As Arsenal launched into a customary lap across the pitch after their Champions League defeat by Lyon, there was a palpable air of frustration.
Winless of their previous 4. 5 factors adrift of the highest domestically. Struggling to maintain clear sheets.
Commercial
shouldn’t be a worrisome lead to isolation, however it compounds a way that Arsenal are experiencing a “blip” and must nip it within the bud earlier than it turns into greater than that.
That is the primary time that head coach Renee Slegers has confronted any important stress, by way of disappointing outcomes, and she or he might want to oversee a speedy reversal in type if Arsenal are to get their season again on observe.
Lower than a month in the past, the sensation round Arsenal was very completely different: they beat London Metropolis 4-1 of their opening league sport after which thrashed West Ham 5-1.
Since then, they have not received a sport.
Commercial
“They began the primary couple of video games scoring plenty of targets after which simply errors have been their difficulty,” former Leeds striker Lucy Ward mentioned on Disney+.
“They have not had the consistency, they have not managed video games proper. Even within the WSL, the place it isn’t the extent of the likes of Lyon, they’re punished.”
Striker Alessia Russo, who scored earlier than Arsenal let their lead slide at Meadow Park, acknowledged issues are going fallacious however highlighted optimistic moments.
“I believe for the time being we’re in a little bit of a blip, however we’re conscious of that,” she informed Disney+. “I believe at occasions tonight we noticed what we’re able to, however it’s nearly doing that and ensuring we get outcomes as nicely.”
Commercial
Russo added: “We’ve got to be lifelike. We all know it is a lengthy season forward, stuffed with highs and lows. You may by no means get too excessive or too low.
“We have to maintain pushing ourselves as a result of we do not like shedding, we do not like being in moments like this.”
What is going on fallacious for Arsenal?
The response to Arsenal’s defeat by Lyon informed a story which is turning into all too acquainted.
“Masters of their very own downfall,” mentioned 74-cap England ahead Nikita Parris.
“You can’t have errors at this stage and never count on to be punished,” mentioned Ward.
Melchie Dumornay scored twice in 5 minutes halfway by means of the primary half to arrange Lyon’s victory.
Commercial
Each targets have been clearly avoidable, with the primary coming after Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar haplessly pushed the ball into her path, and the second arising from a misplaced go on the sting of the house penalty space.
Misplaced passes have been additionally a daily theme within the on the weekend.
However these are usually not the one flaws in Arsenal’s sport at current.
They didn’t capitalise on possibilities to increase their early lead after which conceded in second-half stoppage time as they have been within the league final month.
They didn’t produce sufficient clear possibilities of their
Commercial
That they’re missing England captain Leah Williamson on the again following a knee harm within the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 win shouldn’t be serving to their defensive efforts, both.
“There’s a sample,” former England ahead Sue Smith mentioned on BBC Radio 5 Dwell. “I nonetheless assume it is small margins. I believe that sport may’ve gone both manner.
“If the error from the goalkeeper does not occur, then do Arsenal proceed to progress? They have been 1-0 up and I assumed they seemed fairly snug.
“It is ensuring defensively you are sound and do not make errors, after which within the remaining third, can you may have a little bit extra high quality when the ball is available in?”
Commercial
Win drought continues however ‘positives to take’
The very fact it seems to be remoted errors that are proving expensive provides Arsenal some hope that there’s a clear path to reviving their marketing campaign.
Captain Kim Little mentioned after the match that the staff “can’t all the time be excellent the entire time”.
“We’re in a decrease area simply now with the present type, however we’ll come again stronger. We go into our league fixture on the weekend for a giant three factors,” Little informed Disney+.
Understandably, Slegers mentioned her facet are “not blissful” with their type, however their expertise which led to successful this competitors final 12 months provides them cause to stay optimistic.
Commercial
They lacked a leading edge in assault and solely managed half as many pictures as Lyon, however additionally they misplaced 2-1 to the French facet within the first leg of the semi-final on this competitors final 12 months and bounced again to win the second sport 4-1 in France.
There isn’t a second leg this time, with this a bunch section sport, however Arsenal will look to rebound all the identical on the first alternative.
“The necessary factor is that we handle it rather well and we give course transferring ahead and stand sturdy,” mentioned Slegers. “The optimistic factor is that we’ve got sturdy basis in a cultural perspective and a soccer perspective.
“We have to carry on believing in that philosophy and it gave us rather a lot final 12 months. When it begins clicking, we all know how good we’re.”
Commercial
Ought to they fail to beat Brighton within the league on Sunday (14:30 BST), they’ll have gone a month with no win.
“I believe there’s heaps to it,” Russo mentioned of Arsenal’s droop. “I believe, firstly, we have to take a look at ourselves and the way we are able to push our requirements. We’re typically letting groups get assaults on us by our personal errors.
“We have to take accountability, we have to give attention to what we are able to do to regulate that from everybody. It is all throughout the pitch. There’s moments in that that have been actually optimistic so we’ll lean on that and prepare for Sunday.”
It was in the beginning of the sport the place Arsenal have been at their greatest, getting an early objective and displaying their attacking qualities, however they may not maintain it.
Commercial
“Within the first 20-25 minutes, they began the sport [well], the objective that they scored… however it’s high-quality margins,” added Smith. “And should you make a few errors in opposition to a top-quality facet like Lyon, then they’ll punish you.
“Within the remaining third, they simply wanted to be a bit higher, extra medical. However actually positives to take.”
[BBC]
Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are again for one more season of the Ladies’s Soccer Weekly podcast. New episodes drop each Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus discover interviews and further content material from the Ladies’s Tremendous League and past on the