A derby victory has given Arsenal Women some breathing room, but the question now is whether they can turn relief into a proper run of form.
Arsenal needed a result, and the north London derby delivered one. The win takes some of the heat out of a situation that had been getting uncomfortable, and it hands the squad a timely confidence boost.
Derby wins carry weight beyond the three points. They change the mood in the dressing room, quiet the noise outside it, and give a team something to build on. For a side with Arsenal's expectations, that release of pressure matters.
The harder part comes next. One strong performance is a good start, but it only counts if it becomes a pattern. Arsenal now have to show they can bring the same intensity, sharpness and edge to the games that follow, including the less glamorous ones where the stakes feel lower but the margins are just as thin.
The title race and the battle for the top places in the Women's Super League leave little room for slow starts or dropped points. If Arsenal can carry this derby energy into the coming weeks, the win may be remembered as the turning point. If not, it will look like a brief reprieve.
Either way, the spotlight stays on them. The derby bought Arsenal some time, and now they have to use it.
