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How Arsenal's familiar failings proved costly against Lyon

Problems playing out from the back and an ineffective attack leave Slegers seeking solutions to old difficulties

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Max Radwan
Oct 08, 2025
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Renee Slegers was powerless to prevent Arsenal’s Champions League defence beginning with defeat to Lyon. Credit: Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal’s poor run of form continued on Tuesday night as their Champions League defence began with a 2-1 defeat to OL Lyonnes at Meadow Park. The result means the Gunners are now winless in four matches – their longest run without a victory since January 2022. It was an outcome not unusual in this fixture – Arsenal have lost all five of their home matches against the eight-time European champions by a single goal – and on the night, their undoing came down to some familiar failings.

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Max Radwan's avatar
A guest post by
Max Radwan
Writing about all things Arsenal Women, and sometimes the men's team too.
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