Pre-Match Analysis: Paris FC vs Arsenal in the UEFA Women's Champions League
Kim Little leading The Arsenal huddle versus Chelsea (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal are set to play their first away game in the UEFA Women's Champions League against Paris FC at the Stade Jean-Boulin and look to get back on track after terrible form in their past four games.
The Gunners look to add another win to their Champions League campaign after their win against HB Køge in a dramatic 1-0 win at the Maganta Developments Stadium last Tuesday, thanks to a Mariona Caldentey penalty in the 93rd minute.
Since that game against HB Køge, Arsenal played the London derby against Chelsea, which saw the Gunners lose 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, and they have yet to win a league game since the opening day.
Renée Slegers will look to improve on their record in the 2026/27 season, with just two wins in all competitions, though Arsenal's concerns lie with the defensive errors and lack of scoring that are costing them games.
Last Time Against Paris FC
The last time the Gunners faced the Parisian side was in pre-season at the Maganta Developments Stadium, where Arsenal won 1-0 after a late goal from Olivia Smith.
Pre-Match Analysis: Paris FC v Arsenal in the Women's Champions League
Pre-Match Analysis: Paris FC v Arsenal in the Women's Champions League
Alessia Russo scoring against Paris FC in the Women’s Champions League Round One Qualification on September 9, 2023 (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Before that, the two sides met in the Champions League round one qualification stage back in 2023, the score ending 3-3, with Alessia Russo scoring her first two goals for the club before each team went to penalties.
Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League qualification on penalties against Paris FC, meaning they did not compete in the European competition that season, and the Gunners will look to rectify their head-to-head record against Paris FC in the Champions League with a win in France.
Paris FC sit fourth in the French league and had the weekend off, whereas Arsenal have dropped down to seventh in the Women's Super League after the defeat to Chelsea, and face a quick turnaround to fly to Paris ahead of the game on Wednesday.
It will be a battle of the means, with Arsenal's inability to score goals leaving them lower in the league compared to their opponents, something that the Gunners will look to improve on in both the English league and in the European competition.
Difficult schedule
Arsenal had a difficult schedule before the Champions League schedule came out, with their first two Champions League games sitting in between high stakes games.
Facing Manchester United before HB Køge should have had the Gunners riled up, but a 1-1 draw against the Mancunian side only saw Arsenal beating the Danish side 1-0. Following up from that, the loss to Chelsea over the weekend sees Arsenal heading away to face Paris FC before another vital game against Manchester City in the weekend after.
Anneke Borbe versus Chelsea (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Anneke Borbe versus Chelsea (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Slegers will have to focus on their large squad size and have the rotation available, with the possibility of bringing Selina Cerci in as Arsenal's number 9 over Russo and keeping Anneke Borbe in goal ahead of Misa Rodriguez.
Squad rotation allows for the difficult fixtures to field the best starting 11 possible for the team to earn the wins, but if the team is not performing, what changes?
Arsenal will have to be in top form against Paris FC and be ready to go again when they travel to Manchester to face Manchester City within their difficult fixtures at the start of the season.
Midfield Key
Kyra Cooney-Cross versus Chelsea (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Kyra Cooney-Cross versus Chelsea (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal's key in midfield the whole season has been young Australian Kyra Cooney-Cross. The young Australian had not featured for Arsenal since February 2025 and has slotted back into the Gunners with such ease and finesse.
Cooney-Cross is the key to Arsenal's midfield and unlocks better play for everyone around her. She has played in midfield alongside Arsenal legend Kim Little and Ballon d'Or nominee Mariona, and with new signing Georgia Stanway, and has been the quiet stand out amongst all of them.
The Australian has produced player of the match performances after her time away from football and has not put a foot wrong in any of the games she has played, which poses the question to Slegers: how do Arsenal build the midfield around Kyra Cooney-Cross?
Cooney-Cross should be the first name on the team sheet against Paris FC, the holding glue to the team's crumbling foundations, and how do you deny the player putting in stellar performances under the radar the minutes and stage to shine?