Arsenal Women head into this weekend’s clash with Liverpool carrying not only an escalating injury crisis but also the weight of a turbulent and inconsistent season. What should have been a campaign defined by momentum after last year’s historic Champions League triumph has instead become a period marked by internal tension, uneven performances, and growing pressure on and off the pitch.
The immediate concern is the squad’s fitness. Chloe Kelly will miss the match after sustaining a minor knee injury on international duty. Manager Renée Slegers confirmed the setback and noted that Kelly’s pace and direct, wide attacking threat will be missed. Her absence limits Arsenal’s ability to stretch Liverpool’s compact defensive structure.
More troubling is the goalkeeping situation. First-choice keeper Daphne van Domselaar is sidelined with a quad injury, leaving Arsenal reliant on their summer depth or youth options. Slegers acknowledged the problem and said the team is not currently in a position to have a strong, complete goalkeeper unit. January reinforcements may now be necessary.
There is some relief with the return of Kim Little and Leah Williamson. Their experience and leadership are invaluable, although Slegers stated that Williamson will be managed carefully after her long-term absence.
Tactically, Slegers expects Liverpool to present a disciplined, high-pressure challenge. She referenced their ability to restrict Chelsea earlier this season and said they pride themselves on defensive structure and intensity. Without Kelly’s width and with uncertainty in goal, Arsenal may need to prioritise patient possession, disciplined defending, and careful transition management.
Arsenal’s difficulties, however, extend far beyond this weekend’s selection problems. The team have endured a rocky start to the season. In nine league games, they have won only four, marking their worst opening stretch since 2014. They sit fourth in the WSL, eight points behind leaders Manchester City, and their goalless draw with Spurs in November underlined their inconsistency. Their Champions League form has been inconsistent as well, and they are currently 10th in the table despite lifting the trophy six months ago.
This downturn comes despite significant summer investment, including the record one million pound signing of Olivia Smith. The performances on the pitch suggest that the financial commitment has not yet translated into a positive return.
According to reporting from The Athletic and sources within the club, Arsenal’s struggles have revealed deeper cultural and structural problems in the women’s setup. Their Champions League success allowed internal issues to go unaddressed, and longstanding dressing room unrest has resurfaced. Sources claim that a small group of players holds disproportionate influence, and one described the environment as competitive yet disrespectful.
Concerns around the squad’s internal culture have been reinforced by a player survey earlier in the season, which reportedly produced many negative responses. Even smaller examples have been cited as reflective of the disconnect. In April 2025, Beth Mead said the squad had unanimously decided to keep the team’s white shorts, despite some players being uncomfortable. Some have interpreted the decision as an example of voices being overridden.
People close to the team say the dressing room has been splintered for years and that tension among players has increased. These problems were also present at the end of Jonas Eidevall’s tenure, which ended in October 2024. Morale had declined significantly by then, and one agent described the team as a boat that was driving itself.
Questions have also been raised about Slegers’ experience in managing complex player dynamics. She stepped up from assistant to head coach, and some players reportedly feel they were misled about playing time, while others who trained well have not been rewarded. One agent said that some players are untouchable. Although this is not unusual in elite teams, The Athletic’s sources argue that it reflects inconsistent strategy and limited accountability.
Age profile concerns contribute further to the challenge. Arsenal have the oldest average starting eleven in the WSL at 28 years and 55 days. This is nearly two years older than Chelsea, Manchester United, and Manchester City. Problems have also been reported in the academy. The family of one young player who left the club criticised the clarity of the development pathway. Some responsibility has been attributed to both Slegers and Clare Wheatley, the club’s long-standing director of women’s football, who some have described as distant from daily squad matters.
Slegers responded firmly to the criticism in The Athletic article. She said that external noise will always exist and that the team's environment is high-performing, demanding, and positive. She insisted that the squad is united, that she believes in the process, and that the team is moving in a strong direction.
Despite moments of quality, such as the comeback win over Real Madrid, Arsenal have often struggled to control matches. The absence of leaders like Williamson and Little during key fixtures, including the collapse from a 2-0 lead to a 3-2 defeat against Bayern Munich, has contributed to the inconsistency.
Even the dressing room seating plan, which is arranged according to when players joined the club, has been cited as symbolic of hierarchy and division.
All of these places put significant pressure on this weekend’s match with Liverpool. For Arsenal, the fixture is not simply about earning three points. It is a test of resilience, discipline, and unity at a moment when the club’s culture, structure, and identity are being examined more closely than ever.
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