Last season, Arsenal Women made history by finishing above Chelsea in the Women's Super League (WSL) for the first time in seven years. The last time this happened was during the 2018-19 season, when Arsenal won the title. Since then, Chelsea had dominated the league, finishing first for six consecutive seasons. However, in the 2025-26 season, both teams finished behind the eventual champions, Manchester City, with Arsenal securing second place and overtaking their London rivals. Arsenal also had a strong run in the Women's Champions League, defeating Chelsea in the quarter-finals. This summer has brought significant changes to both teams' squads. Arsenal lost key players like Beth Mead and Katie McCabe but added new talent, including England midfielder Georgia Stanway, Spain's World Cup winner Ona Batlle, and Switzerland captain Geraldine Reuteler. Meanwhile, Chelsea signed McCabe on a free transfer and acquired Melvine Malard from Manchester United. However, they no longer have Sam Kerr and Millie Bright, two of their most important players from the past few seasons. Arsenal manager Renee Slegers has expressed confidence in her team's ability to compete for the WSL title this season. She believes the squad is the strongest she has had at Arsenal and is focused on proving themselves against the league's best. In contrast, Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor described the club as being in a transitional phase, acknowledging that rebuilding the team will take time. While the goal of winning trophies remains, Bompastor emphasized that the focus is on developing team cohesion and long-term success. Despite being favored by Opta's supercomputer with a 39.9% chance of winning the league in their opening match against Aston Villa, Bompastor has not placed too much emphasis on predictions. She acknowledged the challenges of the upcoming season and the strength of the WSL competition. Meanwhile, London City Lionesses, who began the WSL season with a win over Manchester United, have also made notable signings, including Spain's Alexia Putellas. The club, which finished sixth in its first WSL season, aims to rise among the league's elite. Owner Michelle Kang has expressed ambitions for the club to become a top contender in the women's football world.