Villa Women stun Arsenal to end their WSL title hopes

Villa rubber-stamped their Women's Super League survival with a sensational 5-2 victory over high-flying Arsenal.

Crystal Palace's loss at the weekend had confirmed another year in the top flight for Villa, and they climbed above Tottenham Hotspur into ninth with their third victory in a row.

Defeat at Villa Park was only the Gunners’ third in the WSL this season, but also effectively ended their WSL title bid - confirmed mere hours later when Chelsea clinched a sixth successive crown with a 1-0 win at Manchester United.

Former Arsenal player Jordan Nobbs came back to haunt her old side after rounding off a swift counter-attack on the half-hour mark before Kirsty Hanson doubled their advantage on the cusp of half-time with a stunning strike.

Chasity Grant and Rachel Daly piled more misery on the Champions League finalists after the break before two goals in three minutes from Stina Blackstenius and Alessia Russo cut the deficit.

Grant then added her second to wrap up a third straight league victory for Villa.

Aston Villa's Kirsty Hanson celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Barclays Women's Super League match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Wednesday April 30, 2025.

Over at Leigh Sports Village, Lucy Bronze was heading in the winner to seal the WSL crown for Chelsea.

And manager Sonia Bompastor has now set her sights on completing the domestic treble and an unbeaten season.

It was their second trophy of the season after winning the League Cup and Bompastor now wants to wrap up the set by beating United again in the FA Cup final.

Bompastor, whose side have not lost in 20 WSL outings this term, said: “It feels great but I’m always someone who demands a lot. I always want more from them and I’m never satisfied with what I get.

“So, even when we win, I’m already almost focused on the treble, and the FA Cup final. I never let them have five minutes to breathe.

Chelsea's Millie Bright (right) and Chelsea's Erin Cuthbert (left) celebrate as they win the league after the Barclays Women's Super League match at Leigh Sports Village, Manchester. Picture date: Wednesday April 30, 2025.

“We want to stay unbeaten, to compete until the end. I think that’s really important. I don’t want to drop any points and I don’t want to give anything too easily to someone.”

The Frenchwoman did add with a smile, however, that the players would now “get two days off after this game”.

The title success underlines Bompastor’s superb first season since succeeding Emma Hayes and Wednesday’s victory showed their character just three days after a humiliating Champions League loss to Barcelona.

Bompastor added: “It feels a bit unreal. We were not expecting to achieve it tonight, not expecting Arsenal to drop points.

Arsenal's Frida Maanum after the Barclays Women's Super League match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Wednesday April 30, 2025.

“We just wanted to bounce back after defeat on Sunday. It hurt to be knocked out of the Champions League but we are professionals and needed to focus on the game against United and get a step closer.”