Arsenal captain Kim Little acknowledged that her team’s aspirations of clinching the Women’s Super League title this season have taken a hit following their 3-1 defeat against league leaders Chelsea.
The loss at Stamford Bridge propelled Chelsea three points ahead of Manchester City and six points ahead of Arsenal in the standings. Little admitted, “It slipped away slightly; Chelsea are obviously in the driving seat.” Chelsea’s dominance in recent seasons, finishing at the top for the past four years, adds to the challenge for Arsenal.
With only six league games remaining, Little emphasized that they will give their all to maintain a slim chance of contention. The match saw a 30-minute delay due to an embarrassing kit mix-up by Arsenal, adding to their woes as they conceded three goals in the opening 32 minutes.
Little refrained from using the incident as a justification for their performance. “We’re all professionals; we have to adapt to unforeseen circumstances,” she emphasized. Little stressed the importance of being prepared from the moment the whistle blows, admitting that they failed to meet that standard.
She acknowledged tactical shortcomings early in the game that weren’t addressed promptly enough, emphasizing that against a team as formidable as Chelsea, such lapses cannot be tolerated.
Arsenal last secured the WSL title in the 2018-19 season but currently stand in third place. They risk falling six points behind second-placed Manchester City if Manchester City win their game in hand against Brighton on Sunday.
Karen Carney, a former England midfielder who has experience playing for both Arsenal and Chelsea, expressed disappointment in Arsenal’s performance, believing they missed a significant opportunity. Speaking on Sky Sports, Carney remarked, “I was disappointed with Arsenal. This was their chance, they just didn’t show up.
They had the better team, the better squad, and sometimes these things happen.” Carney asserted that Arsenal is now out of the title race and emphasized the need for reflection both for the team and the manager, Jonas Eidevall. She credited Chelsea as the superior team, highlighting their greater desire for success as the reason they are still in contention for the title.
Arsenal boss Eidevall declined to comment on his team’s title chances but expressed dissatisfaction with their performance. He emphasized focusing on the present game and admitted unhappiness with their display. Eidevall stressed the need for improvement, accountability, and learning from their mistakes for the upcoming matches.
