Emma Hayes confidently stated in the middle of the week that the Women’s Super League title competition was all wrapped up. However, after the events unfolded on Sunday, she was no longer holding on to that notion.
Manchester City entered Sunday’s Women’s Super League matchups with a dominant position in the title race, with their clash against Arsenal providing them with an opportunity to solidify their lead.
City’s chances of securing the WSL title for the first time since 2016 received a significant boost during the week as Chelsea suffered a surprising 4-3 loss to Liverpool.
The outcome of the match shook up the league and left Chelsea’s dreams of a fifth consecutive WSL triumph hanging by a thread, prompting Emma Hayes to declare that the title race was effectively over.
Chelsea trailed City by six points with a game in hand heading into the weekend, with Gareth Taylor’s squad also holding a seven-goal advantage on goal differential and possibly needing only a single victory to clinch the title.
Nevertheless, this rollercoaster season took another twist on a thrilling Sunday.
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The day began with an emotional farewell to Steph Houghton, a legend at City, as she ended her final home game after a decade of service. The match was as intense as the crowd, with Lauren Hemp scoring a magnificent goal early on.
Despite dominating the first half, City missed several opportunities, allowing Arsenal to come back and claim victory with two late goals from substitute Blackstenius.
The drama continued as Arsenal managed to snatch three points from losing positions, showcasing their resilience against City. Graciously admitting their defeat, Manager Taylor acknowledged the team’s loss and vowed to bounce back stronger.
Arsenal’s triumph, while bittersweet, kept their rivals Chelsea in contention for the title, much to the delight of their coach.
Later in the day, Chelsea celebrated Emma Hayes’ final match at Kingsmeadow, turning the tables with a spectacular 8-0 win over Bristol City. The commanding victory boosted their goal difference, putting them in contention to dethrone City.
Hayes humbly retracted her earlier statement about the title race being over, urging her players to remain focused and relentless in pursuit of the championship.
With the title now within reach for Chelsea, Hayes was proud of her team’s performance and acknowledged the unpredictable nature of football. The Opta Supercomputer still tips City as favorites, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the title race on a super Saturday.