Looking ahead

I do have the tendency when I write these pieces to look backwards, rightly so, reflecting on what we’ve seen from Arsenal - what’s worked and what hasn’t. Yet as we approach the final few months of the season, it made more sense during this international break to look ahead and consider what we can expect from Arsenal going into this final stretch.

The current situation

It’s less than ten days until Arsenal return to action away at London City Lionesses in the WSL. My first time at this stadium, so another one to tick off my list, alongside an international break trip to the City Ground in Nottingham to watch the Lionesses this weekend. 

Arsenal sit on 29 points, fourth in the table with two games in hand, 13 points behind leaders Manchester City. Arsenal’s remaining opponents in the WSL include West Ham, Spurs, Aston Villa, Leicester, Everton, Brighton and Liverpool, with none of those teams above Arsenal still to play.

Arsenal also have the small matter of a two-legged Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea. The first leg is at home on the 24th March, and the second leg is away on the 1st April. An FA Cup quarter-final against Brighton is also confirmed just four days later on the 5th April.

The small matter of absentees

As we go back into the season, we are without our three Australian players - Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Kyra Cooney-Cross, who are away representing their nation in the Asian Cup. Foord has made 14 appearances this season in the WSL, scoring just one goal, and has two assists across eight appearances in the Champions League.

If we compare that to other forwards in a similar position, Beth Mead has one goal and five assists in the WSL, and Chloe Kelly, even despite injury, has two goals and one assist. Olivia Smith has four goals and one assist. Mead is out injured and is absent from the Lionesses squad, with Kelly included but just back from injury. 

Arsenal are not overcompensated in this area, but their adaptability is evident. The Gunners will find a way, depending on the opponent, to work with the personnel they do have, as seen in Olivia Smith playing as a number nine with Stina Blackstenius out to catch out the opponent. It worked so well that it delivered Arsenal three crucial points against front-runners Manchester City.

Catley has been integral to this Arsenal side for a while now; what seemed like a makeshift fill-in at centre-back is now her strongest and preferred position. She’s started 14 of 14 WSL fixtures and has two assists. 

Sarina Wiegman's decision to start Lotte Wubben-Moy and Leah Williamson together during the international break is hugely beneficial to Arsenal (despite the risk of injury, more for partnership strength), as we expect to see them start with Catley away. Wubben-Moy has really come into her own as the season has progressed, and with Williamson now returning to fitness, the timing works in Arsenal’s favour.

Cooney-Cross has started just three matches and made six appearances overall, without registering a goal or an assist. Mariona Caldentey, meanwhile, has started 14 games, contributing two goals and three assists. Kim Little has featured in 12 matches, starting 11 of them, and has one assist to her name. Frida Maanum has played in 11 games, starting five, scoring three goals and adding one assist.

The midfield partnership of Little and Caldentey has been consistently solid, typically operating behind a number 10 in Maanum or Alessia Russo. Unfortunately, due to personal circumstances, Cooney-Cross hasn’t yet had the chance to build a sustained run of games, but there’s plenty of optimism about what she could bring when that opportunity comes.

So, what does the rest of the season hold?

Arsenal have made big strides since the start of the season - tightening up defensively, building stronger midfield partnerships, moving away from relying solely on a Plan A, and rotating the squad more. Renee Slegers is starting to put together the side she’s been working towards: one that can adapt depending on the opponent. With that progress, the targets for the rest of the season are still very much there.

Every game from here on will carry real weight. There’s that old football cliché that “every game is a cup final” at this stage of the season, something I’ve seen joked about a lot on social media recently with the men’s team, as we fans start counting down the number of wins needed to wrap up the Premier League title. 

But for Arsenal, there is some truth to it now. With games in hand to make count in the league and knockout ties looming in both the Champions League and FA Cup, the margin for error is small.

Managing the squad, keeping key players fit, and navigating this packed stretch of fixtures will be just as important as the performances themselves.

Dream big or go home

So for Arsenal, the message is simple, right? Win the FA Cup, win the Champions League and finish 2nd in the WSL to secure a Champions League spot. 

Of course, it’s an idealistic scenario, but that will be in the mind of every player and staff member. For now, it’s simply a case of taking things one game at a time.