Arsenal's Women's Super League (WSL) campaign ended with a dramatic 93rd-minute winner from Stina Blackstenius against Everton, but that late heroics couldn't mask the bigger picture: the Gunners have once again fallen short of the season's biggest prizes.
While Manchester City have already been crowned WSL champions, Arsenal's wait for a league title since 2019 continues. The Gunners lifted the inaugural Champions Cup but failed to retain their Women's Champions League trophy, exited the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage, and bowed out of the League Cup in the semi-finals. So, what's gone wrong for Renee Slegers' side?
The Slow Start Syndrome
Starting slowly has become a costly habit for Arsenal. After a blistering opening two matches—winning by an aggregate score of 9-2—the Gunners stumbled, collecting just two points from their next three games. A 3-2 loss to rivals Manchester City was followed by back-to-back draws against Chelsea and Tottenham in November. By Christmas, Arsenal trailed by eight points after 11 matches—a gap they never closed.
This pattern isn't new. For three consecutive seasons, Arsenal's title hopes have been derailed by sluggish early form between September and November. "The start of the season was another issue for them. They've done that for a couple of seasons now and then they're on catch-up," former England forward Ellen White noted on the Women's Football Weekly podcast. With only one league loss all season, those draws have proven especially damaging. Whatever changes are made this summer, a hot start must be the priority.
The Fixture Congestion Factor
Finishing fourth last season wasn't the plan for Manchester City, but it may have been a blessing in disguise for their 2025-26 title run. City played 10 fewer games than Arsenal, who were stretched thin across five competitions. The expanded Champions League format meant more matches, plus the Gunners played two extra games in the inaugural Champions Cup.
This relentless schedule tested Arsenal's squad depth to its limits. Alessia Russo, Slegers' most-used player, logged a staggering 3,150 minutes on the pitch. For a team chasing silverware on multiple fronts, that workload can be the difference between lifting trophies and watching from the sidelines.
What's Next for the Gunners?
Arsenal have the talent and the spirit—Blackstenius' last-gasp winner proved that. But to turn near-misses into titles, they need to solve the slow-start puzzle and manage fixture congestion more effectively. For a club with their pedigree, anything less than silverware feels like falling short. The summer rebuild will be crucial, and for fans and players alike, the message is clear: next season, there are no more excuses.