Manchester City were crowned Women’s Super League champions for the first time in 10 years without playing after Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw at Brighton on Thursday morning AEST.
Third-placed Arsenal were eager to bounce back from Saturday’s Champions League exit to Lyon and keep the title race alive in the first of three matches in hand on City.
Arsenal boss Renee Slegers knew only victory at Brighton would be enough, but the visitors were unable to find a winner after Frida Maanum’s 62nd-minute strike cancelled out Fuka Tsunoda’s first-half opener.
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The Gunners were 11 points behind the competition leaders with three games in hand, with the 1-1 draw signalling an end to their title challenge. Elsewhere, Chelsea’s run of six consecutive league championships is finally over.
City, currently in their first season under boss Andree Jeglertz, have not won a WSL title since 2016.
Manchester City later shared footage to social media of the players and staff watching the drawn contest together on television.
Among them was Australian midfielder Mary Fowler, who returned to action in February after being sidelined for a nine months with an ACL injury. The 23-year-old has been at City for four years.
“Helping guide this team to the WSL title is something I will never forget,” said Jeglertz.
“The girls have met every challenge in front of them head on and have been an absolute joy to coach this season.
“In the good moments and the bad, they’ve always stuck together and found a way to win — something that all great champions do.”