so many games last season, as they dispatched of those below them with ease and took points off their biggest rivals.
But to do it every week? And in two-game weeks, as the Champions League prepares to return next Tuesday? That’s the ruthlessness that Chelsea have perfected and that is the next step Arsenal have to make in order to challenge the champions for their crown.
The Gunners have not made the ideal start in their bid to make that leap, but there is time to make up for it. That has to start this weekend, at Man City, and continue every week from there on out. That’s where Chelsea’s level is and, as such, it is where Arsenal, and every other team that wants to join them as a challenger, have to get to in order to dethrone England’s dominant force.
