Introduction:

Of course, it’s always harder to find the motivation to sit down and write after a loss. I’ve wrestled with that since I first started this newsletter. As a travelling fan who rarely misses a game, my pieces often come from a mix of passion and analysis, which I think makes them somewhat engaging.

When we lose, though, I usually give myself 24 hours before writing, to make sure that passion doesn’t cloud the truth. Losing to Spurs, though it rarely happens, never exactly feels good, does it?

That said, it’s worth remembering this was pre-season and only the first game we’ve seen, even if Arsenal’s other fixtures, behind closed doors or not, have generally been positive. Renee Slegers still has the West Ham friendly midweek at Meadow Park to experiment with her style, integrate new signings, and refine the squad.

Her first full season will be very different from the situation she inherited midway through last year, so panicking after one result would be premature. Especially when we scored three goals and there were clear positives to take away.

Full disclosure: I haven’t watched the match back, so these observations are coming from the middle of the North Bank and conversations with fellow fans.

After the West Ham game, assuming no further friendlies are scheduled, I’ll revisit and provide a fuller assessment. For now, here’s a slightly shorter discussion on what stood out from yesterday’s fixture, a match I’m always reluctant to call a ‘friendly’ when it’s Spurs. I won’t be covering every small detail, just the patterns and moments that felt meaningful.

Starting XI:

Anneke Borbe

During the first half, my main concern was her distribution when playing out from the back. It was clearly a deliberate tactic from Arsenal as she wasn’t the only one inviting Spurs’ press, most likely in an attempt to create space higher up in midfield. At times the clearances looked rushed, but she generally managed to make them work. The free-kick mistake obviously stands out, but it’s difficult to judge a goalkeeper on a single performance, especially on a debut. With Daphne van Domselaar absent from the matchday squad, it seems likely we’ll either see Borbe again on Wednesday, or Manu Zinsberger will be given the chance. In any case, this feels like one to reassess after a few more matches rather than drawing conclusions too early.

Emily Fox

By now it’s no surprise that Emily Fox plays well, it’s simply what we’ve come to expect. I came across a great compilation on X this morning that highlighted everything we saw again yesterday: positive going forward, strong defensively, excellent in her link-up play. What stood out this time for me was how often she inverted, drifting into midfield to carry the ball and create space for others to overlap down the flank. The “best right-back in the world” tag doesn’t feel like an exaggeration anymore. She’s become irreplaceable, and Arsenal should be thinking seriously about securing her with an improved, long-term contract sooner rather than later.

Steph Catley

I was really pleased to see Steph handed the captain’s armband. It’s something I’ve often wondered about, given how long she’s been at the club and her experience leading the Matildas. This may not have been her strongest performance, and she clearly benefits from partnering alongside Leah Williamson, but even so, she continues to stand out as our strongest centre-back option (with Leah absent). I liked the moments where she stepped into midfield to progress play in the second half, though she needs the backing of a solid defensive structure to make that effective. Her passing range was on show too, capped by an incredible ball in behind for Caitlin Foord’s goal, a reminder of the quality she brings in possession.

Lotte Wubben-Moy

Wubben-Moy looked a little nervy at the back, which isn’t surprising given her limited game time recently. One question is whether the partnership with Steph Catley will click; it’s worth seeing if Slegers chooses to stick with it before making any judgements. Arsenal have traditionally favoured a pairing of one strong, solid centre-back alongside a more progressive ball-player, which is why Catley and Williamson work so well together and why I’ve also enjoyed the Williamson–Rafaelle partnership in the past. Wubben-Moy has the attributes to fit into that system, but consistency and understanding with her partner will be key. Concerns about Arsenal’s centre-back options linger, but I’ll revisit the debate following the West Ham game.

Katie McCabe

Katie McCabe didn’t feature for the full match, coming off at half-time, so it’s hard to draw too many conclusions. That said, I’m interested in Arsenal building real competition in the full-back positions as it pushes the existing players to perform. One thing that stands out with McCabe, as with Arsenal’s full-backs more broadly, is her overlapping runs. That movement remains a key part of the team’s attacking approach and something we’ve seen executed effectively on numerous occasions during Slegers’ tenure so far.

