Arsenal’s win over Manchester City has tightened the race for second place in the Barclays WSL, with qualification for the Champions League now firmly in play.
Arsenal defeated Manchester City 1–0 on Sunday to close the gap to ten points, but the title is still City’s to lose. They are eight points clear of Manchester United, nine off Chelsea and ten off Arsenal, who have a game in hand to be played against Leicester.
Second place in the league is crucial as it qualifies, for the first time, directly for the UEFA Women’s Champions League league phase. Last season, runner-up place qualified only for the Champions League qualifying round. However, as Arsenal famously won the trophy in Lisbon, they avoided the qualifying round by going directly into the league phase as title holders.
Arsenal are currently in fourth place with a game in hand and therefore are virtually in second place ahead of Manchester United and Chelsea. Here are the remaining league games for the three teams. Arsenal are guaranteed second place should they win all their eight games.
Matchday 16
- Chelsea v Liverpool, Man Utd v London City Lionesses, Brighton v Arsenal
Matchday 17
- London City Lionesses v Arsenal, Chelsea v Brighton, West Ham v Man Utd
Matchday 18
- Man Utd v Everton, Arsenal v West Ham, London City Lionesses v Chelsea
Matchday 19
- Man Utd v Man City, Chelsea v Aston Villa, Arsenal v Tottenham
Matchday 20
- Aston Villa v Arsenal, Everton v Chelsea, Tottenham v Man Utd
Matchday 17
- Arsenal v Leicester
Matchday 21
- Man Utd v Brighton, Arsenal v Everton, Leicester v Chelsea
Matchday 22
- Liverpool v Arsenal, Chelsea v Man Utd
In theory, the three teams should not lose many points in those remaining games, but we know the margin between the top four teams and the rest has shrunk, so all games are potential banana skins.
On the final day, Chelsea and Manchester United will meet, and it will be a decisive game that might benefit Arsenal. Manchester United will also have their Manchester derby on matchday 19, which could crown City champions and therefore represents another tough game where they could come away empty-handed.
I think the manager who does not finish in the top three places will certainly be under pressure from their board, unless they have a strong argument such as winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League or the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Mark Skinner and Sonia Bompastor are more likely at risk than Renee Slegers, although Bompastor signing an extension recently until 2030 means it would cost Chelsea more to remove her, and it is also a clear indication that they count on her to rebuild at the end of the season in the same way Arsenal count on Slegers.
It is also interesting to note that City have benefited from not playing in the Champions League this season. They have been able to rest players while the other three teams were in action and also play a more consistent starting XI.
Manchester City make 2.45 starting XI changes per game and 3.45 substitutions per game.
Manchester United make 2.45 starting XI changes per game and 3.96 substitutions per game.
Chelsea make 3.96 starting XI changes per game and 4.42 substitutions per game.
Arsenal make 3.33 starting XI changes per game and 4.88 substitutions per game.
The end of the season will be full of suspense and will go to the final day, making it entertaining for the fans