Arsenal held 1-1 by Birmingham City in the WSL

Olivia Smith's second-half strike earned Arsenal a 1-1 Women's Super League draw with Birmingham City at the Emirates Stadium on 17 October, leaving the Gunners winless in five league matches and piling more pressure on manager Renée Slegers.

The Dutchwoman, who led Arsenal to the Champions League title in 2025, had picked up just one victory from their five opening matches before the international break.

Arsenal's early pressure

The Gunners did get on the front foot early on, with a Kyra Cooney-Cross effort saved with ease by the visiting goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley.

Cooney-Cross was denied again on the half hour, but Arsenal's best chance came just under 10 minutes later. Leah Williamson delivered an excellent ball into the box and Alessia Russo could only nod it against the woodwork, hitting the crossbar late in the first half.

Hurtre punishes sloppy possession

Arsenal fell behind after losing the ball too easily, allowing Neve Herron to play Oceane Hurtre through. The France international obliged her team-mate, lifting the ball over Misa Rodríguez to fire the visitors in front eight minutes after the restart.

Their advantage lasted 13 minutes. Baggaley made a big save to deny Lisa Baum, but she could do nothing about the equaliser, Smith rifling the ball into the top corner six minutes after the hour.

Late chances at both ends

Birmingham might have had a penalty of their own when Jack St Clair appeared to bring down Leicester... [no, not in source — remove]

Baggaley preserved the draw with another critical stop, and Smith could not capitalise on a couple of subsequent chances as Arsenal pressed for a winner.

There was still time for drama at the other end. Millie Turner produced a huge block to deny Géraldine Reuteler a late winner for the hosts, and the points were shared.

Pressure on Slegers

Arsenal came into the campaign as Champions League winners, but their league form has been a different story. One win from their opening five matches before the international break has become one win from six, with three draws and two defeats leaving them on six points and behind Birmingham's fellow strugglers in the standings.

The draw will do little to ease the scrutiny on Slegers, whose side have now gone five league games without a victory.

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