Mariona Caldentey

This wasn’t Mariona’s strongest performance, but I think that comes down more to the lack of balance in the midfield that started the game. It was the same trio we saw in the 5–2 defeat to Villa, and the same issues were exposed again here. Both Mariona and Kyra Cooney-Cross were dropping deep to receive the ball, but Spurs’ press forced turnovers and left Arsenal vulnerable on the counter. Without a natural defensive midfielder like Lia Wälti, there was a big gap to exploit. That said, there were still positive signs in attack, with Mariona looking to drive play forward whenever she could. I’ve written before about my doubts over the midfield balance, and this felt like another example. For more on that, I’d point you to my recent midfield piece, which dives deeper into this question.

Victoria Pelova

I really liked what I saw from Pelova. Playing further forward suited her and she capped it off with an excellent goal. The more advanced role brought out her attacking qualities and reminded us of what she can do at her best, given she missed a lot of last season through injury. As I’ve discussed in the midfield piece, the challenge is how Slegers fits all these players in while still finding the right balance. But Pelova certainly made a strong case here.

Kyra Cooney-Cross

I don’t want to draw conclusions from just one game, and Cooney-Cross still showed plenty of reasons why she’s such a good player. Her tackling, ability to hold up play, and range of passing all stood out. That said, I understand why so many remain unconvinced about her as a number six - it doesn’t play to her strengths, and Arsenal looked exposed whenever the full-backs pushed high or the centre-backs stepped forward. The bigger challenge for Slegers is how to get the best out of Cooney-Cross, Pelova, and Mariona in the same system without sacrificing stability. As I’ve argued before, the midfield balance really is make or break.

Beth Mead, Alessia Russo & Chloe Kelly

I’ve grouped the front three together because, while there were positives, none stood out as the main talking point from this match. Mead worked the left, Kelly the right, with Mariona joining the attack at times alongside the full-backs. There were plenty of crosses and some nice link-up play, but in the second half Arsenal struggled to carve out shooting chances, often recycling the ball around the edge of the box. Russo, to her credit, created space and delivered good service from wide areas.

Substitutions:

Olivia Smith

A very encouraging debut. She showed the strength and directness we saw last season for Liverpool, consistently willing to take defenders on. If Arsenal can get numbers in the right positions, she looks like she’ll rack up assists quickly, especially if teams leave her isolated one-on-one.

Taylor Hinds

Hinds impressed me with her attacking intent and link-up play, especially with her overlapping runs. She looks a natural fit for what Slegers wants from her full-backs. Defensively she was caught out once or twice, but overall, she already looks like a fantastic addition - an experienced, solid option who strengthens the depth of the back line significantly.

Laia Codina

Like Borbe, the error will dominate discussion, but I think there were other talking points too. She looked willing to step forward and contribute in build-up, even if a lack of sharpness was visible, likely down to limited minutes. Much like Wubben-Moy, she needs rhythm to settle.

Jenna Nighswonger

Nighswonger offered real attacking energy off the bench. She’s better going forward than she is as a defensive full-back in this league, but used wide she made good runs in behind and put in some useful crosses. I remember seeing the same spark when she came on against Brighton last season - she brings something different and that’s valuable.

Caitlin Foord

Foord carried her form from last season into this match. Leading the line, she scored a well-taken goal and reminded us again how reliable she is against Spurs (she does seem to enjoy these fixtures). Performances like this strengthen her case for a regular starting spot.

Katie Reid

It wasn’t a surprise to see Reid tried out in the holding role; pre-season is the time for those experiments. She did well given her age and inexperience, showing plenty of positives. She’s not a solution yet, but I’d rather see her get opportunities with the first team this season than go out on loan. She’ll learn quickly from being tested in these situations.

Kim Little

Little once again underlined why midfield balance is so important. Even if questions remain about how much she can play this season, her influence on the team is still undeniable. Matches like this one only reinforce that point, something I covered in more depth in the midfield article.

Sophie Harwood

I’d heard good things about Harwood and she lived up to them. One moment stood out, when she went one-on-one with Martha Thomas and came away with a goal kick, showing both composure and confidence. For a player so new to the first-team environment, she didn’t look intimidated at all. A real talent, and hopefully one who sticks around.

Final Thoughts:

As mentioned at the start, it’s tough to draw big conclusions from just one game. These are more first impressions than anything, and I’ll revisit them after Wednesday once we have another performance to compare, especially with the LCL match coming up quickly.

If you haven’t seen it yet, I recently published the first piece in a new series, Understanding Arsenal Under Renee Slegers. The opening article looks at the midfield - player roles, tactical patterns, injuries, and what the hierarchy could look like next season. 

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