In a pivotal fixture at the top of the table, Arsenal clinched a significant 2-1 win over Manchester City, underscoring their title credentials this season.

BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 05: Jonas Eidevall, Manager of Arsenal, gives the team instructions during the Barclays Women´s Super League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester City at Meadow Park on November 05, 2023 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)
BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 05: Jonas Eidevall, Manager of Arsenal, gives the team instructions during the Barclays Women´s Super League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester City at Meadow Park on November 05, 2023 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)

The Gunners got a very important 2-1 home win in a tough game against a strong City that looks to be a very serious contender for the title this season.

Steph Catley and Stina Blackstenius scored, while former Gunner Chloe Kelly got one for the visitors. Kim Little had a penalty saved while we were already 1-0 up that could have made the game a little easier. City were very strong on the day and Arsenal did really well to get the three points that will be very important come the end of the season.

For this game, Jonas Eidevall had selected the following starting XI: Zinsberger, McCabe, Ilestedt, Wubben-Moy, Catley; Wälti, Pelova, Little; Lacasse, Russo, Foord. The substitutes were D’Angelo, Beattie, Mead, Miedema, Maanum, Maritz, Hurtig, Blackstenius, Conney-Cross. And the four players left out the matchday squad were Williams and Gio as usual alongside Codina and Kühl.

Arsenal clearly tried to minimise City’s strength on the wing by selecting McCabe at right-back as explained by the Arsenal manager. Interestingly, two Australian players were selected as starters despite coming back late from the Olympics qualifiers and Kim Little was selected at 10 rather than in the double pivot with Vicky Pelova taking her place along Lia Wälti.

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Arsenal opened the score thanks to a Foord assist who found Catley in space.

Kim Little was denied by Kheating who had fouled Lacasse to give Arsenal a penalty.

Chloe Kelly then equalised following a lot of pressure from City.

Stina Blackstenius got the winner as Kheating missed a bouncing long ball and the Swedish striker made no mistake to give the Arsenal the win.

That win means Arsenal had a good weekend as Manchester United and Manchester City dropped points.

Chelsea won 6-0 away at Aston Villa and the club announced Emma Hayes’ departure at the end of the season and she will likely take over the US WNT.

Chelsea stay top of the table with 13 points out of a possible 15, they are ahead of four teams with ten points, Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal. The Gunners have the worst goal difference from the four teams, as the goals are not flowing this season.

There is definitely work to be done before the team is firing on all cylinders. We are now entering the third block of games in the season before the next international break and it is a very busy one: we have Bristol City at home in the League Cup, followed by Leicester away in the League. Then a week later, Brighton away in the League followed by Southampton away in midweek in the League Cup. And then the final game in the block will be West Ham at home in the League.

If we include yesterday’s game, that is six games in 21 days, Jonas Eidevall is lucky to have a 24 players squad at his disposal which means he will be able to rotate and rest his players in the League Cup and also keep the fringe players sharp too. I would certainly expect all the players who have lacked playing time to get a game on Thursday against Bristol.

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