Chelsea’s Title Hopes Diminished by Arsenal’s Victory

omidbasir- Alyssa Thompson’s performance against Arsenal was marked by missed opportunities as Chelsea struggled to capitalize on advantageous situations in front of the goal. Hosting their rivals at Kingsmeadow, Chelsea aimed to narrow the gap on league leaders Manchester City, but ultimately faced a setback that complicated their title aspirations.

Arsenal’s victory was particularly noteworthy as they had not secured a road win against Chelsea since 2018. The first half was characterized by a cautious approach, with Chelsea failing to convert their possession into significant chances, while Arsenal displayed greater efficiency when opportunities arose.

Thompson, who has netted four league goals this season, was highlighted by Arsenal head coach Renée Slegers as a key attacking threat for Chelsea. “She’s a really, really good player,” Slegers noted prior to the match. “She’s made a great impact for Chelsea and really shown herself in the WSL, so we’ll have to look out for her.”

Despite a promising start, Thompson’s contributions were limited to only a few chances, and the match might have changed with just one decisive moment in the penalty area.

Meanwhile, Tatum Coffey’s dream of playing abroad materialized when she made her debut for Manchester City over the weekend. The USWNT midfielder, who recently transferred from Portland Thorns FC, signed with Man City Women through 2029. Although Coffey did not start the match, she made an impactful appearance in the 76th minute, contributing to Manchester City’s 2-1 victory over London City, which extended their lead over Chelsea to nine points in the WSL.

“[Manchester City] is a club with so much history, so much success, so much influence in the city,” Coffey expressed after her signing. “There’s something about it that I felt I was led to and called to. Being part of this movement in women’s soccer, and seeing the support and investment in the women’s side, is something I’m honored to be a part of.”

Coffey now plays for a leading team in the league, as Manchester City sits atop the WSL with 36 points from 12 wins.

In other WSL action, Phallon Tullis-Joyce delivered an impressive performance with six saves, helping Manchester United secure a 4-1 victory over Aston Villa. This win propelled United to fourth place in the league standings, just one point behind Arsenal. Tullis-Joyce has had an exceptional season, accumulating 31 saves and four clean sheets, thereby solidifying her reputation as a reliable goalkeeper at the club level. Despite not having played for the U.S. since April 2025, her performances have positioned her among the top goalkeeping options.

When asked about the national team’s goalkeeping situation ahead of friendlies against Paraguay and Chile, U.S. head coach Emma Hayes expressed confidence in both Tullis-Joyce and Claudia Dickey.

In a related note, Arsenal’s goalkeeper, Fox, who had faced injury concerns, returned to form just in time for the match against Chelsea. Her solid performance contributed to Arsenal’s 2-0 victory, where she made a critical cross that nearly resulted in a goal, and helped keep Chelsea scoreless. Fox will continue to be a key player as Arsenal prepares to face Leicester City this Sunday.