Have Arsenal’s early concerns turned into a full-blown crisis after Chelsea defeat?
Arsenal look on as Chelsea celebrate a crucial win over their London rivals (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Confidence and efficiency are two key areas in which Arsenal have faltered heavily over the first few weeks of the season.
Under the lights at Stamford Bridge, the Gunners came out looking for a spark, but left with their title dreams crumbling.
In the first half alone, Arsenal had nine shots to Chelsea’s eight, with the visitors managing eight of those during the opening 38 minutes while the Blues had three.
It was the 39th minute that highlighted the gap in efficiency between the two sides; Keira Walsh’s curling effort was pushed away by Anneke Borbe right into the path of Alyssa Thompson who smashed the ball into the roof of the Arsenal net for the decisive moment of the game.
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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Alyssa Thompson of Chelsea celebrates scoring her team’s first goal during the Barclays Women's Super League 2026/27 match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on September 27, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Alyssa Thompson of Chelsea celebrates scoring her team’s first goal during the Barclays Women's Super League 2026/27 match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on September 27, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
There’s also been a big disparity between both sides when it came to the clinical edge too; Chelsea have scored nine goals from 95 shots, which nevertheless is not great reading until you look at Arsenal’s numbers: 78 shots and two goals in four WSL games.
Defensive errors
Are Arsenal’s early concerns now a full blown crisis?
Are Arsenal’s early concerns now a full blown crisis?
Thompson celebrates what was to be the winning goal after a catastrophic set of errors at the back from Arsenal (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
The 0-0 draw to Crystal Palace at the time seemed a blip: 30 shots and eight saves from Pauline Peyraud-Magnin; sometimes in football those games happen.
However, the same has now happened against both Manchester United and Chelsea, with the only difference in those games being the catastrophic defensive errors that led to goals conceded.
At the Emirates last weekend, it was Georgia Stanway’s poor backpass to Steph Catley which was pounced on and finished expertly by Julia Zigiotti.
A week on in West London, it was the Australian’s poor pass which saw Arsenal lose the ball on the edge of their own box before Walsh’s shot was pushed right back into the danger zone for Thompson, who reacted much quicker than Ona Batlle, Leah Williamson and Emily Fox to score.
The combination of errors at the back and the inability to convert in front of goal means that it is becoming a full-blown crisis for Renée Slegers' side.
The WSL title race slipping away
Last season, Arsenal finished second, four points behind Manchester City; they are currently seven points off the champions at the top of the WSL after less than a month of the current season.
To potentially make things even more difficult, they head to the Etihad next weekend to face off against Andrée Jeglertz’s, but not before a trip to France to face Paris FC in their second league phase match of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Lack of trust in attack
Another area which Arsenal’s poor form has exposed is the lack of trust in certain attackers.
Lisa Baum was arguably Arsenal’s most dangerous player, having created three chances and caused many problems on the right-hand side for former Arsenal and current Chelsea left-back Katie McCabe; however, she was substituted after an hour for Caitlin Foord, not for the first time this season; in fact, it was the third league game in a row that it had happened. Foord herself would go on to notch up more defensive contributions (3) than shots (2) during her time on the pitch.
Olivia Smith’s sudden change of role is also a very confusing decision; last season the Canadian had a brilliant debut year at Arsenal with 11 goal contributions in 36 games, helping her to win the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year for a second consecutive year.
Despite this, her only start in all competitions came against United last weekend (September 19th), and Smith has only notched up 96 minutes across the four games.
She was an unused substitute at Stamford Bridge; maybe part of the reason is the fact that she appeared to have some strapping on her leg in the warm-up.
Selina Cerci joined the Gunners having scored 16 goals in the Frauen-Bundesliga for Hoffenheim last season, yet the German striker is another one struggling for minutes, which is extremely strange considering neither Alessia Russo nor Stina Blackstenius have scored this season themselves.
Cerci has played 47 minutes in three games (19 against United, 18 against HB Køge, and 9 against Chelsea), with the decision to bring her on so late against the Blues also very confusing considering her impact during midweek against Køge, where she won the penalty for Mariona to convert in added time.
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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Selina Cerci of Arsenal looks on during the Barclays Women's Super League 2026/27 match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on September 27, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Selina Cerci of Arsenal looks on during the Barclays Women's Super League 2026/27 match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on September 27, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
When asked about the player's confidence, Slegers admitted that she wasn’t too worried and described confidence as something which “fluctuates”.
Arsenal now desperately need to pull something out of the hat heading into these two games against Paris FC and Manchester City before the international break; failure to do so, and the pressure will only continue to ramp up.
LONDON COLNEY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Emily Fox signs a new contract with Arsenal alongside Arsenal Women Head Coach Renee Slegers and Head of Women's Football Clare Wheatley at Sobha Realty Training Centre on September 24, 2026 in London Colney, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
LONDON COLNEY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Emily Fox signs a new contract with Arsenal alongside Arsenal Women Head Coach Renee Slegers and Head of Women's Football Clare Wheatley at Sobha Realty Training Centre on September 24, 2026 in London Colney, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Cornelia Kapocs of Liverpool is challenged by Ruby Mace of Everton during the Barclays Women's Super League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Everton at Anfield
Cornelia Kapocs of Liverpool is challenged by Ruby Mace of Everton during the Barclays Women's Super League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Everton at Anfield