By Richard Turner

Standing in the Borehamwood sunshine as Arsenal Women hosted Paris FC in a pre-season friendly, it
was frequently noted that there was a reluctance to shoot. Approach play was reasonably direct but that
final action was absent. Many times a player would recycle play back out looking for a better opportunity.

This was pre-season and there were a few new faces to fit in so the anxiety level was very low. Indeed,
just a few days later Charlton were overrun in a 5-1 win and we were all able to relax again, looking
forward to this season where so much was expected – and promised.

Sunday 6th September, the serious business started and Arsenal negotiated a tricky opening tie away to
Brighton, securing a 1-0 win thanks to some direct running by one of the new recruits, Lisa Baum.

Crystal Palace was the first home game of the WSL season and was surely a good way to start. After all,
Palace had just emerged from a short stay in the second tier and Arsenal strolled to a 5-0 win in the
equivalent fixture two seasons back. However, Palace dug in and for the most part looked pretty
comfortable.

Stats showed that Arsenal mustered 30 shots but perhaps the key statistic is the 70 touches
in the opposition box. OK, the key statistic is the 0 goals but the number of touches close to goal hints at
the problem. There was a hesitancy to pull the trigger, always looking for the extra touch or the better
opportunity. Certainly Arsenal dominated and twice rattled the crossbar but the longer the game went on,
the less likely they looked to score.

In football, there is always another game and Arsenal’s next match-up was against a forlorn looking
Manchester United team. The visitors would surely have taken confidence from the Palace rearguard
action. Arsenal for their part looked hesitant and even less decisive than the week before. It was
noticeable sitting behind the goal during the warm-up that the attacking drills weren’t sharp. I have never
seen so many balls clear the back-up netting as before the United game.

The stats in this game told a story that was becoming very familiar, 58 touches in the opposition box but only 7 shots on target, one of which was Smilla Holmberg’s face-saving last minute equaliser. In truth, it didn’t look like it was ever coming and many fans around me had already decided to get out of the rain and head home.

A last minute penalty, won by a direct piece of running from Selina Cerci scraped a 1-0 win (45 opposition
box touches) against HB Køge, a team who are better than the part-timer status hung on them by certain
media outlets but still should have been brushed aside.

Chelsea away and Manchester City away are the two toughest games that any team in the WSL will face
this season and to have them back to back seems somewhat cruel. In fact, both performances were
reasonably good and Arsenal can consider themselves unlucky to come away pointless from both. Chuck
in a slightly unfortunate away draw against Paris in between (yes, it was a penalty) and there is a feeling
that the season might have ended before it began.

So much for the recap, what about the cause and how about a little optimism.

The number of touches in the penalty area hint at the problem. A frustrated member in the crowd
summed it up so much better than many pundits with her advice to just HIT IT!

Ian Wright talks about the fine line between good and great being the ability to get a strike away early.
Arsenal have not done that. They want to ensure an unmissable chance before letting fly. By the time the
attempt is finally executed there is an exceedingly higher level of complexity and difficulty in finding
success leading to ultimate and repeated disappointment. Bonus points for anyone spotting the
isomorphic metaphors in the last two sentences.

It’s a confidence thing. New season, new faces, iffy start and the confidence goes. Anyone can draw at
home to Manchester United (Arsenal did it last season, after all) and losing away to Chelsea and
Manchester City is also no disgrace.

The international break came at a good time. A chance to change things up, spend some time away and
reset. And score goals. Alessia Russo (3), Georgia Stanway (2) Stina Blackstenius (3), Smilla Holmberg,
Geraldine Reuteler, Caitlin Foord, Frida Maanum and Olivia Smith (2) all netted during their time away.

The muscle memory of scoring could be back, someone is certainly going to get a hiding from this
Arsenal team, let’s hope it’s Birmingham on Saturday.

If this team start firing, they can still have a huge season. Let’s remember the great end to last season
that almost bore success.

If.

It starts with a shot, a scruffy goal, a comfortable win, a run of wins and then who knows.

But it starts with a shot. Come on girls, pull the trigger!