Arsenal Women have been handed an early warning that their dominance will count for little unless they become more clinical in front of goal.
Renée Slegers’ side were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by newly-promoted Crystal Palace at the Emirates despite producing 30 shots, nine efforts on target and 2.57 expected goals.
The numbers make the failure to score even more striking.
According to Opta Analyst’s statistical breakdown of Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace, Arsenal have now underperformed their expected-goals total by 2.9 across their opening two WSL matches, the largest negative differential in the division.
For a team built to challenge for the title, that cannot become a habit.
Honours even in N5.
Watch the highlights from today's clash 👇 pic.twitter.com/xW1XY5ZY6D
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) September 13, 2026
Arsenal dominance rendered meaningless
There was little wrong with Arsenal’s control of the match.
They finished with 79.3 per cent possession, their highest figure in a WSL game for three years, while their 97 per cent field tilt was the highest recorded by any WSL side since the start of 2023/24.
Arsenal also registered 70 touches inside the Palace penalty area.
Yet none produced the decisive moment.
Palace goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin made eight saves, while the visitors blocked nine Arsenal attempts and repeatedly crowded the central areas Slegers’ side wanted to attack.
ReadArsenal’s match report from the Crystal Palace draw reflected the same frustration: almost complete territorial control without the final action required to turn it into three points.
The issue was particularly visible through Alessia Russo.
The Arsenal striker attempted seven shots, more than any other player, with three testing Peyraud-Magnin. Opta notes it was only the third WSL appearance of Russo’s career in which she has taken seven shots without scoring.
This was not a lack of chance creation.
It was a lack of conversion.
Slegers has an early finishing problem to solve
That distinction matters.
A team struggling to enter dangerous areas has a structural problem. Arsenal are doing the opposite.
Their possession, field position and volume of chances suggest the attacking framework is working.
The concern is what happens once the ball reaches the penalty area.
Arsenal scored only once in their opening 1-0 victory over Brighton, despite having opportunities to make that game considerably more comfortable.
They then failed to convert any of 30 attempts against Palace.
ReadArsenal’s player ratings from the Palace stalemate highlighted Lisa Baum as Arsenal’s brightest attacking threat, but there was ultimately no end product from the collective.
Slegers was suitably critical afterwards, admitting the result was not the step Arsenal wanted to take towards their ambitions this season.
ReadArsenal covered her reaction to the Crystal Palace draw.
The encouraging part is that two matches remain a tiny sample.
The dangerous part is what comes next.
Arsenal face brutal WSL title test
There is almost no room for Arsenal to carry this wastefulness into their next three league games.
Manchester United visit the Emirates on 19 September before Arsenal travel to Chelsea on 27 September and Manchester City on 4 October.
Champions League fixtures against HB Køge and Paris FC are also sandwiched into that period. Opta describes the run as particularly significant after the unexpected points dropped against Palace.
The United fixture alone represents a considerable step up from Palace, with Arsenal’s official stadium schedule confirming the 17:30 kick-off at the Emirates on Saturday.
Chelsea and City then follow.
Those are precisely the matches in which Arsenal may receive fewer chances.
Slegers cannot expect 30 attempts every week.
That is why Sunday’s stalemate matters beyond simply dropping two points against newly-promoted opposition.
Arsenal have shown they can dominate games.
Now they have to show they can finish them.
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Arsenal Women
Arsenal Women player ratings vs Crystal Palace: Baum 8, Russo 6
Arsenal Women player ratings vs Crystal Palace: Baum 8, Russo 6