The new Women's Super League season has started with a new competitor in the top tier. London City Lionesses have attracted attention as a unique sporting project in the space and got the chance to test themselves at the Emirates Stadium, earning the admiration of **Arsenal**manager Renee Slegers.
‘That’s the unknown’
**London City**are the first fully independent outfit to take part in the Women's Super League.
“We're very happy. It's an exciting project. The more investment, the better for the women's game.”
Kosovare Asllani arrived to act as the captain of the club in 2024 with her **Sweden**teammate Sofia Jakobsson. Saki Kumagai, a five-time Champions League winner with Lyon, then came from **Roma**at the start of 2025 to help push their promotion bid over the line, achieving the feat in May.
The promotion pulled in more interest from individuals across the world. Former **Arsenal**players **Daniëlle van de Donk**and Nikita Parris, as well as **Angel City**duo Katie Zelem and Alanna Kennedy, are just some of the star-studded names who have signed onto their roster over the summer.
“We'll see. That's the unknown. It's new. They've had their season in the WSL 2. This is also new for them and it's new for us. There are a lot of unknowns. Just as many unknowns for me as you.”
Slegers spoke candidly before the match about the challenges of preparing to play against this team.
“We've seen them play last season and we have a good idea of who they are and what they are. At the end of the day, we haven't played against this team because it's very new with a lot of new players.”
But based on their body of work from the previous year, the Dutchwoman predicted some fireworks.
“I think when I spoke about rock and roll football, it was more about the opposition, but it takes two to tango. That's the unknown. Of course, we know what their ideas are. It's going to have to play out.”
‘It’s a good opponent’
As she ended her assessment, Slegers stated her desire for a spectacle to excite the supporters.
“We want to deliver a good product for everyone. That's what we try to achieve together. Of course, we go out there and try to play our game the Arsenal way and make that lead to wins as well.”
In the end, the manager got what she wanted. London City put up a fight, taking the lead with a penalty from Asllani as the guests disrupted the rhythm of the match with their bravery and intensity.
“What they do is they press high and go a lot player for player on the pitch. You're always balancing on the fine line of beating that press and the whole pitch being wide open, or you will lose the ball, and then you don't get rhythm in your game. That's what happened at the start of the game.”
But **Olivia Smith**scored a screamer to level the score, and **Arsenal**added three more before full time.
“We grew into it. It's a good opponent. They're not easy to play against. That's why I'm even happier.”
Slegers stressed that **London City**are not your typical conception of a promoted outfit. They are a welcome addition to the brand of the WSL, and an opponent she is happy to have gotten one over.
*“It's not easy to play against them in the first round of the WSL. They invested in a lot of new players. So I'm really happy that we found the solutions in the end and that we look like us, and Arsenal.”*