Introduction

If the Spurs game felt chaotic, the West Ham match was the opposite: controlled, disciplined, and ultimately rewarded with a clean sheet and a win.

Pre-season scores don’t matter as much as the patterns we see, but back-to-back fixtures like these always feel worth comparing. Spurs exposed Arsenal’s flaws; West Ham highlighted progress.

A 2–0 win, built on defensive stability and midfield balance, gave us a far more encouraging glimpse of what Renee Slegers’ Arsenal might look like when things click.

With no more public friendlies before the WSL opener at the Emirates, this match was the final opportunity to see Arsenal rotate, experiment, and test combinations before competitive football begins.

Some post-match reaction for @GoonerFanzine from Meadow Park earlier after Arsenal beat West Ham 2-0 in a preseason friendly???? pic.twitter.com/8Z0BpfyaQA

— Izzy Gilligan (@isobelgilligan) August 27, 2025

The Defence: From Mistakes to Clean Sheets

The contrast with Spurs couldn’t have been starker. Against them, every goal conceded came from an Arsenal mistake — the kind of thing you hope won’t happen as often in a competitive match, but also the kind that can cost you dearly if it does. Against West Ham, by comparison, the defence looked far calmer and far more assured.

Daphne van Domselaar’s return made the difference. She radiates calm, and you could see how that steadied the back line around her. That said, Arsenal still showed some vulnerability from set pieces, something that will need addressing quickly before stronger sides find a way to exploit it.

Beyond that, the competition at full-back continues to grow. Taylor Hinds was lively when replacing Katie McCabe, and Jenna Nighswonger impressed again, playing with freedom rather than being tied to the stereotype of a purely defensive full-back. Those battles for places will keep standards high.

The Midfield: Maanum’s Reminder

It was a strong showing from Frida Maanum, who added two goals to underline her influence. Beyond the goals, her work rate and presence in midfield were a reminder of why I’ve been saying she doesn’t always get the credit she deserves.

That said, the competition is very real. Victoria Pelova is making a strong case in the 10 role, particularly as there may not be space for her to play her preferred 8.

Against West Ham the midfield had much more balance: Kyra Cooney-Cross looked more comfortable in the 6 with Kim Little beside her, Pelova further forward, and Maanum adding that extra energy and spark.

The difference was clear — more interceptions, better protection in transition, and far less exposure on the counter than we saw against Spurs.

The midfield question isn’t settled yet, but this at least felt like a structure rather than three players trying to do the same job.

The Attack: Options, Rotation, and Roles

The forwards didn’t get on the scoresheet, but I’m not concerned. We created plenty across both matches, and those chances will start to go in once the sharpness returns. More importantly, there’s clear flexibility up front.

Alessia Russo and Olivia Smith both led the line at different points, but we’ll also see Smith play wide, feeding Russo and creating for herself. Chloe Kelly is already looking dangerous, putting in a stream of promising crosses, while Beth Mead and Caitlin Foord remain reliable outlets (should Mead stay). The key takeaway isn’t a lack of goals in pre-season — it’s the number of options Slegers now has, and the ability to rotate without losing the “Arsenal way.”

Maanum reflected afterwards on how rotation doesn’t change the team’s identity, and against West Ham you could see exactly what she meant. That depth may be one of the biggest differences between this season and last.

Final Thoughts

Two matches, two very different stories. Against Spurs, Arsenal looked vulnerable: mistakes, gaps in midfield, defensive fragility. Against West Ham, they looked composed, balanced, and decisive.

Pre-season is for rotation, experiments, and lessons. Renée Slegers has done exactly that, and now comes the time to settle on the strongest version of this side. The mistakes against Spurs can’t carry into competitive fixtures, but the control we saw against West Ham absolutely can.

Next up is the Emirates on September 6th and the start of the WSL against London City Lionesses. Pre-season has given us plenty to think about — now it’s about seeing how it all comes together when the results really start to matter.

I’ll be sharing a piece ahead of the LCL game with my thoughts, goals, and ambitions for this Arsenal side in 25/26, and what I think needs to happen for them to succeed.

Joined by @isobelgilligan and @daisygh02 for this week's @GoonerFanzine Arsenal Women Podcast to look back on pre-season and preview the upcoming WSL campaign ??https://t.co/ARP0MUfUZA

— Freddie Cardy (@CardyFreddie) August 28, 2025