WSL talking points: Arsenal face dilemma and Blindkilde Brown gives Wiegman nudge | OneFootball

Arsenal face Cooney-Cross conundrum

The disquiet over Kyra Cooney-Cross’s lack of action has grown louder by the week and her 27-minute cameo in Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat of Brighton fuelled her case for a start. The Australian midfielder impressed when she featured last season and there were high hopes for her going into this campaign, but four games glued to the bench have been followed by 54 minutes as a substitute across the following three matches. Brighton were, by their own admission, tiring towards the end of their 1-0 defeat and Cooney-Cross’s ball-carrying and front-foot approach caught the eye as the Gunners tried to extend their lead. “When there’s a drop-off [in] minute 60 or 75 and intensity goes down in games and space becomes bigger, the gamechangers can make a real impact, and that’s 100% what Kyra did,” said Slegers. “She capitalised on the spaces and the fatigue and the opposition team and she plays with a lot of confidence and forward intent and she brings all her best qualities to life today, so I’m really pleased.” The preferred midfield trio this season has been Kim Little, Mariona Caldentey and Frida Maanum, with Victoria Pelova also featuring and Alessia Russo dropping into the 10 on occasion. It is hard to see where Cooney-Cross fits into the equation, but with Arsenal struggling to assert authority, change may not be a bad thing. Suzanne Wrack

• Match report: Arsenal 1-0 Brighton

No home comforts for Everton

Everton have lost all three of their home fixtures this season – their longest losing streak at home since the autumn of 2023 – and gone five home WSL matches without a win, stretching back to a victory over last season’s relegated side, Crystal Palace, last March. Their struggles at home continued on Sunday despite a change of venue to play at the mightily impressive Hill Dickinson Stadium, where they continued their long wait for a victory over Manchester United – this was their 13th WSL meeting with United without a win. Brian Sørensen’s team have looked strong on the road this term but cannot seem to find home form, and perhaps they need to focus on making Goodison Park feel like “home”. Sunday was the sixth stadium the club have hosted WSL fixtures in, and they did not win their first WSL game at any: Marine AFC’s Rossett Park, Widnes’s Halton Stadium, Southport’s Haig Avenue, Walton Hall Park, Goodison Park and Hill Dickinson Stadium. Creating a fortress feels like a priority. Tom Garry

• Match report: Everton 1-4 Manchester United

Has Blindkilde Brown earned an England call?

The Manchester City midfielder Laura Blindkilde Brown has made a timely burst into great form before Sarina Wiegman’s England squad announcement on Tuesday morning, providing a player-of-the-match display in the win against Liverpool. The 22-year-old, voted by City supporters as their player of the month for September, looks to have found her best position in a City shirt since she dropped into a deeper central midfield role alongside Yui Hasegawa under Andrée Jeglertz, having played as a No 10 for much of the time since arriving in January 2024. She enjoyed plenty of possession at Anfield and has started six City games in a row in all competitions. She has one England cap but could she add to that in the friendlies against Brazil and Australia this month? TG

• Match report: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester City

Spurs show defensive mettle

There was a moment in the first half that summed up Sunday’s encounter between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. Keira Walsh unleashed a fierce 20-yard effort and Bethany England stepped up, body on the line, to take the full force of the shot at close range. The captain picked herself up immediately, shaken but not broken, a symbol of Spurs’ courageous defensive display. It will be one that the manager, Martin Ho, can take plenty of pride in despite a 1-0 defeat. “When you can put in defensive performances like that, it sets you up for success moving forward,” he said. “If you get the foundation right, you become hard to beat.” Chelsea dominated – 66% possession; 27 shots; 68 touches in Spurs’ box – but for the most part struggled to break down their opposition, a continuation of a recent trend of a lack of clinical finishing from the Blues. Sophie Downey

Passmoor positive but Foxes’ wait goes on

Leicester extended their winless away run in the WSL to 19 games with a goalless draw against Aston Villa, but Rick Passmoor was not fazed. The Foxes have not won a WSL away match since a victory at Everton on 28 January 2024 – in which time they have gone through four managers – and Passmoor had hoped to break the streak in his first match as the permanent manager , having been in interim charge from early September until last Friday. Despite the outcome, Passmoor was determined to look at the positives. “What a squad performance,” he said. “You’re coming to Villa Park, local derby, you’ve got a team that know exactly how they want to play and we know they’re a team of very good players individually. So we had to match them as a group and as a team … To come to Villa Park and get a clean sheet and a point, we will take that.” Emillia Hawkins

London City need more ruthless touch

Kosovare Asllani’s instinctive finish proved the difference as London City Lionesses edged past West Ham for a second successive WSL win. It was another step forward for a side still bedding in 17 summer signings, but one that again highlighted their lack of cutting edge. Jocelyn Prêcheur’s team showed promising movement and spells of control, yet moments of hesitation under pressure allowed West Ham chances, with Viviane Asseyi coming closest, clipping the post from distance. The London City midfielder Leah Godfrey admitted the team were “still missing the finishing touches in the final third”, though Asllani’s goal showed her experience and brought a timely injection of confidence. Prêcheur stressed the need to be more efficient in transitions and clinical. The foundations are being laid and connections are starting to form, but if London City are to turn progress into consistency, a more ruthless streak will be essential. Mitul Samji

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