Entering this season, Arsenal had every reason to expect a strong challenge for the Women's Super League title. They signed plenty of star names, including England midfielder Georgia Stanway, Spain goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez, and Germany internationals Lisa Baum and Selina Cerci. On paper, they amassed arguably the deepest WSL squad ever. Instead, Arsenal have flopped. After six WSL games, they have a single win and have scored just five goals -- only Charlton (three) have scored fewer -- leaving them in eighth place. They have looked disorganised in defence and toothless in attack, and manager Renée Slegers is under immense pressure.
Goalscoring has been the most fundamental problem. Arsenal have scored five goals from an xG total of 10.9, and managed more than one goal only once, in a 4-2 defeat to Manchester City. Their underlying numbers are almost identical to last season, despite taking 121 shots so far compared with 95 in the same period of 2025-26. Some 36 of those shots were blocked by opposing defenders, suggesting poor shot selection. Arsenal have at least got the ball into the penalty area more often, but the increase is almost entirely due to crossing, which has risen from 21.1 to 31.3 per game.
Crossing is not inherently wrong, but it only works with an aerial threat, and Arsenal lack one. They have attempted the most open-play crosses in the WSL this season (130), yet they are the only side among those with more than 10 headed shots yet to score with one. The attack has become predictable, and opponents who sit deep against Arsenal have found it easy to contain.
The solution is variety. Slegers' squad includes quick, unpredictable players such as Lisa Baum and reigning WSL Young Player of the Year Olivia Smith, who can dribble forward, beat defenders for pace and skill, win fouls and create chances. Encouraging them to take on opponents would reduce reliance on crosses. Slegers has also struggled to fit her deep squad into her preferred 4-2-3-1 since taking over in September 2023, with Kim Little and Mariona Caldentey moved out of position last season, a change that added to the creative burden on Alessia Russo.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing