Arsenal Women are preparing for a major push in the ‌2026-27 Women's Super League season, targeting the title after finishing second last term. The club's ambitions are backed by strategic signings and a commitment to playing all home games at the Emirates Stadium, as reported by Reuters and ESPN this week.

How will Arsenal challenge for the WSL title?

Arsenal finished the 2025 WSL season in second place, just four points behind champions Manchester City. According to Reuters, manager Renee Slegers has stated her ambition is "taking the next step" after a campaign where the team secured 51 points from 22 games with a record of 15 wins, six draws, and just one loss. The Gunners were the league's highest scorers, netting 53 goals while conceding only 14 for a formidable +39 goal difference.

Slegers told the club's media that the team has been growing over recent years. "There were a lot of really good things last year," she said. "If you look at results, we're second in the WSL. We're semi-finalists in the Champions League." the top honours. Their strong recent form, ending the season with a sequence of results recorded as WWWDW, provides a solid foundation.

What does the signing of Élisa De Almeida mean?

Arsenal have completed the signing of defender Élisa De Almeida from Paris Saint-Germain for a reported fee of €500,000. ESPN's analysis grades the move as a B+ for the North London club. The 28-year-old French international provides immediate cover in central defence, an area impacted by Katie Reid's injury and Leah Williamson's recurring fitness issues.

However, the outlet notes this may be a short-term solution. Arsenal are reportedly seeking a younger, left-footed centre-back for the long term, meaning De Almeida's three-year deal could see her role evolve. For PSG, losing a regular starter so late in the window with little time to replace her was graded a B-.

Why is playing at the Emirates so important?

Arsenal Women will host all 13 of their WSL home matches at the Emirates Stadium this season. As reported by ESPN, the club's average home attendance of 33,808 last season surpassed that of eight Premier League men's teams and accounted for 41.2% of total WSL attendance. Manager Renee Slegers has been preparing the squad for the intense atmosphere, even using speakers during training sessions to simulate crowd noise.

This move to a permanent, larger home ground signifies the club's growth and commercial ambition. Fans can check the full schedule of matches at the iconic venue on the club's fixtures page. The increased revenue and profile from these games are seen as vital for sustaining a title challenge against financially powerful rivals like Manchester City.

How can fans follow every match?

The BBC has significantly expanded its WSL coverage for the new season, as outlined on their sport pages. They will broadcast 25 matches live on BBC TV and iPlayer, starting with Chelsea against Aston Villa on September 5. A new post-match segment called The Women's Football Fallout will offer 15 minutes of extra analysis after each live game, featuring pundits like Fara Williams and Steph Houghton.

Additionally, the BBC has launched a dedicated Women's Football YouTube channel. It will host highlights of every WSL match, a new weekly show called The Debrief, and content from the popular Women's Football Weekly podcast. Supporters can also follow dedicated club pages on the BBC Sport website and app for all the latest Arsenal Women news from reporter Emma Sanders. The season kicks off this weekend, with the latest standings available as the action unfolds.