Hello, Arsenal Women aficionados!
Wins against Everton and Liverpool ensured that Arsenal Women finish runners-up in the WSL, which guarantees UWCL group phase football for next season. That was the target, once the team surrendered to Olympique Lyonnes in the UWCL semifinals and could not get past Brighton in the WLS, handing the title to Manchester City.
Mission accomplished for Renée Slegers, her staff and her players, who finished the season on a high and registered better numbers, compared to last season: Arsenal Women finished the season with more points (51 versus 48), less goals conceded (14 versus 26), less defeats (1 versus 4) and a better goal difference (+39 versus +36), yet it was not enough to pip Manchester City to the title.
The only indicator going the opposite way is the number of goals scored, with the team scoring 53 goals only, compared to 62 the previous campaign, and that’s perhaps an area of interest for next season.
With both Beth Mead and Caitlin Foord underperforming in front of goal compared to the previous campaign, the Arsenal Women team suffered a sever lack of spark and improvisation, something that the coach will surely look into as she prepares the team to challenge for the WSL and UWCL.
This was very apparent in the final home game of the season, against Everton, when the Gunners had to wait until the 92nd minutes before finding the winning goal. As usual, a mix of bad luck and lack of composure almost costed them, but this time their perseverance was rewarded when Stina Blackstenius found the back of the next with a well-taken shot with her left foot. Goals were easier to come against Liverpool, and Alessia Russo made sure she finished the season with 25 goal contributions in 22 games, a new record for the England forward.
CAPTAIN ALESSIA
There is one thing that might have gone unnoticed, as the Arsenal Women team sealed the second place and prepared to bid farewell to several players. That little thing was Alessia Russo being given the armband in the penultimate game of the season and the last outing at the Emirates Stadium: the England forward led the team out despite both Lotte Wubben-Moy and Katie McCabe being in the starting XI. Renée Slegers later explained that she spoke to Lotte Wubben-Moy and Alessia Russo about the choice of the captain for that specific game (she didn’t mention the Ireland international, though, which says a lot…) and the choice can be seen as a reward for the performances and overall growth of Alessia Russo. More interestingly, though, it signals a new status for the former Manchester United forward, after she made it into the leadership group earlier this season, who seems ready to become a leader within the dressing room.
As much as like a leadership group built around Kim Little, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Alessia Russo and Steph Catley, I cannot say I am entirely confident having a group made of very similar characters, especially as many of the more vocal and energetic personalities (Beth Mead, Katie McCabe, Manuela Zinsberger, Victoria Pelova…) will be leaving this summer.
Thankfully other players will take a leap and make themselves a place in the changing room, bring their own energy, perhaps a different kind of energy, because sometimes you need more than a role model or the “quiet and reliable” type of leader.
Of course, experienced players expected to join such as Battle, Reuteler and Stanway will help setting high standards in the changing room, but I would like to see younger players take on more responsibilities, especially the likes of Olivia Smith or Kyra Cooney-Cross, who could really grow into their roles on and off the pitch.
The Canadian showed great promise in her debut season and has shown the type of boldness and self-confidence that could be beneficial for her teammates, while the Australian – who endured some difficult times, on a personal level – looks ready to blossom into the deep playmaker role she is wonderfully built for.
A TACTICAL SHIFT ON THE HORIZON?
Alessia Russo and Stina Blackstenius finished the season with 13 and 10 league goals, respectively, so perhaps Renée Slegers could work on a system that accommodates both and makes the best of their strengths. She did that already, at times, but it was mostly Alessia Russo team, through the season, with the Sweden international limited to a supporting role.
With so many changes expected this summer and the club targeting box-to-box midfielders such as Geraldine Reuteler and Georgia Stanway, perhaps the coach is leaning towards a system with two strikers and no attacking midfielders. Over the campaign that just ended, we’ve seen Alessia Russo pairing up with Stina Blackstenius upfront, and the England forward was a false nine more than a ten, while other combinations saw Frida Maanum play in midfield with one striker at the top. We rarely saw Frida Maanum, Alessia Russo and Stina Blackstenius simultaneously on the pitch, and when we did Alessia Russo was deployed as a winger.
What if Renée Slegers was thinking about a midfield diamond?
With so much talent in midfield, this system could be perfect to accommodate Mariona Caldentey, Georgia Stanway and Geraldine Reuteler in the same lineup, with Kim Little or Kyra Cooney-Cross sitting at the base of midfield. High-intensity runners such as Emily Fox, Smilla Holmberg and Ona Battle could cover the flanks and provide the width, and most importantly we would have two wonderful strikers upfront, keeping defenders busy with the relentless movement and combinations.
Let’s not forget that Michelle Agyemang, currently sidelined with an injury, will soon be banging at the door for a place in the team, and playing a two-forwards system would multiply the opportunities to integrate her.
For sure, Chloe Kelly might find it hard to fit into the system, and to some extent Olivia Smith too, but the Canadian could shine upfront, both through her runs in behind or via her mazy runs from between the lines, while the England international has the experience and touch to thrive in a more central role, between two strikers.
In a season that saw Caitlin Foord and Beth Mead struggle in front of goal, perhaps it is time to consider other tactical options, and spring a few surprises while they are at it. Chelsea are in decline (although signing Shaw might change that) and Manchester City might struggle to replicate their performances with the UWCL to contend with, so there is a window for the Gunners to leave their mark.
NEXT UP
That’s all, folks. Season 2025/26 is officially over, so no more Arsenal Women Journal on the horizon, at least not in its original format.
With the club expected to announce the high-profile signings of Georgia Stanway, Geraldine Reuteler and Ona Battle, there will be plenty to write about in the coming weeks, and who know what else the future will bring.
Have a lovely summer, enjoy some well-deserved rest and let’s all get ready and pumped up for another season, and another rollercoaster road with our below Arsenal Women team.
Speak to you soon!
Italian living in Switzerland, Gooner since mid-nineties, when the Gunners defeated my hometown team, in Copenhagen. I started my own blog and podcast (www.clockenditalia.com) after after some experiences with Italian websites and football magazines. Covering Arsenal Women with the occasional rant about the boys.
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