Arsenal Women travel to Chelsea on Sunday with three recurring problems Renée Slegers must address if the Gunners are to leave Stamford Bridge with a major WSL victory.
Arsenal remain unbeaten, but successive league draws against Crystal Palace and Manchester United have slowed their start.
Even Tuesday’s Champions League victory over HB Køge required a stoppage-time penalty.
Chelsea have been far more ruthless. Sonia Bompastor’s side followed their opening draw with Aston Villa by beating Manchester United 5-0 and Birmingham City 2-0.
Here are three issues Arsenal cannot afford to carry into Sunday.
1. Arsenal must turn possession into goals
This is the biggest one.
Our previous analysis of Arsenal Women’s attacking problem highlighted a side capable of controlling territory without consistently turning that dominance into goals.
The warning signs began against Crystal Palace.
Arsenal produced 30 attempts and 2.57 expected goals but failed to score in a 0-0 draw.
They then needed Smilla Holmberg’s stoppage-time equaliser against Manchester United.
Tuesday brought another late escape against HB Køge.
Chelsea are unlikely to allow Arsenal the same volume of possession or opportunities.
That makes efficiency even more important.
Slegers needs greater speed around the penalty area and more runners attacking spaces behind Chelsea’s defensive line rather than another game built around patient circulation.
2. Arsenal cannot give Chelsea cheap transitions
Arsenal’s draw with Manchester United also exposed another problem.
Julia Zigiotti scored after a defensive error, with Arsenal punished during a match they had largely controlled. Reuters reported that United’s goal came after Arsenal lost possession through a defensive mistake.
Our player ratings from the Manchester United draw reflected how damaging that moment became.
Chelsea possess considerably more quality to exploit those situations.
Lauren James, Sjoeke Nüsken and Keira Walsh all scored during Chelsea’s 5-0 victory at Manchester United, while the Blues have shown they can turn possession changes into attacks quickly.
Arsenal cannot dominate for 20 minutes and then undo that work with one loose pass.
3. Slegers must find the right attacking combination
Depth is not Arsenal’s problem.
The summer rebuild gave Slegers several new attacking combinations, with Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius, Mariona Caldentey, Chloe Kelly, Olivia Smith and Selina Cerci among her options.
Finding the correct blend is proving harder.
Cerci’s decisive involvement against HB Køge has strengthened her argument for more minutes, while Russo and Blackstenius offer very different solutions through the middle.
Against Chelsea, Arsenal need more than names on the team sheet.
They need balance.
One forward dropping towards the ball must be complemented by another threatening the space behind.
Wide players need to attack defenders rather than simply receive possession in front of them.
Chelsea will expose any repeat mistakes
Sunday’s fixture takes place at Stamford Bridge at 4.30pm, with Chelsea confirming Arsenal as their fourth WSL opponents of the season.
It is also Arsenal’s biggest domestic examination so far.
Slegers’ side have shown enough control to suggest the foundations are there.
What they have not yet shown is the ruthless edge required to turn control into consistent victories.
Against Chelsea, Arsenal may not get enough chances to waste them.
Chelsea vs Arsenal Women: TV channel and live stream
Chelsea vs Arsenal Women: TV channel and live stream
Selina Cerci gives Arsenal Women major Chelsea selection decision
Selina Cerci gives Arsenal Women major Chelsea selection decision