With seven goals in as many WSL games, Arsenal's familiar slow start could cost them again this season.

It’s the same sad story that has plagued Arsenal fans for three seasons running: the Gunners’ title hopes seem to be drifting away and the season has only just begun.

Arsenal currently sit sixth in the WSL with nine points, behind Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

They have scored just seven goals in seven league games so far, a far cry from the attacking output of Chelsea and Manchester City, who lead the way with 21 and 20 goals respectively.

This slow start has become an all-too-familiar pattern for Arsenal, one that has repeatedly derailed their title ambitions.

Under Jonas Eidevall in 2024/25, they dropped seven points in their first five matches, including a draw with Everton and a home defeat to Chelsea. They finished second behind Chelsea, who remained unbeaten.

Last season they again collected just eight points from five matches, despite winning their first two games. Two draws and a defeat to Manchester City followed, who ended first place ahead of them.

This season the warning signs are already there. They have already lost points to rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, who are both unbeaten so far in the competition, and London City could disrupt things further in the top four.

What’s actually going on with Arsenal, and why does the same pattern keep repeating itself?

How Arsenal Women struggle to break down low blocks

Arsenal struggled to break down low blocks under Jonas Eidevall, and this problem remains in some areas of the pitch with the team under Renee Slegers.

They often use a predictable attacking shape, starting in a 4-3-3 that often becomes a 2-3-5 or 3-2-5 in possession as they look to overload the opposition defence. This creates the challenge of defending the counter-attack if they lose possession.

Once set in their attacking shape, you can often predict where the Arsenal players will be and which zones they will occupy. They often fail to use the quick short passing in tight central areas that is needed against a low block, and if they get down the wings, the final ball is often lacking.

The structure with inverted full-backs and wingers does not necessarily need to change, but the team could play more directly at times to create more unpredictability.

Why Arsenal Women are creating chances but scoring too few goals

Arsenal often dominate possession and territory on the field, but they are failing to convert chances and are taking too many low-value shots which are blocked by opponents.

Arsenal are spending 54% of their playing time level - the highest proportion in the division - which is familiar for a team that accumulated eight draws last season.

They have a considerable 135 shots so far this season (FBref), which is comparable to Chelsea’s 158 and Manchester City’s 131, but their goals do not match up.

In their 4-2 defeat to Manchester City on 4th October, Arsenal had 16 shots to City's nine and had more xG (1.61) than City (who had 1.01), according to Opta's match analysis. Yet City scored four times and Arsenal only scored twice.

The problem appears to be with the quality of Arsenal’s chances and their inability to finish them.

Alessia Russo, Arsenal’s number 9, has registered 3.1 shots per WSL game in 2026/27, her lowest rate across her previous six top-flight campaigns according to Opta Analyst.

She is not getting into scoring positions as frequently, and this is because Slegers is playing her deeper in the field while playing Stina Blackstenius as a central striker.

Lisa Baum, who leads for shots on target (6), and carries ending in a chance created this season for Arsenal in the WSL, has regularly been substituted.

Right back Smilla Holmberg and new signing Selina Cerci are yet to start a WSL match, despite having an impact in games where they have come off the bench, and Chloe Kelly and Frida Maanum have barely featured.

Arsenal’s struggles in front of goal appear to be a combination of predictable attacking patterns and a lack of quality opportunities in front of goal. Russo, who scored 13 WSL goals last season, has fewer chances to shoot and despite many attacking options Arsenal have yet to land on a combination that works.

With Chelsea and Manchester City already pulling ahead, Arsenal’s slow start could cost them later in the season.