Chelsea win the league as Arsenal disintegrate at Villa Park | OneFootball

Chelsea have won the League for the sixth season in a row as Arsenal had a very bad day at the office with a 5-2 defeat at Aston Villa.

Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

Renée Slegers made seven changes to the side that won away at Lyon in the Champions League semi-final just days earlier. The outcome, both in performance and result, offered a brutal lesson in the risks of widespread rotation. With the final in Lisbon looming, it is likely that few, if any, of those brought in at Villa Park will start against Barcelona.

Among the replacements, perhaps only Kyra Cooney-Cross made a case to feature in the final, potentially as a tactical option to disrupt Barça’s midfield. Stina Blackstenius, who had a decent game, could perhaps be considered from the start if Arsenal wish to stretch the Spanish side’s high line.

The starting XI was: Manuela Zinsberger; Katie Reid, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Steph Catley, Katie McCabe; Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mariona Caldentey; Beth Mead, Victoria Pelova, Chloe Kelly; Stina Blackstenius.

The key takeaway was stark: too many changes led to disorganisation. Arsenal reverted to familiar failings, conceding repeatedly on the counter. The absence of fluency in defensive transitions was glaring. And yet, Slegers had few other viable options.

Fatigue and injury risk made rotation essential following an emotionally and physically draining European semi-final.

If Fox had played and picked up an injury, Slegers would be slammed for not resting her. The same logic applied to McCabe and Caldentey, both of whom looked off the pace and needed a rest. The team lacked cohesion. Some individuals performed acceptably; others were well below par. And fans scapegoating Zinsberger again is tiring.

Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

A legitimate question remains around whether the club needs a new number two goalkeeper, someone good enough to offer cover without unsettling Daphne van Domselaar. But such profiles are rare, and fewer still are available.

So, Chelsea won the league again, this time without any team managing to take the title race to the final day, unlike in previous seasons. They remain unbeaten in the WSL, though their vulnerabilities were exposed in the 8–2 aggregate defeat to Barcelona. Their 1–0 win at Manchester United also had implications for Arsenal, as it keeps second place, and with it Champions League qualification, in the Gunners’ hands.

Direct entry into the 2025–26 League phase is still possible. Should Arsenal win the Champions League, they will qualify automatically. A second-place league finish would also secure entry to the third qualifying round, with third place meaning a tougher second-round path.

Next up is Brighton away on May 5. One more point might be enough to clinch qualification ahead of the final home match against Manchester United.

From there, the focus will turn fully to Barcelona in Lisbon.

Slegers and her staff know the performance level must rise to 100% if they are to return from Portugal with the trophy.