WSL Gameweek 19 Review: Arsenal’s Derby Demolition, a CL Semi Final Place — and City March On
Competition: Barclays Women’s Super League
Dates: Saturday 28th – Sunday 29th March 2026
Matches Played: 6
Total Goals: 25 (Avg: 4.17 per game)
Arsenal W Result: Won 5–2 vs Tottenham Hotspur W
Also this week: Arsenal reach Women’s Champions League semi-finals
What a week to be an Arsenal fan. Alessia Russo scored a hat-trick as the Gunners put five past Tottenham in a North London derby, and days later they overcame Chelsea 3–2 on aggregate to reach the Women’s Champions League semi-finals — despite losing the second leg 1–0 at Stamford Bridge. The league picture is becoming clearer too: Manchester City extended their lead at the top, Liverpool ended their six-year wait for a Merseyside derby victory, and Chelsea edged a four-goal thriller against Aston Villa. Twenty-five goals from six games makes this one of the WSL’s most entertaining gameweeks of the season.
Gameweek 19 Results Overview
All Results
Updated WSL Table
🏆 WSL Table
Women's Super League
Updated: 15 Apr 2026, 7:46 AM
Key Talking Points
📰 The Big Stories
- Russo hat-trick in the North London derby. Arsenal beat Spurs 5–2 with Alessia Russo scoring three. It was the kind of performance that underlines why Arsenal — despite being third in the league — remain the division’s most talked-about side.
- Man City extend their lead at the top. A 3–0 win over Manchester United — who United manager cited fatigue from Champions League fixtures as a factor — extends City’s advantage at the summit. At 49 points from 19 games they look uncatchable.
- Arsenal reach the Women’s Champions League semi-finals. The biggest story of the week happened in Europe. Arsenal lost 1–0 to Chelsea in the second leg at Stamford Bridge but went through 3–2 on aggregate. Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor was sent off and furious about VAR’s decision not to punish Katie McCabe after a hair-pull on Alyssa Thompson. Arsenal captain Kim Little spoke of building something “special” in Europe.
- Liverpool end six-year Merseyside derby drought. Liverpool beat Everton 3–2 to win a Merseyside WSL derby for the first time in six years. A significant moment for a side that has been building quietly.
- Chelsea edge a seven-goal thriller. Chelsea beat Aston Villa 4–3 at Stamford Bridge in a game that had everything. Villa’s Kirsty Hanson — on five goals this season — couldn’t prevent the defeat.
- Sam Kerr reportedly heading to the USA. Reports emerged this week that Chelsea striker Sam Kerr has signed with Denver Summit ahead of the summer. Chelsea will be deciding whether to pursue a deal to keep her.
- Leicester still rooted to the bottom. The 0–1 defeat to Brighton extends a wretched WSL season. Nine points from 18 games, three wins all season.
Match Summaries
Manchester United W 0–3 Manchester City W
A one-sided Manchester derby. City were clinical and United’s manager pointed to fatigue from Champions League fixtures as a factor. At 49 points from 19 games, City’s title is coming. United’s European ambitions may be costing them domestically.
What It Means: City’s lead at the top grows. United stay fourth.
Everton W 2–3 Liverpool W
Liverpool ended a six-year wait for a win in the Merseyside WSL derby, coming from behind to win 3–2 at Goodison. A historic result for a Liverpool side that had been unable to overcome their rivals in this fixture across multiple seasons.
What It Means: Liverpool move to 17 points in 10th. Everton drop to 8th on 20 points.
Chelsea W 4–3 Aston Villa W
Seven goals at Stamford Bridge in a match that went right to the wire. Chelsea’s 4–3 win was hard-earned against a Villa side who kept pushing. With Sam Kerr’s future at the club uncertain following reports of a move to Denver Summit in the summer, Chelsea will be aware they need to plan carefully.
What It Means: Chelsea stay second on 40 points, nine behind City. Arsenal — in third but with two games in hand — could yet overtake them.
⭐ Arsenal W 5–2 Tottenham Hotspur W
🏟 Emirates Stadium
Alessia Russo scored a hat-trick as Arsenal dominated the North London derby to win 5–2. Arsenal — described as building something “special” in Europe by captain Kim Little — are now in outstanding form across league and cup. With two games in hand on Chelsea, they have every chance of finishing second in the WSL despite currently sitting third.
