Arsenal Women started their new Women’s Super League season with a solid 4-1 win over London City Lionesses at the Emirates. Over 38,000 fans were packed in, making it clear the interest in women’s football keeps climbing. The match didn’t exactly go smoothly at first, though, London City scored first and gave Arsenal a real challenge before the home team finally found its feet.

London City Lionesses, fresh to the top tier, took an early lead through a penalty. Asllani stepped up and coolly slotted it home in the 17th minute, giving her side their first WSL goal ever. It was a shock moment, made even more striking by the fact that it seemed to rattle Arsenal a bit. For a few minutes, you could almost feel London City’s belief grow, they looked like they might pull off a real upset. But Arsenal, as expected, didn’t hang around letting that pressure build.

Many thought that the battle was over at this point, but Arsenal was merely warming up. It's these kinds of turnovers and sudden changes that can drastically shift the odds of any team's favour, to the surprise of fans and bettors. Anything can happen at any given match, and those closely following the scene know that it's not over until the final whistle. Fans and bettors can always follow their predictions using leading UK betting sites for bigger bonuses, faster ways to cash out, and to capitalize on their game knowledge.

And just as we are writing now, Arsenal pulled themselves together for one last push before the break. Right before the half-time whistle, Chloe Kelly put Arsenal ahead. The move wasn’t flashy but effective, started by Alessia Russo and finished by Kelly, who found the right space at the right time. And it didn't need to be flashy, but effective, which it fulfilled. But it did something more. It fired up the Arsenal ladies who weren't at the half-time full of optimism and ready for a turn up.

And boy, did they turn it up after the break. Manager Renee Slegers made some changes that clearly paid off. Beth Mead came on, immediately adding energy and movement on the wings. Soon, Stina Blackstenius and Frida Maanum joined in scoring, both assisted by Mead, putting the game out of reach around the 83rd and 84th minutes. Bam, bam, and it was over just like that. Despite the rough start, Arsenal proved that the game is not won in the first minutes, and it's not over until they are sent home. Yes, mistakes can happen, but they happen for a reason and are an opportunity to learn.

Tactically, Arsenal played it smart. They didn’t rush into attack early, instead controlling the ball and waiting for the right moments to strike. Mead and Russo were key to stretching the play, finding space on the wings, and making things uncomfortable for London City’s defense. It's worth mentioning that Alessia Russo scored twice leading to and securing a fourth consecutive Women's Super League win for Arsenal, and her place in the team. Their pressing was well-judged, not frantic, but enough to make the opponents nervous. Defensively, Arsenal held steady, which you’d expect from a team aiming high this season.

After the initial collapse, the team pulled itself together under the watchful eye of Renee Slegers and delivered top-notch performance. Was this early blunder a sign of the team's wavering confidence? Maybe they still need time to find their footing. In a more serious match, their opponent may not grant them a second chance. Arsenal needs to hit the grass like they did before the half-time and during the entire second period. In fact, the second period is a demonstration of how they should be playing from minute one, but all in due time.

The Lionesses showed grit and had some decent moments, especially early on. They weren’t just sitting back; they tried to play and create chances. But as the game wore on, the experience gap showed. Arsenal’s players looked more comfortable handling the pressure, reading the flow better, and making fewer mistakes. Still, for a team new to this level, London City showed enough to suggest they’ll learn and grow. The Lionesses may have been beaten, but war consists of many battles. There are still plenty of matches ahead, and if they can lick their wounds and recover, fans will have plenty to look forward to.

The crowd was really into it throughout. You could tell the fans knew they were witnessing something important. Cheers erupted for every goal and whenever London City threatened. This result sends a pretty clear message: Arsenal Women aren’t here to just fill the fixtures. They want the title, and they’ve got the squad to push for it. Their mix of youth and experience looks well balanced, and they’ve shown some tactical flexibility too. Sure, the first half showed some rough edges, but their response was convincing.

For London City Lionesses, the challenge is big. They are planning a £430,000 release clause of Barcelona midfielder Lucia Corrales, which will lead to more changes to their squad during the debut season.The WSL is fast, physical, and mentally demanding. They got caught out after their bright start, but the early goal and flashes of good play show they belong. How they adapt and learn will shape their season. The early goal was perhaps a pitfall for them. Scoring early drove some bravado and overconfidence into the team. They thought that they had the match by the neck, only for their prey to struggle out and overtake their lead by matching and dominating them earlier. The laws on the field are harsher than those in the savannah, of which the lionesses were reminded.

Looking beyond just the teams, this match is a snapshot of where women’s football is heading. Bigger crowds, better skills, more drama. Arsenal’s win will make their fans happy, but also raise expectations around what this team can do. It's certainly an exciting time ahead for all teams, and matches like these remind us that it's worth watching everyone. You never know what miracle could happen on the field.