Manchester City edged Arsenal 3–2 with a late Iman Beney finish that tightened the title picture after Chelsea were held 1–1 by Manchester United. Tottenham beat Brighton 1–0 to rise again, London City Lionesses nicked Liverpool with a late penalty, Villa won at West Ham, and Leicester drew with Everton.
Quick results & context
A heavyweight weekend delivered two big swings. City twice led, twice were pegged back, and still found the 88th-minute winner to beat Arsenal—an outcome that trims Chelsea’s cushion after the champions were checked at Leigh Sports Village. Spurs’ compact shape and Jess Naz’s supply line kept their surge on track against Brighton, while London City’s late spot-kick underlined how fine the margins are at the bottom. Villa’s away authority at Chigwell was built on two second-half strikes, and Leicester–Everton split the points via a late Foxes leveller.
All results
- Manchester United 1–1 Chelsea — Sandberg 20’; Kaptein 9’.
- Manchester City 3–2 Arsenal — Shaw 36’, Casparij 61’, Beney 88’; Caldentey 46’, Kelly 83’.
- Tottenham Hotspur 1–0 Brighton — Tandberg 26’ (Naz).
- West Ham United 0–2 Aston Villa — Hanson 60’, Wilms 67’.
- London City Lionesses 1–0 Liverpool — Linari (late pen).
- Leicester City 1–1 Everton — Vignola; Mouchon (late).
Main story — City’s never-say-die edge
The Joie Stadium got the full spectrum. Manchester City set the early tone through Khadija Shaw—inevitable at close range—only for Arsenal to erase the deficit straight after the restart via Mariona Caldentey’s cool equaliser. Kerstin Casparij restored the lead with a well-timed push from deep on the hour; Chloe Kelly, back on familiar turf, dragged the visitors level again on 83 minutes. Enter Iman Beney.
Brought on to add vertical running and a fresh press, the 19-year-old struck with two minutes of normal time left, rifling across goal to cap a classic City move: regain, quick release, third-player run. The detail that decided it wasn’t just the finish; it was the cumulative pressure that preceded it. City controlled the middle third better after the hour, asking Arsenal’s back line to defend both the ball carrier and a constant back-post threat. Casparij’s two-way output—assist for Shaw, then a line-breaking run for the second—tilted the midfield duel, and the game state at 2–2 demanded clarity. Beney provided it.
Andrée Jeglertz’s post-match message fit the performance: this team “just keeps going,” a public nod to the group’s composure after setbacks and to Beney’s step-up since arriving in the summer. City’s win isn’t just three points; it’s proof of a repeatable mechanism—structured wing rotations, a restored set-piece edge, and the ability to manufacture one more big chance when the game turns chaotic.
For Arsenal, the needle points to moments rather than malaise. The visitors created enough to leave with a result and had the bench to change it, but dead-ball defending and transitional spacing remain pressure points. If those details don’t tighten quickly, the table will make the conversation for them.
They’re strong together… we might concede, we might lose, but having this means we’re still on the right track.
Andrée Jeglertz, on City’s resilience
Player of the Week
Anna Sandberg (Manchester United)
Context matters. Against the champions, with momentum threatening to tilt blue after an early Wieke Kaptein strike, Sandberg lashed home her first United goal: a 20th-minute rocket that reset the evening and ended Chelsea’s perfect start. The headline is the finish; the value was the full performance. From left-back she balanced United’s shape, won duels in the channel where Chelsea like to overload, and still found the energy to step into midfield lines when United needed an extra passer. In a game defined by fine margins, her decision-making, when to break, when to hold, kept United’s transitions clean and the contest honest.
Spurs steady; London City shake the bottom; Villa clinical
Tottenham’s rise is built on control without fuss. At BetWright Stadium, Jess Naz again did the creative heavy lifting, bursting the right edge and squaring the tempo for Cathinka Tandberg’s 26-minute winner. Spurs’ back five out of possession squeezed Brighton’s wing supply and protected Lize Kop’s box—one clear chance conceded, three points banked.
At Copperjax, London City Lionesses’ persistence finally cracked Liverpool. The decisive moment came from the spot in the final minute, Elena Linari burying the penalty via the underside of the bar after pressure had forced errors. It’s a huge mood swing for the hosts and leaves Liverpool’s attack searching for rhythm.
In east London, Aston Villa were clinical: Kirsty Hanson bent in a beauty on the hour and Lynn Wilms’ direct free-kick seven minutes later settled West Ham. When Villa protect a lead with Grant and Daly controlling counters, they travel like a top-six side.
Leicester’s late punch against Everton—Noémie Mouchon off the bench to cancel Ornella Vignola’s opener—felt fair on balance and keeps both clustered in the early mid-table crowd.
Table impact & what’s next
Chelsea remain top but with their margin shaved; City sit one point back, Spurs level on points with City but behind on goal difference, and United close behind. Arsenal’s defeat drops them into early traffic. Next weekend is all about proof of concept: City carry the standard into a tricky away day, Spurs’ shape faces a step-up test, and Chelsea will expect to re-establish first-quarter control after a rare check.