A Farewell, a Beginning and the Continuity of Power

September 6, 2025 Emirates Stadium, London

The curtain rose on Arsenal’s new campaign before a buoyant Emirates crowd, and from the very first whistle the occasion carried the weight of expectation. Champions of Europe, Arsenal began their Women’s Super League defence against London City Lionesses, a club making its first appearance in the top flight.

Arsenal bid farewell to Lia Wälti, the Swiss midfielder whose authority had anchored the side for seven years. With two League Cups, a WSL title, and the Champions League to her name, Wälti departed for Juventus. The ovation was long, and fitting.

The match began with Kim Little leading the charge. Olivia Smith, handed her debut by Renée Slegers, sprang into action with neat combinations down the wing alongside Emily Fox. The right-back had the first clear chance of the match after ten minutes, dragging her shot just wide from the edge of the box.

Then, in the 17th minute, the story threatened to be rewritten. London City pressed high, refusing to concede territory. When Katie Reid clipped Kosovare Asllani in the area, the referee pointed to the spot. Asllani — their marquee signing — dispatched the penalty with icy precision. Against all odds, the newcomers led 1–0.

Arsenal’s reshuffled defence, missing Steph Catley, looked momentarily unsettled. Their 4-3-3, built for fluid possession, seemed fragile under direct counters. But the response came through Smith. Collecting the ball from distance in the 29th minute, she glided past María Pérez and unleashed a strike from thirty yards that arced into the top corner. A debut goal, audacious and clean, marked her as Arsenal’s new jewel.

Just before the break, Arsenal’s wide rotations bore fruit. Russo’s cross picked out Chloe Kelly at the far post. From 0–1 down, Arsenal entered the interval 2–1 ahead.

London City re-emerged undaunted. Rofiat Imuran’s looping effort struck the post. Arsenal’s back line looked porous again, but Daphne van Domselaar smothered the threat.

The decisive blows arrived late. On 83 minutes, Beth Mead delivered a teasing ball across goal for Stina Blackstenius to slide home. Barely a minute later, Mead provided again, this time for Frida Maanum, who headed in Arsenal’s fourth. In the space of two minutes, the match was transformed from a contest into a coronation.

Arsenal 4 – 1 Lion City Lionesses  (K. Asallani ‘17, O. Smith ‘29, C. Kelly ‘45+2, S. Blacksteinus ‘83, F. Maanum ‘84)