Teams spend a lot of time working on areas they think will give them marginal gains, the little things that will improve your performance by 1% or 2%. After Arsenal eventually got the better of Tottenham’s low block to earn a 1-0 derby victory at a sold-out Emirates, the Gunners’ manager, Jonas Eidevall, was asked whether playing at the club’s main stadia in front of huge crowds was an area that gave them a marginal gain. “I definitely think the culture we have here at the Emirates is a big factor that can be even more important long term,” he said. “It should be able to drive sporting success and generate revenue and investing in the team to generate more sporting success. I am so happy they put one more game at the Emirates [against Leicester].” The Tottenham manager, Robert Vilahamn, pointed to the practical difficulty for teams unfamiliar with playing in front of such large numbers on a regular basis: “The first 10 minutes you don’t hear anything else apart from than their fans, and it’s really tricky to communicate … you need to learn how to use gestures instead of speaking, for example,” he said.
- Match report: Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham
Scoring on your on your debut is a dream start for most players, but for Catarina Macario a goal against Leicester seemed almost too good to be true. Despite signing for Chelsea in 2023, the American forward has been sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury for more than 600 days. So as her number appeared on the fourth official’s board in the 72nd minute, she couldn’t help but show her joy and made her mark with a goal to cap off Chelsea’s 4-0 victory. You wouldn’t have known she’d been out for so long, the way she controlled a pass from Aggie Beever-Jones to set herself before she slid the ball under the onrushing goalkeeper. Speaking after the game, Macario revealed she “was definitely a bit nervous” but added: “When you’ve been out for so long you’re just happy to be back.”
- WSL roundup: Chelsea’s Macario marks debut with goal at Leicester
As Manchester City continue their winning run – now 12 in all competitions – it is becoming evident how much of their success is based on the collective. Eyes will automatically turn to the stars of the show in their 2-1 victory over Everton – Khadija Shaw scoring her 15th league goal of the season; Lauren Hemp’s sublime finish; Yui Hasegawa pulling strings – but the continued high performance of every member in a relatively stable starting XI has been key to them challenging Chelsea’s dominance. “The mentality shift this year has been really impressive and it’s going to be important in the run-in,” Gareth Taylor reflected. City dominated a weakened Everton and even when the visitors pulled a goal back – a superb hit from Hanna Bennison – they remained unconcerned. A display of resoluteness, consistency and control that truly illustrated their title credentials.
It is never over until it’s over but Bristol City’s heavy loss to Brighton felt like a telling blow to their survival hopes. The manner of their 7-3 defeat will have most frustrated manager Lauren Smith, with a defensive naivety at fault for many of the goals. The Robins have proved that they are able to score but continued mistakes and lack of concentration saw all their hard work to fight back come to nothing. After being 4-1 down, they pulled it back to 4-3 but a capitulation in their defence saw them concede three from the 89th minute onwards. It is a result that sees them remain firmly rooted to the bottom of the table, six points adrift of West Ham in 11th, and left with the feeling that they will need a minor miracle if they are to escape.
Viviane Asseyi continues to shine this year and as she earned West Ham a deserved point in the 1-1 home draw against Manchester United, equalling her tally from 2023 – four goals. At the end of a much-improved second half from the home side, the move that led to the equaliser began at the back with goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold before Honoka Hayashi and Emma Snerle combined to slice open United and supply their in-form forward. “I thought we were outstanding in the second half,” said Hammers’ manager Rehanne Skinner. “It was a superb team goal. [Asseyi] is in great form and playing consistently well since the turn of the new year, so she deserves it.
Matt Beard’s Liverpool have already surpassed last season’s point total, with seven games still to go. The Reds were in charge from the start at Aston Villa, opening their 4-1 win with a nifty free-kick routine finished by Grace Fisk for the defender’s first Liverpool goal. The hosts – missing top scorers Rachel Daly and Adriana Leon to suspension and international duty – were contained impressively. “We were definitely the best team,” Fisk said. “There were five, 10-minute spells where we lost control of the ball a little. That happens, momentum shifts. I thought it was a really dominant display.“ Beard is on track to deliver on his top-five ambition with the Reds level on points with Manchester United, who hold fourth place on goal difference.
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