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Monday, May 11, 2026

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Barclays WSL

Arsenal capped a challenging week by comfortably defeating Aston Villa 3-0, therefore confirming their place in the 2026-27 UEFA Women's Champions League.

The Gunners were eliminated from this season's competition by Lyon in last Saturday's semi final second leg and saw their remaining Women's Super League title hopes ended by a draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday. That result handed Manchester City their first WSL title in a decade.

However, Arsenal responded strongly at Villa Park, where two goals from Alessia Russo and a Frida Maanum strike secured fourth place and ensured Manchester United can no longer overtake them for a European spot next season. Now just a point behind second placed Chelsea and with a game in hand, the north London side remain well positioned to finish as runners-up and earn automatic qualification to the Champions League group stage, avoiding the qualifying rounds.

Arsenal had appeared somewhat fatigued in midweek but took the lead inside four minutes at Villa Park. Villa goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo failed to deal with a Smilla Holmberg cross, allowing Russo to head home from close range. The England forward, who reached double figures in the WSL for the fourth consecutive season, nearly added a second shortly afterwards but miskicked when well placed.

Russo was instrumental in Arsenal's second goal, this time turning provider by producing a moment of brilliance to evade a defender before flicking a precise pass through to Maanum. The Norway international made no mistake, finding the net for the third game running.

D'Angelo produced two excellent saves to deny Olivia Smith and Maanum as Arsenal threatened to extend their lead before the interval. The visitors wrapped up the victory early in the second half when Maanum threaded a defence-splitting pass for Russo, who rounded D'Angelo and slotted home in the 52nd minute.

The result meanwhile left Villa, who suffered an eighth defeat in 11 WSL matches this calendar year, in ninth place ahead of their final fixture of the season against London City Lionesses next Saturday.

Leading goalscorers:

19 - Khadija Shaw (Manchester City);

12 - Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa);

10 - Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City);

10 - Alessia Russo (Arsenal);

9 - Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal);

9 - Kerolin (Manchester City);

8 - Kiko Seike (Brighton & Hove Albion);

7 - Beth England (Tottenham Hotspur);

7 - Olivia Holdt (Tottenham Hotspur);

7 - Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea);

6 - Sam Kerr (Chelsea);

6 - Frida Maanum (Arsenal);

6 - Melvine Malard (Manchester United);

6 - Shekiera Martinez (West Ham United);

6 - Beata Olsson (Liverpool);

6 - Jess Park (Manchester United);

6 - Cathinka Tandberg (Tottenham Hotspur);

6 - Elisabeth Terland (Manchester United);

(League goals only)