What It Means: Arsenal move to 38 points from 17 games. Two games in hand on Chelsea means they could overtake the Blues if they win both. They are the division’s form team.
Arsenal W
Tottenham Hotspur WDetailed statistics not available for this match.
Gameweek Awards
⭐ Player of the Week: Alessia Russo (Arsenal W)
A hat-trick in a North London derby is as good as it gets for a striker. Russo’s three goals — in a 5–2 win at the Emirates — underline why she is one of the most dangerous forwards in the women’s game. Arsenal’s week of winning in the league and reaching the CL semis was bookended by her performance.
🎯 Performance of the Week
Arsenal W’s 5–2 win over Tottenham — a complete attacking display in one of women’s football’s marquee fixtures.
🏅 Moment of the Week
Arsenal’s Women’s Champions League semi-final qualification. Despite losing 1–0 to Chelsea in the second leg at Stamford Bridge — amid furious scenes involving the McCabe hair pull and Bompastor’s sending off — Arsenal held on 3–2 on aggregate. They are now two wins from defending their European title.
WSL Top Scorers
⚽ WSL Top Scorers
Note that Alessia Russo’s hat-trick this gameweek may not yet be reflected in the database if the import hasn’t been updated. Russo’s total should be checked against the shortcode below.
WSL Top Scorers
Arsenal W Focus
What This Gameweek Means for Arsenal W
WSL Result: Won 5–2 vs Tottenham W — a dominant derby performance.
Champions League: Reached semi-finals — 3–2 aggregate win over Chelsea.
League Position: 3rd — but with TWO games in hand on Chelsea in second.
Points: 38 from 17 games
Arsenal are the form team in the WSL and the division’s most exciting club right now. The Champions League qualification to the semi-finals — achieved by holding a 3–2 aggregate lead despite losing 1–0 at Stamford Bridge — was a test of character that manager Renée Slegers praised as a “controlled performance.” On the domestic front, Arsenal have two games in hand on Chelsea and are mathematically capable of finishing second. City’s title is gone but the battle for second is alive.
The Champions League Story
🏈 Arsenal W vs Chelsea W — CL Quarter Final (3–2 agg)
Arsenal reached the Women’s Champions League semi-finals with a 3–2 aggregate win over Chelsea. They lost the second leg 1–0 at Stamford Bridge in a match overshadowed by controversy: Katie McCabe appeared to pull Alyssa Thompson’s hair and escaped punishment from VAR, leading to Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor being shown a yellow card and subsequently sent off for protesting.
Pundits Ellen White and Steph Houghton were critical of McCabe’s actions: “You can’t be doing that.” Bompastor said her players “don’t deserve this.” Arsenal, meanwhile, held firm and went through.
Captain Kim Little spoke of building something “special” in Europe, with Arsenal now one of four clubs remaining in a competition they won previously. Bayern Munich also made the semis after knocking out Manchester United.
Prediction Tracker
🔮 Season Prediction Record
—What We Learned
📚 Five Things We Learned
- Man City’s WSL title is essentially done — 49 points from 19 games with three to play and nine clear of Chelsea.
- Arsenal are the most complete team in the WSL right now. Winning 5–2 in a derby and advancing in the CL in the same week is extraordinary.
- VAR in women’s football remains contentious. The McCabe incident — and the absence of punishment — will generate debate for weeks.
- Sam Kerr’s reported move to Denver Summit is the summer’s first major story. Chelsea will need to plan for life without her.
- Leicester are almost certainly doomed. Nine points from 18 games, no real sign of a turnaround.
Looking Ahead: Gameweek 20
👁 Key Fixtures & Storylines
- Can Arsenal play their games in hand and move above Chelsea into second?
- Man City: when do they clinch the title?
- Chelsea need a response after their European elimination
- Leicester’s relegation situation — is there any way back?
Arsenal W’s Upcoming Fixtures
Arsenal W’s Next Fixtures
Arsenal W - Upcoming Fixtures
Arsenal W - Last 5 Matches
Conclusion
Gameweek 19 will be remembered for Russo’s hat-trick, Arsenal’s European journey, McCabe’s controversial moment, and Liverpool’s historic derby win. Manchester City’s title march continues unabated while the race for second between Chelsea and Arsenal — the latter with two games in hand — sets up a fascinating final stretch to the WSL season. Twenty-five goals, six matches, and a week that will define Arsenal’s season one way or another.
Check back later this week for our full WSL Gameweek 20 preview!
