Arsenal face the pressure — but can they overcome the challenge?
The Gunners put their faith in manager Jonas Eidevall earlier this week, handing the Swede a three-year extension on his contract. The question remains — can his side navigate the spotlight?
Among the biggest leaders in the progression of the women’s game, all eyes are on Arsenal FC in this year’s WSL title race. Ending their 22/23 season in 3rd place with 47 points, the Gunners secured a spot in Champions League qualification and navigated their way through a remarkably successful transfer window. But their fresh campaign has delivered mixed results thus far, with a shaky opening performance and a shock exit from European football. While the North London side have time on their hands to deliver, they are firmly under the microscope. Let’s take a look at the reasons why.
Summer signings
After a mounting injury crisis wrecked havock for the Gunners last season, Eidevall ensured fresh talent in time for the opening weekend. First up was Swedish defender Amanda Ilestedt, making the move from PSG after a successful two-year spell that was enough to earn her team the French Cup. Cloe Lacasse followed soon after, the Canadian forward joining from Benfica and proving to be a solid choice for Arsenal after her strike against Manchester United saved them a point on Friday night. Add World Cup winner Laia Codina into the mix along with Matildas star Kyra Cooney-Cross, and it’s a fresh crop of prolific players. Most talked about, however, is Lioness Alessia Russo, who made her way from Manchester to London on a free transfer after the rejection of two world-record bids.
Of course, with new faces comes new responsibility. Summer signings must perform quickly and make their impact known, otherwise questions begin over their transfer fees and role within the squad. As a result of the World Cup, players have had even less time to settle into a new environment, which may be costing them on the pitch. Codina and Ilestedt looked wobbly among Arsenal’s defence on Friday, while Russo took additional time off prior to England’s Nations League fixtures to rest, sparking concerns as to the toll her transfer has taken. Integration takes time, but without a win yet registered in the new season, the Gunners need to come together quickly.
A shaky start
While a loss against PSG was not catastrophic in it’s doing, to come away from a meeting with Liverpool empty handed left the Gunners shaking their heads. Despite justifications of ‘a long way to go’, there was no doubt that that should have been Arsenal’s for the taking. Liverpool were yet to win away from home since October 2022, and the Emirates was pounding with the tunes of ‘North London Forever’. A greater budget, a pitch suited to their playing style, and a record overwhelmingly in their favour, most fans would have been hoping for a wipeout of the Reds.
But Liverpool frustrated the home side, with a strong defensive line that prevented any and all chances for the Gunners. Miri Taylor’s goal early in the second half was enough to seal the deal and shock the stands. As a result, Zinsberger was replaced by D’Angelo as Arsenal travelled to Manchester for match week two, but a costly error from the preferred candidate resulted in United’s equaliser and a worrying hour for the visitors. Arsenal’s defence lacked unity and composure, and if it hadn’t been for Cloe Lacasse, the North London team would face an even harsher spotlight. Overall, a wobbly two weeks has eyebrows raised, and Arsenal will face immense pressure to begin their upwards trajectory.
Injured / returning players
Three little letters have never been so feared by a football fanbase. Arsenal’s ACL crisis became a defining feature of their 2022/23 campaign as the team lost four key players within six months. Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, Leah Williamson and Laura Wienroither fell one by one, leaving Eidevall with major readjustments to make and a team facing the absence of two star strikers. Alongside the chaos, players such as Foord, Little, and Hurtig also spent time on the sidelines. All in all, a third placed finish was respectable considering the Gunners’ situation.
A new season means a new start, but ACL injuries take time to recover from, and the crisis is dragging over into the fresh campaign. Arsenal may take comfort from Beth Mead’s anticipated return, but her WSL comeback will need to be managed carefully to avoid complications. Miedema and Williamson look to be progressing well, but shouldn’t be expected on the pitch for the moment. As for Wienroither, the right-back is set to miss most of the season. All in all, the ACL-woes will spend two seasons at Arsenal, and the Gunners must navigate an attempted climb to the top without key players once again.
An absence in Europe
Arsenal made headlines before the WSL’s opening weekend after their shock exit from the Champions League during qualifiers. The defeat against PSG means that the North London team no longer have European football on their mind, narrowing their focus to the English League and a battle for the top spot. In the football world, an absence in Europe results in the expectation of better results domestically — but Arsenal are yet to prove this theory. Their loss against Liverpool as well as a mixed performance against Manchester United leaves little room for interpretation. Ultimately, they need to find the path back to the top.
Manchester United are disproving the theory on the other end — their spot in the Champions League is yet to distract them from a solid opening run of WSL games. A victory over Aston Villa, as well as a lead against the Gunners for most of the second half, serves as a reminder that teams are able to navigate both leagues effectively. The Reds seem to have silenced those who commented on their solemn summer, and demonstrate that even without Russo, they’re capable of delivering under pressure. For Arsenal however, they seem to keep coming up short.
Record breaking crowds
Meadow Park, home to Arsenal Women, consistently reaches full capacity and has become increasingly difficult to secure tickets for — just ask the fans. Able to host only 4,500 supporters, it is a fraction of what the Emirates Stadium can provide to the title-contenders. While the Gunners may not have taken three points from their home opener against Liverpool, they smashed the WSL attendance record after 54,115 fans headed to North London to watch the game. Clashes against Spurs and their Champions League meeting against Wolfsburg last season also drew in monumental support. As the club increases in popularity, Meadow Park looks soon to be permanently replaced.
But in order to attract the masses, performances must be exciting to watch. Arsenal have led the rise in WSL ticket sales, with a 332% increase from the 2021/22 season, but now they must entertain fans with top-quality results. Record support wasn’t enough to force a win against Liverpool, meaning the Gunners will need to dig deeper on their return to the Emirates if they are to thank their fans properly. Arsenal will stage four more matches at the Emirates this season, including Sunday’s showdown against Carla Ward’s Aston Villa — another test for the Gunners as they search for three points. With 30,000 tickets already sold, it’s set to be another great atmosphere, but this time the crowd will be hoping for something to cheer about.
