Arsenal Women kept their Women's Super League title hopes alive with a resounding 5-1 victory over Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night. The Gunners' dominant performance not only showcased their attacking prowess but also narrowed the gap to league leaders Chelsea to just three points.
The match, attended by 5,539 fans, saw Arsenal get off to a blistering start. Just nine minutes in, Caitlin Foord opened the scoring, tapping in a superb cross from Frida Maanum at the back post. The early goal set the tone for the evening, as Arsenal's high press kept Leicester on the back foot.
Seven minutes later, Stina Blackstenius doubled the lead, capitalizing on a low ball from Beth Mead that whipped across the face of goal. Leicester attempted to respond but struggled to cope with Arsenal's relentless pressure, leading to a third goal in the 30th minute. Foord netted her second of the night, with a deflected shot after a clever setup from Blackstenius.
Arsenal manager Renee Slegers made some tactical changes at halftime, likely with an eye on their upcoming Women's Champions League semi-final clash against Lyon. However, the Gunners continued their dominance in the second half. Just past the hour mark, Kim Little executed a dazzling solo run, setting up Mead for a powerful header that made it 4-0.
Leicester managed a brief consolation goal in the 65th minute, with Nicole Momiki striking from outside the penalty area. However, Arsenal quickly responded, with Victoria Pelova scoring in the 69th minute after a set-piece attempt from Katie McCabe ricocheted off the woodwork.
With this victory, Arsenal has now won all eight of their WSL meetings with Leicester City, boasting an impressive aggregate score of 29-3. The Gunners have also established themselves as the team to beat in the league this year, having accumulated the most points (24) and scored the most goals (34) in the WSL so far in 2025. Arsenal's attacking prowess has been evident, averaging 3.6 goals per game across their eight matches this calendar year, second only to Chelsea's record in 2017.
Despite the absence of key players like Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo, and Daphne van Domselaar, the Gunners demonstrated their depth and resilience. Blackstenius, in particular, thrived in the No.9 role, showcasing her ability to both score and assist.
As the match drew to a close, Slegers praised her team's performance, stating, "It's always hard coming back from an international break and we wanted to set the standards for this next block. We saw many players on the pitch, so I'm happy with that. We score great team goals and I'm very pleased with the performance. We want to work more with fast attacks, to beat their system, and the players bring it to the pitch. Entertainment is important, I feel the responsibility to play inspiring football. We're a big brand, that's important for me. We did so many things really well. We have belief, we've proven things before and shown how good we can be. We have respect for Lyon and it's going to be a big challenge."
Looking ahead, Arsenal will face a tough test against Lyon in the Champions League semi-final, but they will do so with renewed confidence after this emphatic win. The Gunners are determined to keep the pressure on Chelsea as they chase the WSL title, with only two games left in the season.
With their current form, Arsenal is poised to make a strong push for the championship, but they will need Chelsea to slip up if they are to secure the title. For now, though, Arsenal can celebrate a well-deserved victory and the continued pursuit of their goals in both domestic and European competitions.
