WSL talking points: Arsenal held again as Hemp nears assist record
Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by Birmingham at the Emirates on Sunday in Women’s Super League action, while Manchester City remain top of the table with a 100% record and Lauren Hemp moved closer to the WSL all-time assist mark.
Arsenal dominated many attacking metrics but failed to convert dominance into a win; they recorded 76% possession, a 2.73 xG and 43 touches in the opposition box yet managed just four shots on target from 27 chances in the match. Renée Slegers’s side struggled to break down Birmingham’s low block, and Birmingham scored with their only shot on target as Océane Hurtré took her tally to six in six.
London City extended their winning run to four games with a 2-1 victory against Everton in a match that required defensive discipline as much as attacking quality. The winners created 16 opportunities but registered only five shots on target, with both first-half goals coming on the break; the team have now faced the fewest shots on target in the division (12).
Charlton remain pointless after six games but earned plaudits for their second-half display in a 3-1 defeat by Manchester United, a match in which the final score was established inside the opening 30 minutes. Manager Karen Hills praised the character of her players: “When we talk about bravery, I thought we took the second half to Manchester United,” she said. Hills added that Charlton had produced good possession moments despite finishing the match with 23.8% possession.
Chelsea produced a big second half to beat Tottenham 6-2 at Stamford Bridge after the teams went in level at 1-1 at half-time, with Tottenham conceding five goals in a flurry after the interval. Tottenham head coach Martin Ho said: “We conceded three goals in nine minutes and then two in six. We can’t completely collapse in those moments. That’s individual responsibility and accountability to defend,” and added: “You can see that, as a young team, we lack a little bit of maturity in these big games. That will come with time.” Tottenham have not won in 20 games against top-four opponents.
Lauren Hemp set up two early goals in Sunday’s 3-2 win against Brighton to move to 50 and 51 career WSL assists, providing Khadija Shaw with both finishes inside the opening 16 minutes. Hemp now sits three assists behind record holder and teammate Beth Mead, who has 54, and has eight goal contributions for the season. On her performance Hemp said: “I want to keep improving and I want my whole performance across the game to be good and I thought I lost the ball too many times today. So I want to keep pushing for more, keep striving and I still think my best is yet to come. But I’m happy with the contributions I’ve done in games recently.”
Aston Villa recorded their first win of the season with a 2-1 comeback against Liverpool after Chasity Grant struck in the second half and a Liverpool own goal from Grace Fisk added to Villa’s tally. Brian Sørensen, who took over from Natalia Arroyo last month and was this week confirmed as the interim head coach until the end of the season, said: “Incredible. Also the manner that we did it in, we were really struggling in that first half and Liverpool were so good, but we made changes tactically but also personnel at half-time and that flipped the game around. Credit to the girls … best day ever!” Meanwhile, West Ham secured a 1-0 away win over Crystal Palace thanks to Kelly Gago’s second league goal of the season, a left-footed finish after an assist from Oona Siren who capitalised on a defensive error; Gago joined the Hammers from Everton at the start of the season and the victory followed three consecutive losses prior to the international break.
Manchester City remain top of the WSL table with a 100% record, London City have extended their winning streak to four matches, and Lauren Hemp sits three assists short of Beth Mead’s record of 54.