“From the Terraces” is a feature from Arsenal Women season ticket holder Richard Turner, who was at least week’s draw with Birmingham, and who submitted this one from Helsinki Airport in the early hours (kiitos, Richard).

There is no doubt that Arsenal Women are in a bad place. But is it terminal? I would argue no.

There have been several ‘surely’ moments already this season, culminating with ‘surely they will beat Birmingham’. This is a Birmingham better than their results suggest, with a standout performer in Oceane Hurtre and a team who weren’t blown away by Man City or Chelsea but still a team Arsenal should have beaten comfortably.

If this season was played out in Football Manager, the game engine would come under serious scrutiny but in the real world all eyes are on Renée Slegers.

There were some plans last Saturday. Lisa Baum started the game as the furthest player forward. We can’t criticise Arsenal for being predictable and then complain about an attempt at innovation, after all something similar worked very well with Olivia Smith against City last season.

To Arsenal’s credit, when it clearly wasn’t working, the German winger moved back out wide.

If there was a plan, it involved a long diagonal out to Olivia Smith with a success rate of about 50%. Presumably the next step in the plan was to get some kind of ball into the box. I can’t be sure because apart from one incursion when the opportunity to pull back for Alessia Russo was spurned in favour of a poor pass for a poorer Stina Blackstenius shot, there was no end product from the Arsenal left.

On the other side Smilla Holmberg was fed frequently but only managed to win some nonthreatening corners. Holmberg continues to have the unusual attribute of being a good substitute but a poor starter.

If the plan was to supply crosses for Blackstenius to head, it was an interesting idea because I have yet to see evidence that her heading is a strength.

The one good moment in the half was a Russo header from a Leah Williamson cross that hit the post and could easily have gone in on another day.

On 53 minutes, Birmingham scored. Of course they did. To no real surprise in the stadium.

This did cause more urgency and finally Olivia Smith decided to stop faffing and just hit the ball. Finally. Up to that point, the best strike in an Arsenal shirt had been by the last of the junior gunners who buried her penalty top bins past Gunnersaurus in the half time show to a great ovation.

I’ve long thought that there are more opportunities to shoot from distance. Goalkeepers in the WSL find it difficult to cover the whole of the goal and there were plenty of long range goals in match week 6. Arsenal are well equipped in this area with Olivia Smith, Georgia Stanway and Kyra Cooney-Cross all liking a shot from distance. Instead, they persevere with the short passes looking for the unmissable chance. 44 opposition box touches to 3, one goal each.

Is there a way out? Yes, certainly. The players are not clicking but showing signs. They will need to mix up the attacking options, integrate the new players and start to create patterns of play based on getting to know each other better, instinct rather than laboured indecision. And maybe the odd long shot would be welcome. The title has gone but the season hasn’t. Two cups to compete for and the essential target of Champions League qualification for next season.

At half-time, the DJ played Toxic by Britney Spears. It isn’t quite that bad yet, but we can’t survive too many more  Oops I did it again moments.

One song missing from the terraces was that of Super Renée Slegers, it seems the fans are not sure if she currently knows exactly what we need.

What better way to put things right than against a Spurs side currently shipping goals for fun.

Surely…