WSL Weekend Review: Arsenal Stun City, Chelsea Bounce Back, and United's Squad Shines
Sonia Bompastor, Olivia Smith, and Viviane Asseyi all enjoyed memorable Sundays in the Women's Super League, with key results shaping the title race and relegation battle.
Arsenal Make Manchester City Pay for Off-Day
Andrée Jeglertz, Manchester City's manager, admitted his team's "decision-making wasn't ideal all the time" during their 1-0 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Despite City having 22 touches in the opposition box compared to Arsenal's 19, they managed only one shot on target, while Arsenal had four. This rare lapse proved costly, but City remain top of the WSL table with an eight-point lead over Manchester United. Even if Arsenal win their game in hand, the gap will still be seven points. With a superior goal difference of 10 over United, City's title hopes remain strong, especially as they face bottom-placed Leicester and struggling Aston Villa next.
Defiant Bompastor Weathers Storm at Chelsea
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor responded to speculation about her future with defiance after a 2-0 win over Tottenham. "I know who I am, I don't need people outside my environment to tell me who I am. I will always make sure I give my best," she stated. The victory, sealed by Keira Walsh's goal just before halftime, came after a week of noise that ended with Bompastor signing a new contract. Tottenham outcreated Chelsea with 12 shots to eight in the first half, but Chelsea's clinical finishing made the difference, highlighting their ability to capitalize on opportunities.
Brosnan Eases Everton's Turbulence
Everton secured a hard-fought 1-0 win at London City Lionesses, marking their first back-to-back victories in nearly two years amid a turbulent week following Brian Sørensen's sacking. Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan starred again, ranking second in the league for save percentage (76.9%) and saves per 90 minutes (4.4). Goalscorer Inma Gabarro, who joined Everton in 2024 and recovered from a ruptured ACL, made her mark with a well-taken finish on her second start since returning from loan at Sevilla, where she was closer to family during her recovery.
Rotation Pays Off for Manchester United
Manchester United's wider squad is contributing significantly beyond the starting XI this season, with manager Marc Skinner giving more players minutes. This rotation was evident in a 2-0 win over Leicester, described by Skinner as not "vintage us" but crucial for securing three points and a clean sheet. Substitute Elisabeth Terland added to Julia Zigiotti Olme's early goal to seal the victory. Since signing Lea Schüller this month, Terland has been rotated effectively, helping United manage player freshness across four competitions.
Aston Villa's Defence Remains a Concern
Aston Villa's defensive woes continued as they conceded four goals in a heavy defeat to Liverpool, taking their season total to 29 goals against, with only West Ham conceding more (34). It has been two months since Villa last kept a clean sheet, ironically against Liverpool. Manager Natalia Arroyo expressed disappointment, stating, "I'm really disappointed with how poorly we started. That has to do with tactics but that has to do with desire, with passion." The lack of improvement is concerning at a crucial stage of the season.
Asseyi Decisive in Vital West Ham Win
Viviane Asseyi celebrated her 100th West Ham appearance by driving a dramatic late comeback in a 3-2 win over Brighton, securing Rita Guarino's first home league victory. Brighton led through goals from Kiko Seike and Manuela Vanegas, but West Ham's persistence paid off. Asseyi's direct running down the left created opportunities before she scored the winner in stoppage time, with Ffion Morgan's cross and Shekiera Martinez's equalizer setting the stage. Guarino praised Asseyi, saying she "has the energy of a 20-year-old player," as the win eased relegation pressure.
