Boos for Arsenal as draw with Birmingham extends winless WSL run

An equaliser from Olivia Smith averted defeat for Arsenal, but a home draw with Birmingham did little to calm fears for Renée Slegers’s future as Gunners coach. Boos accompanied the final whistle at the Emirates Stadium, as the result left Arsenal on six points from six matches and without a win in five Women’s Super League matches, the club’s longest winless run in WSL history. They are eighth in the table, nine points behind the leaders, Manchester City, who have played one game fewer.

Birmingham opened the scoring at the start of the second half when Océane Hurtré coolly tapped in after her run from the halfway line went unchecked. Alessia Russo had hit the woodwork in the first half with a diving header, among a slew of Arsenal chances as Sophie Baggaley was kept the busier of the goalkeepers.

“I don’t think we created enough in the first half,” said Slegers. “Second half is different. There was one player we needed to stop and that was Hurtré. But she came through in a fast break and a counter, we don’t defend that well enough.”

After Smith’s spectacular strike, in the 66th minute, curled from outside the area, Arsenal would not find the winning goal that might ease pressure on Slegers. Baggaley’s goalkeeping and slack finishing meant Birmingham secured their point. “We are in a scenario we’ve had too many times season,” said Slegers.

Next week for Arsenal is a north London derby with Tottenham, who kick off at Chelsea in fourth on Sunday. Slegers said: “The next game is always the next opportunity. [It’s good] we always keep going and we rise after setbacks.

“We just need to put ourselves in better positions earlier so that’s not necessary every time because it takes energy from the team having to play those scenarios. But yes, the team has been brilliant. The urgency, the willingness, the desire in the second half was really good.”

Despite those boos at the final whistle, Smith said of the home fans: “They always bring out great support, [we’re] so happy to have them here. Again, disappointed not to get the result, must be frustrating for them, but they stay with us and support us.”