Alessia Russo's Impact Amid Arsenal's Challenging Season
Alessia Russo has scored 11 goals in the Women's Super League this season.
This season has not unfolded as planned for Arsenal.
Even Stina Blackstenius' 93rd-minute winner against Everton in their penultimate Women's Super League (WSL) match did little to alter the broader situation.
Manchester City have already been crowned champions, extending Arsenal's wait for a first WSL title since 2019.
While Arsenal secured the inaugural Champions Cup, they were unable to retain their Women's Champions League title and exited the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage and the League Cup in the semi-finals.
So why has Renee Slegers' side not managed to secure any of the season's major trophies?
Arsenal Dropped Crucial WSL Points Early
Starting the season slowly has become a costly pattern for Arsenal.
After winning their first two league matches with a combined score of 9-2, Arsenal earned only two points from their next three games. This stretch included a 3-2 loss to rivals Manchester City and consecutive draws against Chelsea and Tottenham in November.
By Christmas, Arsenal faced an eight-point deficit after 11 matches, a gap they have been unable to close.
This trend is not unique to Slegers' tenure. Over the past three campaigns, Arsenal's title hopes have been hindered by poor early-season 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 said on the Women's Football Weekly podcast.
Despite losing only one game all season, the number of draws has proven particularly costly for Arsenal.
Regardless of off-season plans, making a strong start must remain a priority.
Squad Fatigue from Excessive Minutes Played
Finishing fourth was not Manchester City's plan last season, but it may have been advantageous for the 2025-26 champions.
City have played 10 fewer games than Arsenal this season.
The expanded Champions League format increased the number of matches, and Arsenal also participated in two additional games in the inaugural Champions Cup.
Competing in five tournaments has severely tested Arsenal's squad depth.
Alessia Russo has been the most utilized player under Slegers, logging 3,150 minutes.
In comparison, Manchester City's Khadija Shaw—the league's top scorer—has played 762 fewer minutes than Russo, nearly eight and a half games less.
Meanwhile, Mariona Caldentey, named WSL player of the year for 2024-25, has played 3,092 minutes but has not matched her previous season's performance.
On average, Arsenal's squad has played 481 minutes more than Manchester City's, a factor that has arguably contributed to player fatigue.
The players appeared worn out during the 1-1 draw at Brighton last week, which occurred just four days after their European title defense ended in Lyon.
Those dropped points against Brighton left Arsenal unable to catch Manchester City, who secured the title for the first time since 2016.
Fixture postponements due to Champions League and Champions Cup commitments have condensed Arsenal's schedule late in the season.
The Gunners played six games in the past 18 days, while City played only two.
"Too many games were postponed to this part of the season," former Scotland and Arsenal defender Jen Beattie told the Women's Football Weekly podcast.
"It's the hardest part, so you don't want your biggest accumulation of games to come at this point in the season."
With the season effectively concluded for Arsenal, transfer plans are already underway to address some of the team's shortcomings.
On Monday, Arsenal confirmed that Beth Mead will leave the club after nine years, having scored 86 goals in 264 appearances. Defender Laia Codina and midfielder Victoria Pelova will also depart at the end of the season.
The club has been linked with significant signings, including Bayern Munich and England midfielder Georgia Stanway and Barcelona full-back Ona Batlle.
The Opposition Has Been Superior
Beyond Arsenal's internal challenges, Manchester City have simply been the better team.
The champions have won the most matches (17) in the league, possess the best attack (58 goals), and have the second-best defense, trailing only Arsenal.
They have scored four or more goals in six matches and kept eight clean sheets.
After losing 2-1 to Chelsea in their opening game, City won 13 consecutive matches, including a 5-1 victory over Chelsea, which gave them an 11-point lead at the top with eight matches remaining.
Despite some slip-ups against Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Brighton, the gap was too large for Arsenal to overcome, and Manchester City deserve considerable credit for their performance.
Additional Resources
Follow the conclusion of the WSL season with Ben Haines, Ellen White, and Jen Beattie on the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes are released every Tuesday on under the Women's Football Weekly feed.
Get the latest WSL news on our dedicated page.
