WSL round-up: Arsenal under pressure after Etihad loss as Putellas and Diani each hit doubles
On 5 October 2026, in Women’s Super League action, Manchester City beat Arsenal 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium, increasing scrutiny on Arsenal head coach Renée Slegers as other fixtures produced notable results across the division.
Arsenal arrived at the Etihad following a run of one win in six in all competitions and sat 10 points behind Manchester City; after the defeat Slegers walked to acknowledge around 2,000 travelling supporters and was applauded in return. Slegers said: “I mostly went there to thank them, and connect with them, and show them that I care for them and appreciate them coming to Manchester. And also showing to show them that I feel – not sorry for them because I’m, of course, a big part of it and things are within my control – but they’re coming here and they’re not getting the rewards, just like the team. So I just wanted to connect with them instead of walking away and hiding.”
Chelsea’s midfield influence featured prominently in a 3-0 victory over West Ham, with Keira Walsh named player of the match for a third consecutive game and operating in a more attacking role this season. The 29-year-old benefited from the introduction of Lexi Potter at half-time and scored her second WSL goal of 2026-27 — the same total she managed all last season — while taking five shots and completing three dribbles, more than any other player. Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor said: “It helps us a lot in terms of creating opportunities,” and added, “We know how good she is when she is at the edge of the box ... Right now it’s good to have a player who is confident and brings us the solution to scoring goals.”
London City moved into third with a 6-1 win over Tottenham, a result that showcased the side’s attacking firepower and physical approach under Eder Maestre. Alexia Putellas and Kadidiatou Diani each scored twice in the rout, and London City registered 47.6% of their shots on target compared with Tottenham’s 11%. The report noted Maestre’s team combined a robust physical presence with an aggressive press to unsettle the visitors, a contrast to Tottenham’s earlier unbeaten start following a summer of significant squad changes.
Charlton conceded five after taking a one-goal lead at Brighton and manager Karen Hills was blunt in her assessment, saying: “It’s unacceptable if we can’t deal with one v ones. The game is about one v one duels, about tackling, doing the basics and doing them really well and unfortunately we didn’t do that today. We found ourselves on the end of the scoreline which isn’t very flattering for us. Individually we need to be more accountable for some individual stuff but at the same time I take full responsibility because that’s my team out there.” The international break arrives at a critical time for the winless Charlton, who are yet to pick up a single point.
Gareth Taylor reflected on Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat by Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village, saying he was surprised by United’s direct approach after his side lost despite holding 51% of possession and creating fewer clear chances. Taylor told the BBC: “We ended up becoming what they are, very direct. Their goalkeeper was literally kicking out of her hands. It’s a very direct way of playing. We fell into that trap ourselves. We have got to be braver – and do what we do.” Meanwhile, Brian Sørensen’s first WSL match as Aston Villa’s interim manager finished 1-1 with Crystal Palace after Noelle Maritz put Villa ahead in the 55th minute and Abbie Larkin equalised 19 minutes later, leaving Villa without a league win and sitting 12th with three points from five games.
Everton recorded a 2-1 victory over Birmingham City courtesy of two goals from Ruby Mace, ending a run in which the club had reached the top five without scoring anything other than an own goal. Mace’s first was a left-footed strike into the far corner and her second a deflected effort from the edge of the box; she said: “I’m really happy. I have actually [been working on my shooting], putting in the extra work, and luckily today I managed to score.”
The international break now interrupts the WSL schedule, offering struggling sides time to regroup; league positions were reshaped this round with London City moving into third and Arsenal remaining 10 points adrift of Manchester City.