Did Arsenal potentially conclude the WSL championship contest? Chelsea’s setback benefits Manchester City.

LONDON, England — The actual beneficiary from Arsenal’s unexpected 2-0 victory against Chelsea did not make any shots, passes, or tackles at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The real winners were Manchester City, who can now establish a nine-point advantage at the top of the Women’s Super League (WSL) with a win this weekend.

In spite of a challenging season and numerous injuries, Arsenal took advantage of Chelsea’s missed opportunities to secure their first away win in this matchup since 2018. This outcome not only impacts the WSL title race but nearly concludes it.

If City triumph over London City Lionesses, they will create an almost insurmountable gap at the top of the standings at this late point in the season. This may also invigorate the Women’s Champions League race: Arsenal remains in third place but is now just one point behind second-place Chelsea.

The match settled into a rhythm after a cautious first 10 minutes. Both teams had numerous opportunities — the visitors had the upper hand — but frustrations and missed chances kept the scoreline at 0-0 for an extended period.

Arsenal managed to overcome their hesitations in the second half. Beth Mead, who had been thwarted several times earlier, finally found the ideal finish to put her team ahead 1-0 in the 55th minute after a spell of relentless pressure that made it difficult for Chelsea to regain their composure or play out of their own half.

Alyssa Thompson, who had been a persistent threat to Arsenal throughout the match, should have equalized but sent her long-range attempt just wide. This encapsulated the narrative of the afternoon. Arsenal’s pressing was unusually sharp and aggressive compared to their performances this season, forcing the hosts into mistakes and a lack of composure that resulted in their chances being disorganized and ineffective, with only one shot on target from 19 attempts.

Mariona Caldentey was then given too much space in the box to precisely place her shot, making it 2-0.

Chelsea could not find a solution to their problems and were the architects of their own demise. Ironically, their best opportunities arose in the final moments of the match when they were already under pressure. It was inconsequential: the shots were overhit and lacked precision.

Arsenal’s inability to convert chances has led to several disappointing draws and losses this season, not due to a lack of opportunity but rather in turning them into goals or even shots on target.

This match does not resolve their overarching issues, far from it, but it serves as an indication of what might be achievable when an opponent opens up space and Arsenal finds their rhythm, which will be crucial in the coming month.

With a series of challenging matches ahead, including the inaugural Champions Cup, followed by what is now essentially a title decider against City, and Champions League playoffs for a spot in the knockout stage against OH Leuven, this victory will provide Arsenal with a much-needed morale boost.

These are a series of must-win matches, each carrying significant implications for both morale and trophies. A victory against familiar rivals Chelsea, who have historically had the upper hand in their encounters, will undoubtedly enhance fan support, which had been diminishing amid subpar performances and results.

Injuries will pose a concern ahead of their upcoming matches, however. Chloe Kelly is dealing with a ligament issue in her knee, while Leah Williamson returned from a knee injury sustained during Euro 2025 only to suffer a calf issue that has sidelined her once more. Katie Reid, Manuela Zinsberger, and Michelle Agyemang — who was on loan to Brighton and likely would have remained had she not been injured — are all undergoing rehabilitation for ACL injuries.

Nonetheless, Daphne van Domeslaar has returned to the bench, while Frida Maanum was absent due to illness, leaving only five outfield substitutes available. Olivia Smith, who received a red card in the midweek defeat to Manchester United in the League Cup semifinals, which eliminated them from the competition, was suspended.

With City set to face London City Lionesses on Sunday, Chelsea’s defeat presents a favorable advantage for City manager Andrée Jeglertz.

This could signify that the title race is effectively concluded. The challenge was already steep; City needed to drop points in at least two matches while every other team won to close the gap, but now, expecting a City side that has won every match since their opening-day loss to Chelsea to lose three consecutive games is nearly impossible.

Arsenal will need to perform flawlessly against City on Feb. 8 following their Champions Cup campaign to even slightly widen the door. A win for City, followed by a potential victory over Chelsea the following week, will likely secure the title for City before the league’s closing stages even commence.