Women’s Super League Odds: Chelsea, Arsenal, or a 66/1 outsider?

The 2021/22 Women’s Super League is jetting into the business end of the season, with the engrossing title race set to reach a thrilling conclusion over the course of the final six weeks.

The victor is likely to be one of Arsenal or Chelsea, as has been the case each season dating back to 2016 when Man City came out on top. However, we can't rule out a shock turn of events, with a couple of juicy outsiders well worth keeping an eye on in the betting - more on them in a moment.

At the time of writing its Arsenal, led by Jonas Eidevall in his debut season, who top the pile as they bid to hoist the title for the first time since 2018/19. They’ve more than rediscovered their sparkle under the Swede this term after back-to-back seasons watching Chelsea and Man City battle it out at the summit.

Arsenal currently have a narrow two point lead with five games remaining, however defending champions Chelsea are in hot pursuit and crucially have a game in hand. 

With Arsenal’s North London Derby against Tottenham postponed this weekend due to a Covid outbreak in the Spurs camp, Chelsea can leapfrog their rivals into 1st for the first time this season, providing they grab all three points away to second-from-bottom Leicester. 

While other teams can mathematically still win the title, realistically it’s a two horse race for glory, reflected in the betting which has Chelsea as the 4/6 favourites (William Hill) with their serial-winning manager, Emma Hayes, seeking a fifth WSL title and third on the spin.

“We have been behind the whole year, I have enjoyed being in this position, it makes a change for us,” Hayes said earlier this week.

“Everybody knows there is a long way to go. It will go all the way to the wire. I know we have to win every game, if we drop points it is clearly in Arsenal’s hands.”

Chelsea are in cracking form, having accumulated 16 points from a possible 18 over the last two months, with the only blip a goalless draw against Arsenal. After Sunday's outing at Leicester, Chelsea face Reading, Spurs (twice), Birmingham, and Man Utd.

Arsenal are next in the running in the betting market at 6/5 with Paddy Power & Betfair. After a wobbly run over the festive period they are have found their stride during the course of 11 unbeaten games, domestically and in Europe.

As well as the rearranged clash with Spurs, Arsenal’s other four remaining league games are against Leicester, Everton, Villa, and West Ham - games they will fully be expected to win. It’s worth noting that they are still in the mix for the treble given that they are in the latter stages of the FA Cup (SF) and Champions League (QF).

Speaking of which, to add another sprinkling of spice to proceedings Arsenal and Chelsea lock horns in the FA Cup semi-finals on 17th April; a trophy Chelsea are attempting to retain, while Arsenal are seeking glory in the competition for the first time since 2015/16.

Now, back to those juicy outsiders. The Manchester clubs are next in the running at 66/1, with both teams locked on 32 points, eight points off the pace.

Man Utd (3rd), in their first season under manager Marc Skinner, face managerless Everton at Old Trafford  - roared on by fans at the stadium for the first time - on Saturday followed by winnable games against Brighton, Aston Villa, and West Ham, before a final day fixture at Chelsea. So there’s still all to play for.

Man City (4th) endured a disappointing, injury-hit start to the season which looks like it's hurt their title chances, however there's plenty of optimism and positivity in their ranks right now following a scintillating run of form.

Since losing to Man Utd in November, Gareth Taylor's side have bagged 15 wins from 17 games (all comps), winning their last seven league and cup games on the spin which includes a 3-1 victory over Chelsea in the League Cup final. So you’d be silly to rule them out. Furthermore, 

City have a very reasonable run in too, against teams outside of the top-five in Birmingham, West Ham, Leicester, Brighton and Reading, while they can double-up on the domestic cups with an FA Cup semi-final against the Hammers coming up in April.

Spurs, 12 points off the pace in 5th, are 250/1 long shots to somehow get their mitts on the WSL trophy. While league glory is likely to be way out of reach, they can have a big say in who does come out victorious given that they still face Arsenal, and Chelsea twice.