GW16: Spurs Level With Arsenal

Ahead of a nearly month long break, the WSL does what the WSL does best: chaos.

MANCHESTER CITY V LEICESTER CITY (6–0)

Manchester City losing a match for only the second time all season in game week 15 wasn’t exactly a dramatic, dreadful disaster. Although, doing so to Arsenal at the Emirates might have left a slight sour taste in the mouth. Leading the league by such a large margin, it’s not as though the Manchester Blues have a lot to prove.

But, with such a winning mentality prevalent in Andrée Jeglertz’s squad, they still attacked Leicester City at the Joie as if everything lay on the line. In doing so, they regained their 11-point lead of the WSL.

It took 22 minutes for City to get their first on the scoresheet, courtesy of Bunny Shaw. Up until this point, Leicester had showed some promise, their back line putting in a solid shift to hold an empty score sheet for as long as possible. But, there’s only so long you can hold City off when they’re in such fine form.

Before the final whistle, City managed another five goals; two from Vivianne Miedema, and individuals from Yui Hasegawa, Kerolin, and Aoba Fujino. The victory for City marks their ninth win at home this season.

Unfortunately for Leicester, this is yet another game in a run of 23 without a win. They’ll face Liverpool next, who sit just one singular point ahead of them on the table. Against a more equal opponent, perhaps they’ll be able to show some of their strengths?

CHELSEA V LIVERPOOL (2–0)

The last few weeks in the WSL have been one’s to forget for Sonia Bompastor’s Chelsea. Although they achieved a win against Tottenham in game week 15, recent back-to-back losses against Manchester City and Arsenal proved that the title’s reigning champions can no longer be considered invincible.

Matters worsened for the Blues last week when their head of women’s football Paul Green left his role at the club after 13 years, seemingly not amicably. What followed was some very public speculation over management of the women’s team at the highest level.

Given so many conversations around them in the press, Chelsea were always going to want to prove themselves on the pitch this weekend. Playing at home against Liverpool, who sit second from the bottom of the table, the opportunity to do so was right in their hands.

Securing the win, with goals from Sjoeke Nüsken and Lauren James, and getting a much needed three points at Kingsmeadow is definitely not a bad day at the office. Although given their opponents, and of course the depth of their squad, one might have expected a stronger display of attacking prowess. Sure, that’s a bit nit picky, but this is Chelsea we’re talking about. Clearly, something is still not quite adding up for this London team.

As for Liverpool, they remain just one point from the bottom. However, goalkeeper Jennifer Falk put in a significant shift, making three saves to Hannah Hampton’s two.

ASTON VILLA V TOTTENHAM (3–7)

10 goals on a rainy Sunday afternoon? What more could you possibly want. The 2025/26 WSL season has been one of redemption for Tottenham. When Martin Ho took up the mantle as head coach he inherited a significant drought of wins and a lack of morale.

Things could not be more different now, and putting seven past Aston Villa at Villa Park, and sitting fourth in the table, is just more proof that any team can turn themselves around.

It was Signe Gaupset to open scoring after just ten minutes, marking her first goal for the Lilywhite’s since signing during this most recent winter transfer window. It didn’t take long for Villa to equalise, although they wouldn’t stay in contention for too long. Goals from captain Bethany England and Olivia Holdt sent Tottenham into the second half with a strong lead.

Although Villa got two more on the board, courtesy of a second from Kirsty Hanson and one from Oriane Jean-François, they could not hold Tottenham back. Cathinka Tandberg got two past goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck, with Chelsea loan Maika Hamano, and Julia Blakstad tying up their dazzling win in a neat bow.

The win for Tottenham leaves them now level on points with their biggest rivals, Arsenal. Although, Arsenal now have two games in hand as their fixture against Brighton was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

OTHER GAMES ACROSS THE WEEKEND

Everton V West Ham

1–0

Manchester United V London City

2–1