The 2026-27 Women’s Super League schedule is here. For Arsenal, there’s no gentle warm-up. Renée Slegers’ side face every team that finished in last season’s top four within the opening five matches.
Arsenal begin on September 6 with a trip to Brighton at Broadfield Stadium. A week later, Crystal Palace visit the Emirates. Then it gets serious — Manchester United at home, Chelsea away at Stamford Bridge, and Manchester City away at the Etihad. All before October is out.
That’s not a fixture list. That’s a gauntlet.
Last Season’s Heartbreak Still Stings
Arsenal were superb in 2025-26. They lost just once in 22 league matches — a 3-2 defeat at Manchester City in early October. They went unbeaten for 17 straight games after that. They conceded only 14 goals all season and boasted the WSL’s second-best attack.
It wasn’t enough.
Six draws did the damage. Both meetings with Manchester United ended goalless. Points were dropped against Chelsea, Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Brighton. City, meanwhile, drew just once across the entire campaign and finished four points clear.
Arsenal haven’t lifted the WSL title since 2018-19. That seven-year drought weighs heavier every season.
New Faces, Bigger Squad, Higher Stakes
Slegers and the club haven’t sat still this summer. They have made 6 signings so far. Georgia Stanway arrived on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, where she won eight trophies in four years. The England midfielder told Arsenal.com she wanted to be part of something big.
Ona Batlle strengthens the defence. Selina Cerci and Lisa Baum offer fresh attacking options. These aren’t panic buys — they’re targeted additions to a squad that was close but not quite ruthless enough.
They’ll need all of them. The WSL has expanded to 14 teams this season after Birmingham City, Crystal Palace, and Charlton Athletic earned promotion. That means 26 league matches, up from 22. Add Champions League group games, potential knockout rounds, and the FA Cup, and Arsenal could play up to 42 competitive fixtures.
Every home WSL match will be at the Emirates Stadium for a second consecutive season. Away from home, the squad will visit the Etihad and Old Trafford for the first time with the women’s team. The north London derby takes place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It’s a proper, full-blooded schedule.
What Needs to Change?
The talent is there. The coaching setup feels settled after Slegers signed a long-term deal through 2029. Arsenal also won the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup in February 2026, beating Corinthians 3-2 after extra time at the Emirates. Confidence shouldn’t be a problem.
So what’s missing?
Draws. That’s the short answer. Arsenal drew six times last season. City drew once. The maths is straightforward — you don’t win titles by splitting points in tight games. Converting those 1-1s into 2-1s is the difference between second place and silverware.
The good news? We won’t have to wait long to find out if things have changed. By early October, Arsenal will have faced Brighton, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Manchester City. That opening stretch will reveal whether Stanway’s arrival and the summer’s work have sharpened this squad’s edge.
The fixture computer hasn’t done Arsenal any favours. But maybe that’s exactly what they need — an early test of nerve, right when the hunger is fresh.
