- Published
Doubt crept in at Chelsea last season when they lost their Women's Super League crown - but early signs in this campaign suggest they have regained their spark.
asserted
they → publish → spark
A crucial 1-0 victory over rivals Arsenal on Sunday meant they extended their WSL unbeaten run to 12 games and sit just two points off leaders Manchester City.
asserted
they → mean → City
They showed a different side - one that was willing to dig deep, control the game without the ball and defend with composure while Arsenal put pressure on.
asserted
Arsenal → show → pressure
It may have been the missing ingredient as Chelsea look revitalised and refreshed.
Could they win the WSL title this year?
uncertain
they → look → title
It would be foolish to say they can't.
asserted
they → say → ?
A positive mindset switch
Sonia Bompastor led Chelsea to an unbeaten domestic treble in her first season in charge, but it did not go to plan in 2025-26 as their six-year stranglehold on the WSL ended.
asserted
stranglehold → lead → WSL
City overtook them at the top and many believed Arsenal would be the main challengers this season after a strong summer's recruitment.
asserted
Arsenal → overtake → recruitment
Perhaps written off, Chelsea started the season tamely, drawing 1-1 with Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge despite a dominant performance.
asserted
Chelsea → write → performance
The same issues were rife as they lacked ruthlessness in front of goal and a mistake at the back gifted Villa an opportunity.
But since then, Chelsea have turned dominant performances into results, winning three matches in a row, capping it off with a well-rounded display against Arsenal, who are seven points behind City in seventh spot.
asserted
who → lack → spot
Bompastor said her side were prepared to "mentally fight" and able to "adjust" to Arsenal's pressure in a way perhaps they didn't last season.
asserted
they → say → way
It was a defensive masterclass and they delivered Bompastor's gameplan perfectly, capping off victory with a third successive clean sheet - a run of 315 minutes without conceding a goal.
asserted
they → deliver → goal
"In this league, you have so many different opponents and you have to be able to adjust and do something different," said the Blues boss.
asserted
boss → have → something
"I've been talking a lot about that, to be strong and to be together, I always want to see a group of players who are together in those high and low moments.
asserted
who → talk → moments
"We came into this game well prepared.
asserted
We → come → game
We knew we would have moments in the game where we were not in control.
asserted
we → know → control
We prepared for those moments.
"
asserted
We → prepare → moments
We knew exactly where we wanted them to take the ball and where to leave some spaces.
asserted
them → know → spaces
We were really strong mentally and physically."
What changes have worked?
It is a result that could be the catalyst Chelsea needed to push on and put pressure on Manchester City, who face Arsenal next in the WSL (Sunday, 16:30 BST).
uncertain
who → work → WSL
Chelsea's match-winner Alyssa Thompson said their victory over the Gunners was "amazing for team morale".
asserted
victory → say → morale
Even Bompastor admitted Chelsea are "a different team from last season" and there are tangible examples of their improvements.
asserted
Chelsea → admit → improvements
England midfielder Keira Walsh was a standout performer against Arsenal and it was her strike which was parried into the path of Thompson for the only goal.
asserted
which → parry → goal
Her new parternship with 20-year-old Lexi Potter is flourishing and has allowed Walsh to get further up the pitch and play with more freedom.
asserted
Walsh → flourish → freedom
Bompastor said the 29-year-old was "a boss on the pitch" when she reaches those levels and it helps the team have "better foundations".
asserted
team → say → foundations
Goalscorer Thompson has consistently delivered up front, while the arrival of summer signing Melvine Malard from Manchester United has given them an outlet.
asserted
arrival → deliver → outlet
The French striker missed their opening two matches with a minor injury but scored on her debut against Birmingham City and caused havoc against Arsenal.
asserted
striker → miss → Arsenal
She puts in work off the ball and sets off the press," said team-mate Walsh.
asserted
Walsh → put → press
"
That press, led by Malard, has moved higher up and teams have struggled to break through, while full-back Ellie Carpenter continues to overlap dangerously.
asserted
Carpenter → lead → Malard
Katie McCabe, who switched from Arsenal to Chelsea this summer, has brought leadership and bite - an aggression that was lacking at times last season.
asserted
that → switch → times
Most of all, the Blues look like a team who believe they should be champions and are willing to work for it.
asserted
they → look → it
It was in contrast to toothless Arsenal, who have one victory in their first four WSL games and scored just twice.
asserted
who → have → games
"We've got both sides to our game and we showed that tonight in spells.
asserted
we → get → spells
Everyone was fighting for each other.
asserted
Everyone → fight → other
Every first and second ball was ours," added Walsh.
asserted
Walsh → add → ?
The Aporia
