Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Birmingham City extended Arsenal’s longest winless run in the WSL and left Renée Slegers’ side with just six points from their opening six league games. Arsenal had opportunities to win. In fact, they had plenty of them.
They finished with 76% possession and 27 shots, but only four were on target. Birmingham managed just five attempts and one on target. They were far more clinical. Olivia Smith’s superb equaliser rescued a point, but the result extended a pattern that is becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss as a temporary dip.
There is no single explanation for Arsenal’s league problems. The evidence points to two related issues: a team failing to turn its attacking dominance into goals and one remaining vulnerable when possession breaks down.
What happened against Birmingham?
Birmingham took the lead in the 53rd minute through Océane Hurtré after catching Arsenal on the counterattack. Smith responded in the 66th minute with an outstanding strike to bring the hosts level.
Arsenal had chances before and after the goals. Alessia Russo struck the post in the first half, while Birmingham goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley was forced into several saves.
But the winner never came. The numbers illustrate Arsenal’s problem clearly. They controlled 76% of possession and registered 27 attempts, yet only four tested Baggaley. Birmingham had one shot on target and converted it.
The final whistle brought boos from sections of the Emirates Stadium.
It was another failure to win against opposition Arsenal would expect to beat if they are serious about challenging at the top of the WSL. Slegers acknowledged the frustration afterwards, pointing to insufficient tempo, turnovers and Arsenal’s failure to punish Birmingham despite creating opportunities.
Those problems are appearing at both ends of the pitch. Arsenal are creating chances but not scoring enough. Arsenal’s 27 shots against Birmingham sound impressive until the four efforts on target are considered alongside them.
Possession can tell a similar story. Having three-quarters of the ball means little if that control does not consistently produce dangerous chances. Arsenal have struggled to turn their attacking volume into goals throughout the opening weeks of the campaign.
Poor finishing can sometimes be explained by variance. Teams go through periods when shots hit posts, goalkeepers produce exceptional saves and chances that normally result in goals simply do not go in.
But when the pattern continues over several matches, other questions need to be asked. Are Arsenal creating enough high-quality chances? Are players making the correct decisions around the penalty area? Is their movement creating space in dangerous positions? Are attacks becoming too predictable?
Those questions become more important with every game Arsenal fail to win.
There is also a psychological element. A team expecting to dominate can become increasingly impatient when a goal does not arrive. Players push forward, attacks become rushed and more space can appear behind the ball.
Against Birmingham, Arsenal experienced both sides of that problem.
The WSL is becoming less forgiving of teams who assume that controlling possession will eventually be enough. Birmingham did not need to match Arsenal’s attacking volume to cause problems at the Emirates. They defended, waited for opportunities and made one decisive transition count.
That does not mean Arsenal simply lost because Birmingham sat deep. Birmingham deserve credit for executing their approach, while goalkeeper Baggaley made important saves when required.
But teams with Arsenal’s resources and ambitions have to find solutions when opponents defend compactly, press intelligently or attack quickly after turnovers. That ability becomes particularly important when Arsenal fall behind.
The longer matches remain level, or Arsenal find themselves chasing a goal, the more vulnerable they can become to transitions in the opposite direction.
The pressure is building on Renée Slegers
The scale of Arsenal’s problem is now difficult to dismiss as a temporary dip in form. They have won just once in their opening six WSL matches and have gone five league games without a victory, the longest such run in their WSL history.
Against Birmingham, Arsenal once again showed that they can control large parts of a game. The issue is what they are doing with that control.
For Slegers, the challenge is therefore about more than simply creating more chances. Arsenal need to improve the quality of those opportunities, become more clinical when they arrive and leave themselves less exposed when attacks break down.
A squad with Arsenal’s quality should be capable of correcting those problems. But every match without a victory increases the scrutiny on the manager and players. The gap is already becoming significant.
Arsenal’s poor start is even more damaging because the teams above them are continuing to collect points.
Manchester City have won all six of their opening league matches and sit on 18 points. Chelsea have 16. Arsenal have six.
It is still October and no title race is decided after six matches, but a 12-point gap to Manchester City leaves considerably less room for further mistakes. Arsenal cannot control what City or Chelsea do.
They can control whether their own performances begin producing results. The next fixtures therefore matter for more than simply climbing the table. Arsenal need evidence that the pattern can change.
They are still capable of dominating possession and creating opportunities. What they are currently missing is the ruthlessness and defensive control required to turn that dominance into three points.
Until that changes, the questions surrounding Arsenal and Slegers will only become louder.
