The Women’s Super League thrives on chaos, drama, and the kind of emotional swings that keep fans glued to every second. Friday night’s London derby at the Chigwell Construction Stadium was no exception. Under heavy rain, with bubbles fighting to stay alive in the slick night air, Arsenal Women weathered an early storm—quite literally—and stormed back to crush West Ham 5-1.
On paper, it reads like a routine Arsenal win. In reality, it was anything but. This was another comeback, another test of resilience, another example of Renée Slegers’ tactical acumen and the frightening depth of her European champions.
For Arsenal, this wasn’t just three points. It was a statement: a reminder to Chelsea and the rest of the league that the Gunners are building a title machine that refuses to buckle under pressure.
A Nightmare Start: Van Domselaar’s Horror Show
If the rain was biblical, then the opening minutes were pure tragedy for Daphne van Domselaar. Goalkeepers are defined by fine margins, and in the fifth minute, a teasing cross from Shekiera Martinez turned into calamity.
The Dutch keeper, usually a picture of assurance, fumbled the wet ball against the post before it ricocheted cruelly off her head into the net. A comical own goal by description, but a catastrophic one in emotion.
West Ham fans erupted. For Arsenal, déjà vu struck—just like against London City Lionesses in the opener, they were behind again. It was a gut-punch moment that could have unraveled a lesser side. For Van Domselaar, it was the kind of mistake that replays in nightmares.
And yet, the story didn’t end there. If anything, it became the perfect platform to showcase Arsenal’s resolve.
Maanum’s Leveller: Calm Amid the Chaos
Arsenal’s response was calm, measured, and precise. Possession ticked past 60% as the pitch, initially a hindrance, turned into an ally for their slick passing.
The equalizer came in the 21st minute, and it was classic Arsenal. Alessia Russo held the ball up on the left, feeding Beth Mead, who in turn produced the kind of pass that splits atoms as well as defenses. Nutmegging Oona Siren, Mead released Frida Maanum, who coolly slotted home past Megan Walsh.
Momentum shifted. Russo summed it up best afterwards: “Frida’s goal changed the momentum and we pushed on from there.”
This was resilience rebranded—not panic, not desperation, but an unflinching belief in their patterns and processes.
Slegers’ Halftime Gambit: The Blackstenius Effect
Level at the break, Arsenal turned the screw thanks to Renée Slegers’ ruthless clarity. She hooked goalscorer Maanum for Stina Blackstenius, explaining later that the Swede’s pace and movement were perfectly suited to the spaces West Ham were leaving in behind.
It was a tactical decision that bordered on clairvoyant.
Seven minutes after the restart, Blackstenius justified the call. Russo, dropping deeper in her No.10 role, produced a delicate backheel that sliced open the defense. Blackstenius did the rest, curling left-footed into the bottom corner.
From that moment, the floodgates opened.
Foord’s Centurion Strike & Arsenal’s Wave of Pressure
Caitlin Foord marked her 100th WSL appearance in style, thundering home a header from Mariona Caldentey’s corner just after the hour. It was Arsenal’s 11th corner of the match, and West Ham were visibly wilting under relentless pressure.
By the 65th minute, they hadn’t mustered a single shot on target. Their press, effective in the first half, was disintegrating. The Hammers looked beaten, and Arsenal smelled blood.
Russo & Smith: A Deadly New Partnership
If Arsenal’s second half was domination, stoppage time was humiliation for West Ham. Alessia Russo, always saving her best for the big moments, struck twice in three minutes to cap off a ruthless performance.
The first was a rocket. Record signing Olivia Smith, all energy and invention, cut the ball back for Russo, who unleashed a thunderbolt into the top corner. The second came via the penalty spot after Smith was felled in the box. Russo, calm as you like, slotted home.
Arsenal fans chanted about winning the league. Russo shrugged post-match: “It was a great cutback from Olivia. I just touched and hit it… we practice that so much in training.”
The subplot here is Smith. Signed for a record £1m fee, her arrival came with heavy scrutiny. Two games in, and she already looks like the missing puzzle piece. Her pace, her bravery, her directness—they add something entirely new to Arsenal’s attack.
Slegers was glowing: “We see so much potential and she is already contributing a lot.”
West Ham’s Resistance and Collapse
It would be unfair to dismiss West Ham entirely. For 65 minutes, they pressed high, disrupted Arsenal’s rhythm, and even dared to dream after the freak opener.
Manager Rehanne Skinner was defiant despite the scoreline: “For 65 minutes, I think we were really effective… I would rather us be positive about the way we’re trying to play than just sit in and take a 3-1 defeat.”
But the truth is stark. With zero shots on target, the Hammers never truly threatened. Without attacking punch, all resistance was destined to fade.
Records, Milestones, and Subplots
This game was dripping with milestones that underline Arsenal’s dominance:
- Beth Mead grabbed her 52nd WSL assist, making her the league’s all-time top provider. Her eight assists against West Ham are the most she’s ever registered against one team.
- Caitlin Foord scored on her 100th WSL appearance.
- Olivia Smith justified her £1m fee with two crucial involvements.
- Arsenal have now beaten West Ham 11 times in 13 meetings.
And yet, beyond the numbers, the deeper subplot is this: Arsenal are no longer just playing catch-up to Chelsea. They are dictating terms, crafting an identity under Slegers that blends European steel with domestic swagger.
Champions’ Mentality: The Bigger Picture
Arsenal’s season so far is defined by comebacks. Conceding first in both matches but roaring back to score nine goals speaks to a squad that thrives under adversity.
This isn’t just about tactics. It’s about mentality. It’s about Katie Reid, 18 years old, stepping into Leah Williamson’s boots with maturity beyond her years. It’s about Russo, equally comfortable leading the line or dropping into midfield. It’s about Slegers’ belief in rotation, in depth, in collective strength.
As she put it herself: “If I wanted to do something alone, I shouldn’t be in football. This is a team sport. We’ve done that together, and I’ll always be uncomfortable when I have to pick things up by myself.”
That humility, laced with tactical brilliance, is shaping Arsenal into something fearsome.
The Emotional Arc: From Despair to Defiance
Every great match review should trace the emotional current, and this one had it in waves:
- Shock at Van Domselaar’s error.
- Calm defiance with Maanum’s equalizer.
- Tactical vindication through Blackstenius.
- Elation at Foord’s centurion goal.
- Ruthless joy with Russo’s double and Smith’s rise.
By the final whistle, the narrative had transformed from potential upset to emphatic dismantling. That emotional swing is what makes Arsenal, right now, the most compelling story in women’s football.
Final Verdict: Arsenal’s Title Challenge Is Real
West Ham 1-5 Arsenal wasn’t just a scoreline. It was a microcosm of Arsenal’s 2025 identity: flawed, fallible, but ultimately unstoppable.
With nine goals in two matches, records tumbling, and a squad brimming with depth, they are no longer just Chelsea’s challengers. They are Chelsea’s nightmares.
As the Arsenal fans bellowed into the rainy night: “We’re going to win the league.”
This time, it didn’t sound like blind optimism. It sounded like prophecy.
doragon sports 