Arsenal’s midseason WSL report card after frustrating first-half to the campaign | OneFootball

Olivia Smith has impressed for Arsenal during the first-half of the season

The Women’s Super League is now in its winter break and at the halfway stage of the season, SheKicks is compiling midseason report cards for each of the 12 WSL teams, starting with Champions League holders Arsenal.

How have Arsenal started the WSL season?

Arsenal hoped this would be the season they ended Chelsea’s stranglehold of the Women’s Super League, after winning the Champions League last season.

The Gunners are just two points behind Chelsea, but it is Manchester City who holds a comfortable lead at the top of the standings.

It has been an average start to the season for Renee Slegers’ side, who have failed to beat any of their expected rivals and are eight points off the top.

Arsenal dropped points in three consecutive games with draws to Manchester United and Aston Villa, followed by a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Manchester City.

The Gunners were perhaps unfortunate not to beat Chelsea in a 1-1 draw, but were then underwhelming in a goalless draw against Tottenham.

Off the pitch, Arsenal were hit by reports of dressing room tension. A report by The Athletic claimed Arsenal’s dressing room has been “splintered for many years”.

Outside of the WSL, the Gunners have reached the semi-finals of the Women’s League Cup, and will play OH Leuven in the Champions League playoffs.

Arsenal have had some bright moments but are eight points behind Manchester City in the title race

WSL results

Arsenal hurt by injuries

The Gunners have not been helped by injuries to some important players.

Defender Katie Reid is out for the season with an ACL injury. This came shortly after Manuela Zinsberger was also ruled out for the season with the same injury.

Arsenal are reportedly on the hunt for a goalkeeper in January after Daphne van Domselaar also recently suffered an injury, albeit not as serious as the one sustained by Zinsberger.

The Gunners played the majority of the first-half of the campaign without inspirational centre-back Leah Williamson.

Williamson made her first start since the Euro 2025 final in their League Cup triumph over Crystal Palace at the weekend.

How are Arsenal’s summer signings performing?

Olivia Smith has shown glimpses of why Arsenal made her the first £1m player in women’s football history.

She has scored three goals and provided one assist in 10 WSL appearances. She made an immediate impact with her stunning debut strike against the London City Lionesses, which took September’s Goal of the Month award.

Chloe Kelly will perhaps be disappointed she has only started one WSL game for the Gunners since completing her permanent move from Manchester City in the summer.

She scored in the 3-2 defeat against her former side City, as well as in the season opener against London City.

Taylor Hinds already has 15 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions, but just two starts in the WSL. She has performed well, though and earned her first England cap against Australia in October.

Anneke Borbe has recently been called into action after injuries to Van Domselaar and Zinsberger. She conceded in both her WSL appearances against Liverpool and Everton, but did a solid job as the Gunners still walked away with victories.

Performance of Arsenal manager

Slegers will be disappointed that her side has not kicked on in the WSL this season, with an eight-point gap to the top of the table.

Questions have been thrown her way this season over her squad selection in certain games and not rotating players more, with Jenna Nighswonger a notable name who has struggled for minutes.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright also believes that Slegers needs to “freshen up” the Arsenal squad following their Champions League triumph.

Slegers handled criticism about reported dressing room problems well, and despite a mixed start to the campaign, there will be some concerns that she has not yet signed a contract post this season.

Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers is out of contract next summer

Arsenal WSL mid-season report grade: C+

There were murmurs of an Arsenal title challenge before the season, which as yet does not look like it will come to fruition.

Their failure to beat rivals Chelsea, Tottenham and both Manchester clubs makes it hard to give Arsenal anything higher than a C+ for their WSL midseason report grade.

They were perhaps unlucky against Chelsea, but were underwhelming in front of goal against Manchester United, Aston Villa and Tottenham.

Arsenal will need a near-perfect second-half to the season, as well as a drop-off from Manchester City, if they are to pose any threat for the WSL title.

The return of Williamson is a huge boost, while it will be interesting to see if Arsenal make any signings, with the likes of Swedish full-back Smilla Holmberg and a new goalkeeper linked with the Gunners.

Arsenal do look short in midfield, and this is perhaps the area they need to strengthen most if they are to challenge for major honours this season.