Emirates crowd shows the way forward
Arsenal may not be winning on the pitch but they’re winning off it. The Gunners broke the WSL attendance record for a third time with the 54,115 fans at the Emirates Stadium for their 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday. Arsenal are mastering the art of bringing the supporter base on board with watching the women’s team; the marketing and ticketing teams deserve a huge amount of credit for the numbers coming through the turnstiles. Meanwhile across London, Chelsea could only muster 14,776 for their 2-1 victory over Tottenham. It is staggering that the reigning champions, bidding for a fifth consecutive league title and with a squad stacked with international superstars, cannot get fans to show out in force. Ticket prices rising, with some as high as £50, and the later Sunday kick-off may have impacted numbers. However, there is more to do to build crowds worthy of Emma Hayes’ side. Suzanne Wrack
… but on the pitch Arsenal have problems
Is Arsenal’s season over before it has begun with an opening-day defeat to Liverpool following on from their failure to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League? Of course not, but they need to be as close to perfect as possible to keep their title ambitions alive. “Are we performing at the level we want right now? No, we’re not,” said Jonas Eidevall following the 1-0 loss. “There’s no hiding from that. We need to be better and develop and we don’t have a lot of time to do that.” The head coach is right; they have no time to lose with a trip to Manchester United up next on Friday, a team keen to prove a point against the club that poached Alessia Russo from them. SW
Match report: Arsenal 0-1 Liverpool
What a moment from @_miriaeltaylor 🙌#BarclaysWSL @LiverpoolFCW pic.twitter.com/SdFMHdtB5k
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) October 2, 2023
Lucky escape for lack of VAR at Stamford Bridge
There was a moment just before Lauren James scored Chelsea’s second goal, and winner, against Tottenham on Sunday when controversy loomed. As the hosts piled pressure on Spurs, Guro Reiten sent an effort goalwards that Ashleigh Neville desperately attempted to scramble off the line. Everyone inside Stamford Bridge thought it was over, backed up by the replays on Sky Sports. It will have been of huge relief to the officials on the field, therefore, that the hosts managed to score in the next phase of play. “I don’t understand why we don’t have VAR-lite across the league,” Emma Hayes, Chelsea’s head coach, said afterwards. “We implemented it at Kingsmeadow during pre-season. I don’t think there should be any excuses; we’ve got the technology.” Sophie Downey
Match report: Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham
Debut goals right there! 🌟@miafishel10 on the scoresheet at Stamford Bridge 🔥#BarclaysWSL @ChelseaFCW pic.twitter.com/eqrzHkA6Os
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) October 2, 2023
Ward’s fire misdirected after Villa’s agonising defeat
Carla Ward believes the WSL should have full-time match officials but would extra preparation, fitness and dialogue have changed any of the decisions that went against Aston Villa in their thrilling 2-1 opening-day defeat by Manchester United? The Villa manager spoke articulately of the need for the next step of professionalism in the women’s game but in this particular match Maya Le Tissier’s challenges on Ebony Salmon and Rachel Daly did not merit the red card and penalty, respectively, that Ward called for. “The big, big calls have gone against us today and that hurts,” Ward said. “The powers that be need to make our officials in this league full time, so it’s not on them out there today, it’s on the powers that be.” Peter Lansley
Match report: Aston Villa 1-2 Manchester United
Always producing the late magic for @ManUtdWomen 🙌#BarclaysWSL pic.twitter.com/MaTou7zQZI
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) October 2, 2023
Roord looks worth the investment for City
Manchester City have caught the eye for their minimal activity in the transfer window, with Jill Roord their sole signing of the summer. The Netherlands international brings experience and attacking quality and she put in a display against West Ham that showed why the club spent more than £300,000 for her on a three-year contract. Roord adds yet more versatility to City’s attack both with her ability on the ball and energy in the press out of possession. She doubled the visitors’ lead in the second half with a deft turn through West Ham defence to turn home Laia Aleixandri’s ball. Lauren Hemp had unlocked the hosts early in the second half with a curling finish before City saw out the game with 10 players after Leila Ouahabi was sent off. SD
New signings breathe life into Foxes’ attack
Leicester City spent most of last campaign clinging on for dear life, struggling to find the back of the net. However, in scoring four goals against newly-promoted Bristol City, Willie Kirk’s side showed vast improvement in their attack. In fact, three of the four goalscorers were new signings: Aimee Palmer, Jutta Rantala and Lena Petermann. Criticism had engulfed the Foxes ahead of the new season, with questions posed about where the goals would come from after a high player turnover. It is still early days, but if beating Bristol 4-2 is anything to go by, Leicester’s new additions may well do the required job and keep the team clear of the relegation zone. Emily Keogh
What a way to mark your debut for @LCFC_Women 😱@aimeerose46 take a bow!#BarclaysWSL pic.twitter.com/WD0bG0MMvL
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) October 2, 2023
Brighton’s fast start too much for Everton
Elisabeth Terland dazzled Everton’s defence early on, putting Brighton 2-0 up within 13 minutes on Merseyside. Yet the second half was more difficult for the visitors as tiredness set in, allowing Everton to exploit cracks in Melissa Phillips’ side and, eventually, get a goal back. Taking charge in April, Phillips was Brighton’s fourth manager last season and she has instilled a neoteric resilience and fight in her players. Whilst grit was amiss in previous campaigns, it shone through under Phillips’ watchful eye at Walton Hall Park. “In the second half, we had to weather the storm a little bit, and I think the players that came on really helped change the tempo and were excellent in seeing out the game,” said the manager after her side held out for a 2-1 win. EK
