Manchester City were crowned Women’s Super League champions after title rivals Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw at Brighton.
Arsenal were the only side who could still catch City, needing to win their games in hand to keep the title race alive, but they could not force a second-half turnaround. Frida Maanum’s equaliser cancelled out Fuka Tsunoda’s first-half opener.
The Gunners will finish the season trophyless, the setback coming days after their Women’s Champions League semi-final exit to Lyon.
Renee Slegers’ side remain in a strong position for next season’s Champions League, sitting third in the WSL — two points above Manchester United and four behind second-placed Chelsea, with two games in hand. They are now 14 matches unbeaten in the league, equalling their longest run.
Arsenal started slowly under the watchful eye of Dame Kelly Holmes, part of a large Broadfield Stadium crowd. After Caitlin Foord and Alesso Russo squandered first-half chances, Brighton stunned the visitors in the 43rd minute when Tsunoda beat Victoria Pelova to a loose ball and drilled in via a deflection past Daphne van Domselaar.
Pelova was withdrawn at half-time. Arsenal returned brighter: Russo scuffed wide and Foord forced Brighton keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie into a save. Maanum had a penalty appeal turned down before the leveller arrived in the 62nd minute — Russo spun away and fed Maanum, who composed herself and slotted into the bottom corner. Slegers then made a triple substitution, bringing on Katie McCabe, Beth Mead and Stina Blackstenius.
Chloe Kelly was introduced with seven minutes left but could not find a late winner against her former club. The 1-1 draw ended Arsenal’s title challenge and confirmed Manchester City as champions, denying Chelsea a seventh consecutive title on a night celebrating City.
Slegers on Sky Sports: “Very disappointing for us. We wanted to keep the pressure on City until the last playing day in the WSL, but we weren’t successful. We didn’t get the three points today, so congratulations to Man City, who’ve been really good in the league this year, very consistent. Especially the first half today, I think we lost the game on a half of football. Out of possession, we had to work really hard and then have the detail in possession. The second half was much better. We came back into the game, we put some pressure on, but it wasn’t enough today.”
Nia Jones on Sky Sports: “Looking at the league overall, Arsenal have only lost one game, but I think where they’ve been undone – and what a lot of their fans have been frustrated by – is that they’ve drawn too many matches. They’ve got quality in abundance on the pitch and on the bench as well, but they haven’t turned those draws into wins when other teams like City and Chelsea maybe have got over the line. It’s a bit of a transition period for Renee Slegers and her team. We’ve heard some rumours of some big stars possibly leaving this summer, but they have still got plenty to build on. They will be disappointed to finish the season without any silverware. Congratulations must go to Man City who have been the best team all season long, the most consistent team, the most unpredictable team.”