Arsenal's 2024-25 campaign ended without a major domestic or European trophy, extending their wait for a WSL title to six years. Despite a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Stina Blackstenius against Everton, the Gunners were long out of contention by then as Manchester City wrapped up their first league crown since 2016. Renee Slegers' side also failed to defend their Champions League title and crashed out of both domestic cups.
The root of Arsenal's problems can be traced to another sluggish opening. After scoring nine goals in their first two WSL wins, they collected only two points from the next three matches, including a 3-2 defeat at Manchester City. November stalemates against Chelsea and Tottenham left them eight points adrift of the leaders by Christmas — a gap that proved insurmountable.
This pattern of early-season stumbles is not a one-off. In three successive campaigns, Arsenal have found themselves playing catch-up after the autumn months. Former England international Ellen White noted on the Women's Football Weekly podcast that these slow starts have become a recurring issue, forcing the team to chase from behind when margins are razor-thin. With only one loss all season, the seven draws were what truly derailed their ambitions.
Compounding those dropped points was a congested fixture list that stretched a thin squad to breaking point. Manchester City, knocked out of the Champions League last season, played 10 fewer matches this term. Meanwhile, Arsenal's involvement in five competitions — including the expanded Champions League and the new Champions Cup — meant they had to cram games into an already packed schedule.
The toll on key players is evident in the minutes. Alessia Russo logged a team-high 3,150 minutes, over 750 minutes more than City's top scorer Khadija Shaw. Mariona Caldentey, the reigning player of the year, played over 3,000 minutes but could not sustain her previous season's form. On average, Arsenal’s squad played 481 minutes more than their title-winning rivals — equivalent to more than five extra matches per player.
The effect was most acute in the final weeks. Arsenal had six fixtures in 18 days, compared to City’s two, as postponed league matches piled up. Jen Beattie, a former Arsenal defender, highlighted on the same podcast how "the hardest part of the season" is the worst time for such a cascade of games, with fatigue almost inevitable. The 1-1 draw at Brighton, just four days after the Champions League quarter-final exit in Lyon, all but ended their league hopes.
With the season effectively over, Arsenal have already confirmed a major squad reshuffle. Beth Mead will depart after nine years, during which she scored 86 goals in 264 appearances. Defender Laia Codina and midfielder Victoria Pelova will also leave. The club are reportedly targeting Bayern Munich and England midfielder Georgia Stanway and Barcelona full-back Ona Batlle to reinforce for next season.
Yet even if Arsenal solve their fixture and fatigue issues, they must also reckon with Manchester City’s sheer superiority. City won 17 of 22 matches, scored a league-best 58 goals, and kept eight clean sheets. After losing their opener to Chelsea, they reeled off 13 consecutive wins, building an 11-point lead that was never seriously threatened, despite late wobbles. Their title is a testament to consistency and depth that Arsenal could not match.
For Arsenal, the off-season priority must be a fast start. Any summer recruitment—or structural changes—needs to ensure the team hits the ground running in September. The talent is there, but until they conquer their early-autumn inertia and bolster a squad to cope with multiple fronts, the wait for a first WSL crown in over half a decade will likely continue.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.
