At the rainswept home of West Ham, the Arsenal fans sang: “We know you don’t believe us, we know you don’t believe us, we know you don’t believe us, we’re going to win the league.”
It is perhaps a little premature for anyone to determine where the Women’s Super League title will end up but there is a joy pulsing through Arsenal at the moment, the club still riding high from their Champions League triumph. A 5-1 defeat of West Ham coming after their opening 4-1 win over London City Lionesses only added to the good vibes. They have shown they can beat the best, now they have to prove they can beat the best, the worst and those in between consistently.
Renée Slegers’ side made it difficult for themselves for the second game in a row, though. This time it was an own goal from goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar that put them in trouble, before strikes by Frida Maanum, Stina Blackstenius, Caitlin Foord and two from Alessia Russo ensured the European champions maintained a 100% start to the season.
“Very much,” said Slegers, when asked how keen she is for her side to iron out the mistakes that have put them behind in consecutive games. “They’re not the scenarios you want, not in your opening game at the Emirates with so many fans and everyone very excited, but also not when you go away and play West Ham, because we respect this ground and this opponent and we know they can make it really hard for us, and that’s what they did.”
