Man City beat Arsenal 4-2 to go top as WSL gaps widen

Manchester City came from behind twice to beat Arsenal 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday and open a 10-point gap at the top of the Women's Super League, England's top flight.

The match was played on 4 October 2026, with a 4:30pm kick-off in Manchester. City are the reigning champions, and the win sealed top spot in the table The Guardian. Arsenal had hoped to hand City a first defeat of the season. Instead they left with one win in six games in all competitions.

Arsenal head coach Renée Slegers said afterwards that her side are not in the title conversation, according to Sky Sports reporting Sky Sports. It was an honest admission. Ten points is a long way back in early October.

Slegers walked over to applaud about 2,000 travelling Arsenal fans after the defeat. They applauded her back. That small exchange mattered. It showed the connection is still there, even if the results are not.

On the pitch, City found the extra gear. Lauren Hemp scored their third goal to swing a wild game their way. Bunny Shaw added the fourth to finish it. Arsenal made one change to the starting line-up for the trip, and threw on Selina Cerci and Smilla Holmberg for Ona Batlle and Fox with nine minutes left. There was no way back.

Chelsea kept pace with a far calmer afternoon. Sonia Bompastor's side beat West Ham 3-0. The story was Keira Walsh.

Walsh was named player of the match for a third straight game. She scored her second league goal of the season, which already equals her total for all of last season. She also led every player on the pitch with five shots and three completed dribbles — a run with the ball past an opponent. For a holding midfielder, a player whose main job is to protect the defence, those are striking numbers The Guardian.

London City Lionesses delivered the weekend's loudest scoreline. They beat Tottenham 6-1 at BetWright Stadium to end Spurs' unbeaten start and climb above them into third place, according to BBC Sport live coverage BBC Sport.

Alexia Putellas scored twice. So did Kadidiatou Diani. Eder Maestre's team were ruthless in front of goal and sharp on the break. For Tottenham, a first defeat brings a quick test of nerve.

At the other end, Charlton remain stuck. Karen Hills' side took a one-goal lead at Brighton but conceded five to stay winless with zero points. To lead and then lose like that hurts. It also tells you how fine the margins are for a promoted team learning the pace of this league.

What makes this stand out is how early the table is already talking. City look settled. Chelsea look controlled. London City look fearless. Arsenal, for all their support and noise, look like they need a reset before the gap grows any wider.