In The Cutback’s preview of Arsenal’s season, we stressed the importance of avoiding the slow starts that have derailed previous WSL campaigns. Sunday’s goalless draw against Crystal Palace at the Emirates felt like the retelling of an all-too-familiar tale.
This is the fourth consecutive season in which the Gunners have dropped points at home in the opening month of a WSL campaign. In 2023-24, they were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool on the opening weekend. In the following season, they dropped points in each of their opening three home matches, which included a turgid goalless draw against Everton, while last season’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa was equally frustrating.
On Sunday, that theme returned for another season. Arsenal may have gone through a summer of change, with eight players coming in during the window, but their problems remain the same.
