Story byArsenal’s Olivia Smith and the surprise new role that helped beat WSL leaders Man CityMichael CoxMon, February 9, 2026 at 5:31 AM UTC·4 min readIt’s a funny business, football management. You assess your players’ physical condition, analyse their previous performance, scout the upcoming opponents, devise a game plan, create some training drills and give a presentation on precisely how your team will win that match. And then your main striker gets injured, you stick someone else up front instead, and they go and score the only goal as you beat the league leaders. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOf course, things are more complex than that. But had Stina Blackstenius been fit to start for Arsenal against Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, Olivia Smith would have been on the bench. The 21-year-old Canada international was suspended for the impressive 2-0 win at reigning WSL champions Chelsea a fortnight ago, and there was little reason for Renee Slegers to change that XI for City’s visit.