Arsenal left the Emirates Stadium frustrated after Crystal Palace's defensive masterclass held them to a goalless draw in the Women’s Super League.
Four things we learnt as Arsenal were held goalless by Crystal Palace in the Women's Super League
Renée Slegers in the post match huddle versus Crystal Palace (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal dropped points against Crystal Palace in their first home game at the Emirates Stadium in the Women’s Super League and remained frustratingly outside the top three in the standings.
There was an abundance of chances for the Gunners to take the lead in the first half. Alessia Russo had the first chance of the game, which was saved by Pauline Peyraud-Magnin and then cleared off the line by Teyah Goldie.
Mariona Caldentey’s shot hit the crossbar, a recurring obstacle that stopped the Gunners scoring, as it was not the only time it was hit, before Russo’s next shot was cleared off the line by Molly Bartrip.
Leah Williamson’s chance in the first half made the stadium hold its breath but ultimately went over the bar.
The second half brought more excitement for the Gunners, with Lisa Baum shooting at the near post and being denied by Peyraud-Magnin once again, before the German’s next shot bounced off the crossbar and denied Arsenal the opportunity to take the lead once more.
Arsenal by no means sat back in a defensive structure and kept the attack on Crystal Palace’s defence going for ninety minutes, but struggled to find a way through Jo Potter’s defensive masterclass. So what can we learn from this?
Trouble in front of the net
Arsenal are a force to be reckoned with because once they start scoring, they do not stop. Under Renée Slegers, Arsenal found their shooting boots with Russo and Stina Blackstenius as rotating strikers, but trouble stuck to them in a game where nobody could find the net.
Whether the Gunners were sending shots over the bar like Williamson, or hitting the crossbar like Mariona and Baum, Arsenal lacked the finishing touches in the final third, especially when Russo missed a goal she would usually score.
Leah Williamson versus Crystal Palace (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Leah Williamson versus Crystal Palace (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
It was not for a lack of trying, through various different means, that the North London side did not score versus Crystal Palace. Set pieces from corners and free-kicks, despite Arsenal lacking height in front of the net, shots from outside the box – Arsenal tried it all. They just did not have a good day in front of the net.
Although it is early in the season, Arsenal’s lack of goals could catch up with them the further in they get and cause problems, while teams like Chelsea and Manchester City have no problem scoring in front of goal.
Who are the game changers?
Arsenal are not short of talent by any means, especially looking at who they brought in over the summer to strengthen their squad, and they have the desire to compete for the Women’s Super League title – a trophy which has evaded the Gunners since 2019.
In the game against Crystal Palace, Arsenal started with Russo, Baum and Chloe Kelly as the front three and had the likes of Olivia Smith, Caitlin Foord and Blackstenius on the bench, ready to come on.
Blackstenius is Arsenal’s ‘super-sub’: more often than not, the Swedish striker will come off the bench and score a crucial goal for the Gunners.
Most notable from Blackstenius in her time at Arsenal would be the goal against Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League which helped the North London side claim the European title for the first time in 18 years. But Blackstenius can only get the goals if Arsenal play to her strengths.
Stina Blackstenius versus Crystal Palace (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Stina Blackstenius versus Crystal Palace (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Foord, who recently signed a new contract with Arsenal, has struggled in many ways playing down the wing for the North London side. The Australian winger's last goal for Arsenal came against Tottenham Hotspur in March 2026, one of two league goals Foord scored that season.
Having these players on the bench does not scream ‘game changer’ for Arsenal, with Slegers having to look hard at her squad to figure out who she wants to bring on in games like the goalless draw against the Eagles to get that win.
Squad sizes
Four things we learnt as Arsenal held goalless by Crystal Palace
Four things we learnt as Arsenal held goalless by Crystal Palace
Michelle Agyemang, Katie Reid, Selina Cerci and Géraldine Reuteler at the Emirates Stadium (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal's squad size exceeds the limit allowed on match days in the Women's Super League, meaning players get left out of the squad. During the Crystal Palace game, three players were left out: Taylor Hinds, Géraldine Reuteler and Selina Cerci.
It was the second consecutive game that Reuteler and Cerci missed, having both missed out on the game versus Brighton and Hove Albion too.
While squad sizes may not be the key to unlocking Arsenal's scoring issues, it could be a start if players who were not in the squad were given a chance.
The Crystal Palace game was an ideal game for new signing Cerci to make her competitive debut for Arsenal, as the Gunners were looking for a poacher in front of net and someone who would work tirelessly to get the goal.
Before signing for Arsenal over the summer, the German striker played for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the Frauen Bundesliga in Germany, where she had 16 goals and 9 assists in the campaign – something that saw Cerci finish second in both the goals and assists charts that season.
One must ask why Cerci is being left out of the matchday squads when it is known she is unstoppable in front of the net, while a player who provides much less than she does keeps making the matchday squad.
What more does Cerci have to do to prove that she is capable of being in the Arsenal squad ahead of some of the 'veterans' who are content with the way they play?
Too many touches
A downfall of Arsenal's attack usually stems from the fact that they take too many touches around the box instead of just hitting it first time. When Arsenal play free-flowing football, with easy one-touch passes, they tend to score more goals than when they struggle around the box and play their version of 'pass the parcel'.
Stina Blackstenius shooting versus Crystal Palace (Photo by Harvey Murphy/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Stina Blackstenius shooting versus Crystal Palace (Photo by Harvey Murphy/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Arsenal need to get into training and work on their shooting. No extra touches or passes when the shot is available, because all it does is deny the Gunners a chance to take the lead and run them further into traffic against a team set up in a low block.
The Gunners will need to work on their shooting with the extensive fixture list coming up and put a stop to the extra touches which, by the end of the game, cost them.