Arsenal failed to secure a home victory in the Women’s Super League as they were held to a goalless draw by injury-stricken Everton in front of a crowd of 25,000 at the Emirates Stadium.
Jonas Eidevall’s team, who are set to face Bayern Munich away in the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday, dominated possession but struggled to find the creative edge needed to penetrate Everton’s resilient defense. The United States right-back Emily Fox came closest for Arsenal, but her shot hit the post.
Arsenal had previously won all 10 of their home matches against Everton since the inception of the WSL in 2011. For Everton, who have had a challenging start to the season due to the season-ending injuries of key players like Italy’s Aurora Galli and Spain’s Inma Gabarro, the draw represents a significant morale boost.
The result was particularly frustrating for Arsenal, given that their title rivals, Manchester City, secured a 2-0 home win over West Ham United earlier on Sunday. Gareth Taylor was able to rest last season’s WSL Golden Boot winner Khadija Shaw and the league’s all-time leading scorer Vivianne Miedema, focusing on their upcoming home game against defending European champions Barcelona. Despite these changes, City managed to secure the victory.
Lauren Hemp and Mary Fowler scored for City, while Jill Roord made her first start since January following her ACL injury recovery. Viviane Asseyi’s goal for West Ham was disallowed for offside, though replays suggested she was onside.
Elsewhere, Liverpool secured their first win of the season with a dramatic 95th-minute penalty scored by Austria’s Marie Höbinger, giving them a 3-2 victory away at Tottenham Hotspur. Crystal Palace also achieved their first WSL win, defeating Leicester City 2-0, with Annabel Blanchard scoring both goals.
In the Women’s Championship, Charlton Athletic maintained their unbeaten start with a 3-3 draw against Sunderland, while Durham secured a 1-0 win away to Newcastle United. Birmingham City and Bristol City also recorded victories, and Isobel Goodwin scored four goals for London City Lionesses in their 5-1 win over Portsmouth.
