Arsenal Women Held 1-1 by Birmingham as WSL Winless Run Reaches Five Games

Arsenal Women drew 1-1 with Birmingham City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, October 17. It was their fifth Women's Super League game without a win. The result adds to the pressure on manager Renée Slegers. The home fans booed the team off at full-time.

Birmingham went ahead in the 53rd minute. Arsenal lost the ball too easily, and Neve Herron played Océane Hurtré through on a fast break. The France international lifted the ball over goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez. Olivia Smith then equalised with a stunning strike in the second half. Earlier, Alessia Russo had hit the crossbar late in the first half.

Slegers made four changes after the 4-2 defeat at Manchester City on October 4. Rodríguez, Smilla Holmberg, Stina Blackstenius and Smith all came into the starting line-up. It was not enough. Arsenal's only league win this season is the opening-day victory over Brighton. They had won just one of their first five games before the international break. They are now eighth in the table, having played one game more than their rivals.

Goals have been the problem. Before this match, Arsenal had scored only four league goals. Only bottom club Charlton Athletic had scored fewer. They also threw away a 2-0 lead in a Champions League draw with Paris FC recently.

Slegers said the start of the game was good and it was nice to be back at the Emirates with the fans. She said Arsenal did not create enough in the first half. She said Hurtré was the one Birmingham player they needed to stop, and she came through on a counter. She said Arsenal did not defend that well enough. She said the team have been in this kind of situation too many times this season, chasing a goal with a lot of pressure on them.

Slegers led Arsenal to the Women's Champions League title in 2025. Her team have not been able to challenge for the league title in the two seasons since. Arsenal could be as many as 12 points behind leaders Manchester City if City beat Brighton on Sunday. City have a 100% record in the league so far.