Arsenal's Kim Little following the Barclays Women's Super League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Sunday September 13, 2026. (Image: PA)
Arsenal's Kim Little following the Barclays Women's Super League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Sunday September 13, 2026. (Image: PA)
Arsenal were held to a goalless draw by newly promoted Crystal Palace in their first home game of the WSL season.
Two minutes into her home debut, Georgia Stanway was already into the thick of the action as she played a wonderful pass through to Alessia Russo, whose powerful effort stung the palms of Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.
Mariona was next to go close to breaking the deadlock, controlling the ball inside the box and almost seemed to try to lob Peyraud-Magnin, though unluckily for the Spaniard, it bounced out off the underside of the crossbar.
Throughout the opening stages, the hosts continued to put the pressure on, with Russo coming even closer when her shot from close range was cleared off the line.
Somehow Russo still had not got herself on the scoresheet. Baum switched to the left-hand side and picked out the Lionesses forward in acres of space with a pinpoint low cross, only for the Gunners number 23 to fire the ball wide.
Arsenal continued their positive intent into the second half as Baum had a powerful effort saved, then from the resulting corner, Fox pulled a ball across the Crystal Palace box, which Russo stretched for and ultimately could not get any real contact on.
Still, the hosts continued to push for the opening goal as Stanway highlighted her class once more with an incredible pass over the top for Mariona, which ultimately ended up on the wrong side of the post.
Despite the lack of goals, Baum continued to shine as she faked to shoot, sitting down former Arsenal defender Teyah Goldie and whacking the crossbar once more.
Arsenal had 13 goals from substitutes in the WSL last season, and Renee Slegers introduced two attackers from the bench to try and break that Palace resistance as both Olivia Smith and Stina Blackstenius were brought on with half an hour remaining.
Blackstenius immediately tested as Baum turned provider this time with a wonderful line-breaking pass through to the Swede, though Peyraud-Magnin was out quickly to close the angle. It was turning into quite a frustrating afternoon for the Gunners, considering they had done everything but put the ball into the back of the net.
Palace had their first shot on target, and just their second shot, as Abbie Larkin’s shot from the edge was comfortably claimed by Misa.
The pressure from the Eagles didn’t last long though, as Stanway was the next to test Peyraud-Magnin from range, forcing yet another save from the French international.
Smith’s free kick from the edge flying into the stands summed up the difficult afternoon for the Gunners: 29 shots, 74 touches in the opposition box and yet it remained goalless as the game ticked into added time, to which there would be two minutes.
Despite being roared on by the Emirates, Arsenal could not find the breakthrough and were held to a goalless draw by the newly promoted Eagles, which brought a roar from the away end.
Draws were something that cost Arsenal heavily in their quest to win the WSL last season, so to drop points in their opening home game of the new season will be bitterly disappointing for Slegers, especially considering all the chances that they did have.