Arsenal vs Birmingham City, 2026-27 English Women's Super League
· English Women's Super LeaguePressure mounts on Renée Slegers as Arsenal's WSL winless streak stretches to five matches
Olivia Smith's brilliant second-half strike salvaged a point as struggling Arsenal were forced to settle for a frustrating 1-1 Women's Super League draw against Birmingham City to pile more pressure on boss Renée Slegers.
Match Commentary
- 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
- 0': First Half begins.
- 2': Océane Hurtré (Birmingham City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 2': Foul by Georgia Stanway (Arsenal Women).
- 5': Attempt blocked. Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lisa Baum.
- 6': Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Neve Herron.
- 6': Attempt missed. Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Smilla Holmberg with a cross following a corner.
- 7': Delay in match (Arsenal Women).
- 7': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 7': Offside, Birmingham City Women. Lily Crosthwaite is caught offside.
- 9': Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Marie Levasseur.
- 11': Attempt blocked. Océane Hurtré (Birmingham City Women) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Rebecca McKenna.
- 12': Corner, Birmingham City Women. Conceded by Lotte Wubben-Moy.
- 13': Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Neve Herron.
- 14': Attempt saved. Kyra Cooney-Cross (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Sophie Baggaley (Birmingham City Women). Assisted by Alessia Russo.
- 17': Attempt missed. Lily Crosthwaite (Birmingham City Women) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Lisa Naalsund following a fast break.
- 17': Offside, Arsenal Women. Stina Blackstenius is caught offside.
- 18': Attempt missed. Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
- 25': Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Neve Herron.
- 26': Foul by Asato Miyagawa (Birmingham City Women).
- 26': Georgia Stanway (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 27': Attempt missed. Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Olivia Smith.
- 29': Rebecca McKenna (Birmingham City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 29': Foul by Olivia Smith (Arsenal Women).
- 31': Attempt missed. Kyra Cooney-Cross (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
- 31': Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Sophie Baggaley.
- 31': Attempt missed. Kyra Cooney-Cross (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Alessia Russo following a corner.
- 31': Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Neve Herron.
- 38': Foul by Asato Miyagawa (Birmingham City Women).
- 38': Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 38': Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Leah Williamson with a cross.
- 39': Rebecca McKenna (Birmingham City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 39': Foul by Olivia Smith (Arsenal Women).
- 41': Foul by Neve Herron (Birmingham City Women).
- 41': Lisa Baum (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 43': Asato Miyagawa (Birmingham City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 43': Foul by Georgia Stanway (Arsenal Women).
- 45': Asato Miyagawa (Birmingham City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 45': Foul by Georgia Stanway (Arsenal Women).
- 45': Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
- 45'+2': First Half ends, Arsenal Women 0, Birmingham City Women 0.
- 45': Second Half begins Arsenal Women 0, Birmingham City Women 0.
- 46': Foul by Suzu Amano (Birmingham City Women).
- 46': Georgia Stanway (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 49': Lily Crosthwaite (Birmingham City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 49': Foul by Leah Williamson (Arsenal Women).
- 50': Attempt missed. Smilla Holmberg (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Lisa Baum following a fast break.
- 51': Foul by Rebecca McKenna (Birmingham City Women).
- 51': Olivia Smith (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 51': Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Neve Herron.
- 53': Goal! Arsenal Women 0, Birmingham City Women 1. Océane Hurtré (Birmingham City Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Neve Herron following a fast break.
- 55': Attempt missed. Olivia Smith (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Leah Williamson.
- 56': Delay in match because of an injury Olivia Smith (Arsenal Women).
- 57': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 57': Substitution, Birmingham City Women. Lee Geum-Min replaces Suzu Amano.
- 59': Attempt blocked. Lisa Naalsund (Birmingham City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lee Geum-Min.
- 59': Attempt missed. Océane Hurtré (Birmingham City Women) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Shannon Cooke.
- 60': Attempt missed. Georgia Stanway (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Kyra Cooney-Cross.
- 61': Asato Miyagawa (Birmingham City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 61': Foul by Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women).
- 63': Foul by Océane Hurtré (Birmingham City Women).
- 63': Olivia Smith (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 65': Attempt saved. Lisa Baum (Arsenal Women) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal by Sophie Baggaley (Birmingham City Women). Assisted by Ona Batlle with a cross.
- 66': Attempt blocked. Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Leah Williamson with a cross.
- 66': Goal! Arsenal Women 1, Birmingham City Women 1. Olivia Smith (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Georgia Stanway.
- 67': Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Shannon Cooke.
- 68': Attempt blocked. Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Smilla Holmberg with a cross.
- 68': Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Marie Levasseur.
- 69': Attempt missed. Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal Women) header from very close range is too high. Assisted by Smilla Holmberg with a cross following a corner.
- 70': Océane Hurtré (Birmingham City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 70': Foul by Georgia Stanway (Arsenal Women).
