Arsenal surged into second place in the WSL table after a dramatic 1-0 victory over Everton, courtesy of an injury-time strike from Stina Blackstenius. The win finally allowed the Gunners to leapfrog Chelsea, ending a months-long chase that was complicated by three postponed fixtures from January.
With just one game remaining, Arsenal now sit two points clear of Chelsea and boast a commanding +37 goal difference compared to Chelsea's +23. This means a single point away at Liverpool should be enough to secure direct qualification for the Champions League league phase—unless Chelsea somehow beat Manchester United by 14 goals. That's not happening under any normal circumstances.
The stakes are higher this season: second place no longer means navigating tricky qualifying rounds, where Arsenal famously stumbled a few seasons ago in Linköping. Instead, it guarantees a spot in the group stage, a massive boost for the club's European ambitions.
In what was an emotional final home game, manager Renée Slegers made three changes from the Aston Villa match, bringing in Beth Mead, Victoria Pelova, and Katie McCabe. The starting XI featured Anneke Borbe in goal, with Emily Fox, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Laia Codina, and McCabe forming the backline. Pelova and Mariona Caldentey anchored the midfield, while Mead, Frida Maanum, Alessia Russo, and Olivia Smith led the attack.
The match itself had all the hallmarks of an end-of-season affair—moments of brilliance mixed with lapses in concentration. Arsenal hit the woodwork three times and made defensive errors that allowed Everton too many opportunities. Still, there was a sense the Gunners had another gear if needed.
The substitutions provided the spark. Blackstenius scored the winner in a somewhat controversial fashion, with Leah Williamson's challenge leaving Everton goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan grounded as the striker slotted home. It was a deserved victory, though, as Arsenal created multiple chances even if they lacked efficiency in the final third.
After the final whistle, the club honored its departing players in an emotional ceremony, with families invited onto the pitch to say farewell. For Beth Mead and the others, it was a poignant goodbye—but the team's focus now shifts to Liverpool, where a single point could seal a Champions League dream.