Match reaction: Kim Little impact as Arsenal frustrate Man City WSL title charge

Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City Emirates Stadium, North London

Arsenal captain Kim Little delivered a master-class in midfield control to derail Manchester City’s pursuit of a record-equalling 14th straight Women’s Super League victory, as Olivia Smith’s 17th-minute strike proved enough to settle a tense encounter at a sold-out Emirates.

The result keeps City eight points clear of derby rivals Manchester United at the summit, but the Gunners—now with a game in hand—trim that advantage to seven if they win their rearranged fixture against Leicester.

Manager Renée Slegers set her side out to suffocate City’s usual fluency, pressing high through the middle and funnelling the league leaders wide. The tactic worked: City mustered only one shot on target all afternoon, a Bunny Shaw effort moments before the interval, while Arsenal registered four of their nine attempts on target in the opening 45 alone.

The decisive moment arrived when Mariona Caldentey, operating in an advanced playmaking role, threaded a defence-splitting pass that Smith—the Canadian summer signing—collected before rounding Ayaka Yamashita and slotting into the empty net.

From there, the hosts never looked back. Little, named Player of the Match for a performance that belied her 35 years, repeatedly broke up City forays and recycled possession with unflappable composure. One second-half slide tackle inside her own half killed a rare Citizens counter and allowed Arsenal to reset, drawing a roar of approval from the 40,000-strong crowd.

Defensively, Arsenal were equally assured. Daphne van Domeselaar, making her first start since November, dealt confidently with City’s aerial threat, while centre-back pairing Lotte Wubben-Moy and Steph Catley restricted Miedema and Shaw to scraps.

Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, Little praised the squad’s resilience during a congested run that has included wins over Chelsea and Brazilian giants Corinthians. “We’ve put in some really great performances throughout the squad,” she said. “Being able to play here in North London, to have close to 40,000 again today—it’s a pretty special atmosphere.”

City, whose previous 13 victories had propelled them to the summit, now have five days to regroup before hosting bottom side Leicester. Arsenal, meanwhile, turn their attention to continental duty, travelling to Belgium for the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League play-off against Oud-Heverlee Leuven, a tie they lead 3-0 from the first encounter.