Renee Slegers’ Arsenal are a team weighed down by a debilitating lack of urgency

Arsenal Women’s head coach Renee Slegers took immediate action upon arriving at her first match as the team's leader. Concern was evident, as witnessed when she approached the fourth official and when goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez faced off against the referee. The final whistle had long passed, yet they were left questioning when the missing seconds would be added following Smilla Holmberg's last-minute equaliser against Manchester United.

The minutes wasted on United's goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce were equally troubling as Arsenal endeavored to stave off further defeats in their opening three league matches of the season. These lost opportunities weighed heavily on Slegers' mind as she assessed her team's 1-1 draw with United, marking their second stalemate in as many games following a goalless draw with Crystal Palace last weekend.

To suggest Holmberg's late equaliser offered a glimmer of hope would be an understatement. Arsenal had been on track to shatter the club-record 20-match unbeaten run in the Women's Super League, claiming their seventh successive WSL match against United. It was until Leah Williamson stepped in at the back post in the dying moments of the game, capitalizing on the 17 shots Arsenal finally managed to find the net with 60 seconds of stoppage time remaining.

The crowd's displeasure was palpable as the full-time whistle sounded, with boos mixed in with sighs, head shakes, and disheartened murmurs of inevitability. The human perception of time proved an apt scapegoat for many a missed opportunity. Yet, the familiar feeling of squandering chances lingered. Before Saturday's match, United's head coach Eva Olid had vowed to maintain an attacking approach, a directive she had received upon taking charge last month.

Nevertheless, the blueprint for depriving Arsenal of crucial points has become so entrenched that even the most staunch supporters may find it tempting to pursue. This sentiment rings true for the likes of Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa, and Tottenham Hotspur. The persistent question remains: does Arsenal truly play a 4-4-2 or mid-to-low block defense when defending against Arsenal?

The recent draw with United has far-reaching implications. Despite only three matches played thus far, the Women's Super League title race is a marathon, not a sprint. While reigning champions Manchester City have managed to avoid conceding points this season and Chelsea secured a comfortable win over United, the WSL's competitive nature ensures that neither Chelsea nor City are likely to fall below the top of the table.

Nevertheless, this compulsion to draw, driven by shared spoils and Arsenal's sporadic but ultimately tardy urgency, has morphed into a silent stumbling block. Last season, Arsenal secured just one league defeat, their fewest since the 2021-22 campaign. However, they drew on six occasions, resulting in 12 points dropped, a club-record high.

Chelsea, in comparison, only drew four times. In fact, Arsenal's six draws during the season were the second-highest tally in the league behind United. Consistency in the final third has been a persistent issue under Slegers' guidance, particularly when facing mid-to-low blocks. Last season, Arsenal surpassed their expected goals (xG) by +4.6, a league-high figure.

However, following Saturday's draw, Arsenal's tally of just two goals from 60 shots this season has left them trailing behind their xG by -3.9, the most pronounced discrepancy in the league. In their goalless draw with Palace, Arsenal registered 70 touches in the final third, the highest tally among teams that failed to score in a WSL game since April 2018.

Against United, Arsenal's efforts were less fruitful, with only 59 touches in the final third and 17 shots in total. United, on the other hand, managed just three touches in Arsenal's final third, mirroring their total shots on target. Assigning sole responsibility to Slegers for her team's poor conversion rates and decision-making in the final third would be an oversimplification.

While it is undeniable that chances will eventually find their way into the net, questions can be raised about the allocation of roles among Arsenal's players. For instance, Alessia Russo, who topped Arsenal's goal tally last season with 13 goals and serves as the team's designated No 9, is currently relegated to a No 10 position.

Could her role as a No 10 be compromising her ability to effectively contribute goals? Furthermore, the team's reliance on players such as Ona Batlle, positioned on the left as a right-back, and the overall sluggishness of Arsenal's final-third entries when confronted with a mid-block pose further queries. The ponderous nature of Arsenal's forward progression in the face of a robust mid-to-low block defense is a matter of concern.

Since the start of last season, Arsenal's pressing intensity has shown a downward trend. With a congested fixture schedule looming, questions regarding Arsenal's ability to convert their opportunities and maintain consistency in crucial moments will continue to weigh heavily on their journey in the Women's Super League.