Arsenal laboured past HB Køge on Tuesday, a 1-0 that needed Mariona Caldentey's penalty three minutes into stoppage time, and the fans still came out of it with a clear favourite. Kyra Cooney-Cross pulled in over 4,100 votes in the club's Player of the Match poll. Leah Williamson finished second on 366.
That's not a narrow win. Renée Slegers described her as "mature, calm and enjoying her football", and Arseblog News makes the case that a midfielder who'd been on the edge of things has forced her way back to the middle of them.
One WSL appearance and one in Europe so far this season. On that evidence you'd expect the number to go up.
Chelsea away on Sunday, and Slegers is talking about an entertaining game. Arsenal go there sixth, five points from three, still unbeaten and still short of a second win. A goalless draw with Palace and a stoppage-time rescue against United is not the start anyone wanted.
Kai Havertz is on his way back to London to be assessed. We now know how it happened — caught by Quinten Timber in Germany's 1-1 draw with the Netherlands, down in discomfort, appearing to mouth "hamstring" at the physio. Contact rather than a player breaking down on his own, which is the one mildly encouraging thing in it.
Leeds at home on 3 October. Three goals in seven appearances this season, and no obvious like-for-like if he misses it.
Brentford have opened talks with Kevin Schade over a new long-term deal, with Arsenal named among the clubs watching. That reads to me like Brentford using the interest to get a signature rather than Arsenal getting close to one. Wingers who start well in September attract this sort of story every year.
Christos Tzolis scored for Greece. Four assists for Arsenal since the £34m move from Club Brugge and no goal yet, so he'll take one wherever it comes.
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