Introduction

Week two of my personal challenge to attend every Arsenal Women game delivered exactly what I had hoped for: a challenging away fixture turned into a statement win. Arsenal’s 5-1 victory at West Ham was a masterclass in tactical flexibility, squad depth, and individual growth — and a clear signal of intent under Renee Slegers. Early days, but the evidence is already encouraging.

If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend checking out my recently completed series, Understanding Arsenal under Renée Slegers. It’s a three-part deep dive into the defence, midfield, and forwards. I’m always open to suggestions for future pieces, so please drop ideas in the comments.

The defence: Composure despite early shaky moments

Daphne Van Domselaar had a shaky start, misjudging a couple of moments early on, but the defensive unit as a whole remained resilient. Emily Fox was a constant outlet on the right, combining energy, positional intelligence, and ball-carrying ability.

Katie Reid and Steph Catley once again showed their effective partnership. Reid is clearly growing into her role: confident on the ball, unafraid to step into duels, and crucial in keeping West Ham’s attacking threats under wraps. Her improvement from last season is noticeable; she no longer looks tentative and is increasingly a reliable defensive presence.

FT: West Ham 1-5 @ArsenalWFC Renee’s rampant Gunners rout West Ham here at Dagenham. See @GoonerFanzine for our comprehensive match coverage, reaction, ratings and report pic.twitter.com/6MTZ3lxgTX

— Layth (@laythy29) September 12, 2025

Midfield: First-half struggles, second-half control

The midfield started unevenly. Mariona Caldentey and Kim Little struggled to gain possession cleanly in the first half, often forced into turnovers and hurried decisions. This made Arsenal somewhat vulnerable in the early stages, and West Ham briefly tested the defence.

The tactical adjustments at half-time shifted the game decisively. Beth Mead had one of her most complete performances in an Arsenal shirt in years — contributing defensively with perfectly timed tackles, while also creating and linking play effectively. 

Frida Maanum maintained control and distribution in the first half, but her substitution for Stina Blackstenius was a tactical masterstroke, exploiting space behind West Ham’s defence and supporting Alessia Russo's link-up play

Caitlin Foord and Alessia Russo were quiet early on but benefited significantly from the system change. Fullbacks dropped into midfield, creating overloads and improved passing options, while Mariona and Little regained composure and began dictating play. 

Mariona’s cross for Foord’s goal and subsequent forward runs underline Arsenal’s ability to combine structured positional play with dynamic movement.

Attack: Depth, intelligence, and tactical flexibility

Arsenal’s forward line shone through individual brilliance and intelligent movement. Russo and Foord created space for others, while Beth Mead’s directness and ability to beat players one-on-one added a new dimension. Olivia Smith’s cameo highlighted her pace and strength, combining well with Russo in link-up play and immediately threatening behind the defence.

Tactical substitutions changed the attacking dynamic. Blackstenius’ introduction allowed Arsenal to exploit space behind West Ham, while fullbacks joining the midfield created extra options for ball circulation. Despite Chloe Kelly being absent, the attacking balance remained fluid, with multiple players capable of scoring and creating chances.

Kyra Cooney-Cross’ continued absence remains notable. While controversial for some, this seems more a reflection of Slegers’ preferred system rather than the player’s ability. It is worth monitoring as the season progresses, however.

Stat snapshot

Arsenal produced 17 shots with six on target and 60 per cent possession, while West Ham managed just four shots and none on target. In the previous fixture against London City Lionesses, Arsenal had 20 shots with 10 on target and 61 per cent possession, with London City recording five shots and three on target. 

These numbers underline Arsenal’s dominance across both matches, highlighting the team’s ability to control possession and create high-quality chances. Attacking set pieces, however, remain an area for further improvement.

Player Ratings: Arsenal Women come from behind to beat West Ham 5-1Alessia Russo starred for the Gunners with a brace and an assistBy @CardyFreddie here at Dagenham @GoonerFanzine https://t.co/M7oPqDnn1H

— The Gooner (@GoonerFanzine) September 12, 2025

Looking ahead: Manchester United away

On Sunday, Arsenal face a stern challenge at Manchester United — a team mirroring Arsenal’s strong start. United have recorded 4-0 and 5-1 wins over Leicester and London City Lionesses respectively, showing efficiency and solidity. 

A bonus Champions League fixture for United against Brann in midweek, in which they attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit, could be an advantage for Arsenal in terms of freshness and preparation, but the threat is clear.

Tactical considerations for Arsenal:

On Sunday, Arsenal face a stern challenge at Manchester United, a team mirroring Arsenal’s strong start to the season. United have recorded 4-0 and 5-1 wins over Leicester and London City Lionesses, demonstrating efficiency and solidity.

Their midweek Champions League fixture against Brann, attempting to overturn a 1-0 deficit, could provide Arsenal with a freshness advantage, though the threat remains clear.

Arsenal cannot afford defensive gaps, as United will exploit space behind and between the lines. Runners from midfield arriving on the edge of the box must be tracked carefully, and crosses need to be dealt with decisively, utilising Katie Reid’s aerial ability. 

Limiting opportunities from set pieces and maintaining concentration during transitional moments will be crucial. Every victory in the WSL carries weight. A win would signal intent to challenge for the title, while a draw risks benefiting rivals like Chelsea.

Final thoughts

Five goals, tactical adjustments, and individual growth made this away fixture more than just three points. Arsenal showed flexibility, depth, and control, turning a potentially tricky ‘bogey’ match into a statement performance.

With Manchester United next, the team has a chance to solidify momentum and assert themselves as serious WSL contenders.