Why Arsenal women must finish second to gain a crucial pre-season boost | OneFootball

Arsenal climb back to second place in the WSL as the battle for Champions League spots intensifies.

With six games to go, every match will be decisive in the run-in.

Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Arsenal climbed back into second place in the Women’s Super League following their victory away at Everton and Manchester United’s defeat at Liverpool.

With six games remaining, the battle to secure a Champions League spot is heating up, as teams jostle to finish in the top three.

Securing second place is crucial, as it grants direct entry into the UEFA Women’s Champions League at a later stage, reducing early-season fixture congestion.

Here’s how qualification works:

Finishing second provides an additional 15 days of pre-season preparation, a vital advantage with the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euros taking place in Switzerland from 2-27 July.

Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Players reaching the latter stages of the tournament would otherwise have minimal rest before resuming club duties, increasing their risk of injury due to overloading.

Current WSL Standings (Top three qualify for the Champions League)

Key fixtures in the Champions League race

Matchday 17

Matchday 18

Matchday 19 (Same date as Champions League semi-finals)

Matchday 20 (Same date as Champions League semi-finals)

Matchday 21

Matchday 22 (Final Day)

The race for Champions League qualification looks set to go down to the wire, while the WSL title remains Chelsea’s to lose. A key factor in the run-in will be fixture congestion – any team that reaches the Champions League semi-finals will have their Matchday 19 & 20 WSL fixtures postponed, leading to a packed schedule at the end of the season.

Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

For Arsenal, securing Champions League football for next season remains a top priority, while they continue their campaign in the current tournament, beginning with a crucial away tie against Real Madrid on Tuesday.

Keeping the squad fit will be essential, and Renée Slegers will need to manage rotations carefully to ensure the team remains fresh and ready for the challenges ahead.