Women’s Super League 2026-27: Manchester City beats Arsenal 4-2, stays top of WSL

Manchester City's Lauren Hemp (centre) scored a brace as her team took down Arsenal in Manchester to continue its unbeaten start in the new Women’s Super League season. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Lauren Hemp scored twice as Manchester City came from behind on two occasions to beat Arsenal 4-2 ​in the Women’s Super League on Sunday, keeping the champion top of ‌the table heading into the international break after a ​fifth straight win from its opening five matches.

Arsenal ⁠went ahead through Lisa Baum in the 43rd minute, but City levelled when Hemp forced the ball home from a tight angle in first-half stoppage ‌time.

Alessia Russo put the Gunners back in front four minutes after the break but City came back again, ‌Kerstin Casparij equalising in the 63rd minute before Hemp put ‌it ⁠in front for the first time nine minutes later.

Striker ⁠Bunny Shaw sealed the three points in the 84th minute with her fifth goal of the season to condemn Arsenal, who is without a win since ​the opening day of the ‌season, to its second straight defeat after losing 1-0 away to Chelsea last week.

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The loss leaves Arsenal in 10th spot on five points from five games after a dismal start to ‌the campaign.

Earlier in the afternoon, Sonia Bompastor’s Chelsea thumped West ​Ham United 3-0 to put it into second place, two points behind City. It took the lead ⁠thanks to a Melvine Malard strike and added two late goals through Keira Walsh and Maika Hamano.

London City Lionesses showed that it will ‌be a force to be reckoned with in the title race, Alexia Putellas scoring twice in the first half of a 6-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur, who was left shell-shocked by the pressing of the visitors.

Spurs had only conceded two goals in the first four outings, but they were hit for six as ‌London City notched its third successive win in impressive fashion to move to ​third place on 12 points.

Charlton Athletic, who is still searching for its first point since being promoted, remains ⁠bottom of the 14-team table after a 5-1 hammering at the hands ⁠of Brighton & Hove Albion, with Kiko Seike scoring twice for the Seagulls.

Everton’s strong start to the season continued with ‌a 2-1 win over Birmingham City that lifts it to fifth spot in the table on nine points, two ahead ​of cross-town rival Liverpool, who lost 1-0 to Manchester United on Saturday.