- 70': Georgia Stanway (Arsenal Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 71': Foul by Neve Herron (Birmingham City Women).
- 71': Smilla Holmberg (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 72': Neve Herron (Birmingham City Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 73': Foul by Rebecca McKenna (Birmingham City Women).
- 73': Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 73': Attempt saved. Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the bottom right corner by Sophie Baggaley (Birmingham City Women). Assisted by Smilla Holmberg with a cross.
- 73': Attempt missed. Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left following a set piece situation.
- 73': Attempt missed. Olivia Smith (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Alessia Russo following a set piece situation.
- 74': Attempt missed. Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kyra Cooney-Cross with a cross.
- 75': Foul by Rebecca McKenna (Birmingham City Women).
- 75': Alessia Russo (Arsenal Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 76': Attempt missed. Olivia Smith (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a set piece situation.
- 77': Substitution, Arsenal Women. Géraldine Reuteler replaces Stina Blackstenius.
- 78': Substitution, Arsenal Women. Emily Fox replaces Smilla Holmberg.
- 78': Delay in match because of an injury Océane Hurtré (Birmingham City Women).
- 78': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 79': Substitution, Birmingham City Women. Veatriki Sarri replaces Océane Hurtré because of an injury.
- 80': Attempt blocked. Lisa Baum (Arsenal Women) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Géraldine Reuteler.
- 80': Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Marie Levasseur.
- 83': Attempt blocked. Georgia Stanway (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Olivia Smith.
- 86': Substitution, Arsenal Women. Caitlin Foord replaces Lisa Baum.
- 86': Substitution, Arsenal Women. Élisa De Almeida replaces Ona Batlle.
- 86': Corner, Arsenal Women. Conceded by Marie Levasseur.
- 87': Rebecca McKenna (Birmingham City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 87': Foul by Leah Williamson (Arsenal Women).
- 89': Attempt missed. Élisa De Almeida (Arsenal Women) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Emily Fox with a cross.
- 90': Attempt blocked. Géraldine Reuteler (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kyra Cooney-Cross.
- 90': Delay in match because of an injury Sophie Baggaley (Birmingham City Women).
- 90'+1': Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
- 90'+2': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 90'+3': Attempt missed. Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Leah Williamson.
- 90'+4': Attempt missed. Élisa De Almeida (Arsenal Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left.
- 90'+6': Second Half ends, Arsenal Women 1, Birmingham City Women 1.
- 0': Match ends, Arsenal Women 1, Birmingham City Women 1.
Statistics
 BIR |
ARS |
|
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Fouls | 9 |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 1 | Offsides | 1 |
| 1 | Corner Kicks | 11 |
| 3 | Saves | 0 |
| 24.2 | Possession | 75.8 |
| 5 | SHOTS | 27 |
| 1 | ON GOAL | 4 |
| 0.2 | On Target % | 0.1 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Penalty Kicks Taken | 0 |
| 129 | Accurate Passes | 540 |
| 207 | Passes | 618 |
| 0.6 | Pass Completion % | 0.9 |
| 0 | Accurate Crosses | 12 |
| 2 | Crosses | 42 |
| 0.0 | Cross % | 0.3 |
| 50 | Long Balls | 45 |
| 11 | Accurate Long Balls | 30 |
| 0.2 | Long Balls % | 0.7 |
| 2 | Blocked Shots | 6 |
| 11 | Effective Tackles | 6 |
| 20 | Tackles | 10 |
| 0.6 | Tackle % | 0.6 |
| 14 | Interceptions | 4 |
| 58 | Effective Clearances | 3 |
| 58 | Clearances | 3 |
Game Information
Competition: English Women's Super League
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Location: London, England
Attendance: 19,426
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Location: London, England
Attendance: 19,426
Women's Super League Standings
| # | TEAM | GP | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester City | 5 | +10 | 15 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 5 | +11 | 13 |
| 3 | London City Lionesses | 5 | +10 | 12 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 | +8 | 10 |
Line-Ups
Arsenal (4-2-3-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 16 | Misa Rodríguez (GK) |
| 3 | Lotte Wubben-Moy |
| 6 | Leah Williamson |
| 22 | Ona Batlle |
| 31 | Smilla Holmberg |
| 23 | Alessia Russo |
| 32 | Kyra Cooney-Cross |
| 4 | Georgia Stanway |
| 25 | Stina Blackstenius |
| 11 | Olivia Smith |
| 19 | Lisa Baum |
Birmingham City (4-4-1-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 23 | Sophie Baggaley (GK) |
| 21 | Millie Turner |
| 6 | Shannon Cooke |
| 30 | Neve Herron |
| 18 | Rebecca McKenna |
| 8 | Lisa Naalsund |
| 26 | Asato Miyagawa |
| 3 | Marie Levasseur |
| 22 | Oceane Hurtre |
| 16 | Lily Crosthwaite |
| 14 | Suzu Amano |
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