Women’s Super League 2025-26 Previews No 1: Arsenal

Guardian writers’ predicted position: 1st (NB: this is not needfully Suzanne Wrack’s prediction but nan mean of our writers’ tips)

Last season’s position: 2nd

Prospects

Just really impactful tin a stunning Champions League triumph beryllium connected nan psychology of a squad that has struggled to situation domestically successful caller years? We are astir to find out. Arsenal’s battling tally to Lisbon and consequent victory complete Barcelona ended a northbound London trophy drought, yet it has still been six years since nan astir dressed up women’s squad successful England won a Women’s Super League title. Back-to-back League Cup wins successful 2023 and 2024 ensured nan cupboard was filled somewhat during that time, but those were wide viewed arsenic not capable for a nine pinch specified an illustrious history, and surely did not lucifer up pinch nan level of finance being pumped into nan team.

Ending Chelsea’s power of nan WSL is nan attraction of each squad looking to situation astatine nan apical and Arsenal are nary different. For nan latest situation they boast players riding precocious connected nan crest of a trophy-laden wave, pinch 5 European champions for nine and state successful their squad pursuing England’s triumph successful Switzerland. The cardinal is uncovering consistency crossed nan 4 competitions that person eluded them successful caller years. Renée Slegers’ squad has been strengthened, pinch nan world-record interest paid for Olivia Smith a existent connection of intent. It has, however, besides suffered nan rustle of Leah Williamson being ruled out for nan commencement of nan run pursuing a knee procedure.

Arsenal person for immoderate clip weathered accusations that they tin waste retired crowds but can’t triumph trophies. May’s glory successful Lisbon has quashed that narrative, but nan onus is connected them now to present home success. All nan ingredients for occurrence are location and, successful Slegers, they person a head intelligibly tin of bringing them together and cooking up a treat.

The manager

Slegers’ clip astatine nan helm pursuing nan departure of Jonas Eidevall successful October has rightly led to a spot connected nan shortlist for nan Ballon d’Or women’s coach of nan twelvemonth grant for nan 36-year-old. At nan commencement of past season, Slegers was a comparative unknown; an adjunct coach astatine Arsenal who stepped into nan breach pursuing a mediocre commencement to nan play that led to Eidevall’s resignation. An unbeaten tally up to nan wintertime break and qualification for nan Champions League knockout shape prompted a imperishable statement and Arsenal flourished, her inclusive attack and nan civilization she has encouraged yielding singular results. Now Slegers has had nan chance to further style nan squad nan measurement she wants it.

Off-field picture

The determination to big each WSL games astatine nan Emirates Stadium this play will further elevate Arsenal’s financial position. The nine person sold 15,000 play tickets for nan main stadium, having accrued nan number of fixtures they’ve played astatine nan crushed twelvemonth connected year. From nan 2023 financial twelvemonth to 2024, Arsenal’s matchday turnover roseate from £2.7m to £4.4m; nan effect of past season’s games astatine nan Emirates connected nan club’s finances will beryllium evident adjacent twelvemonth and nan afloat effects of a imperishable WSL-related move to nan crushed will beryllium seen successful nan 2027 filings. The standard of nan crowds astatine nan Emirates is of use to different WSL clubs too, pinch players from crossed nan world wanting to play there.

Star signing

Olivia Smith became nan astir costly subordinate successful nan world pinch her move from Liverpool. Photograph: David Price/Arsenal FC/Getty Images

The recruitment of Chloe Kelly connected a imperishable woody pursuing nan conclusion of her successful indebtedness spell from Manchester City is significant, but nan signing of Smith is simply a immense connection of intent. After missing retired connected Naomi Girma and Keira Walsh, who joined Chelsea, and having reportedly grounded pinch grounds bids for Mary Earps and Alessia Russo (before nan second was signed connected a free), Arsenal needed a large transfer. Smith shone astatine Liverpool and was named nan Professional Footballers’ Association young subordinate of nan twelvemonth earlier this month. She is simply a star.

Stepping up

Kyra Cooney-Cross made 19 WSL appearances for Arsenal past season, starting 10 times, and displayed maturity and assurance connected nan ball. The 23-year-old has spent clip during nan summertime training pinch Myles Lewis-Skelly arsenic she looks to ramp up her power connected nan side. Supplanting nan mercurial Kim Little and nan defensive-midfield maestro Lia Wälti is nary mean feat but Cooney-Cross is undoubtedly snapping astatine their heels. This play could good beryllium nan twelvemonth wherever nan Australian shakes disconnected nan imaginable explanation and becomes a mainstay.

It was a bully summertime for …

It would beryllium neglectful to prime retired 1 of Arsenal’s victorious Lionesses fixed each of them were influential successful a bruising and thrilling Euros campaign. Kelly was nan gamechanger, Russo led nan line, Beth Mead was hugely impactful and, contempt not playing a infinitesimal of football, Lotte Wubben-Moy’s power connected nan broadside is held successful precocious regard. Then location was Williamson, nan captain, and Michelle Agyemang, who was nan tournament’s breakout prima and has departed for different indebtedness spell astatine Brighton arsenic portion of nan 19-year-old’s ongoing development. Agyemang will nary uncertainty return to Arsenal fixed really highly rated she is successful northbound London.

Main inaugural to pull much fans

Arsenal are breaking attendance grounds aft attendance record. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

The determination to big each WSL games astatine nan Emirates has been successful nan useful for immoderate time, portion of a semipermanent strategy that has led to ample crowds for nan women’s games successful N5, and it is nary mishap Arsenal person surgery attendance grounds aft attendance record. The determination to play Champions League group-stage games astatine Borehamwood whitethorn consciousness for illustration a measurement back, but pinch Arsenal struggling to support their precocious attendances connected weekday evenings, location is logic to nan decision.

The adjacent shape is managing subordinate entree pinch truthful galore much fans successful attendance, and nan nine will tie from a ballot of season-ticket holders and six-game bundle buyers earlier each crippled for a meet-and-greet to curb nan increasing unit connected players to walk up to an hr aliases much signing autographs and taking photos aft games.