Arsenal draw with Birmingham as pressure mounts on Slegers

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 16:57 · Archive

Arsenal drew 1-1 with newly-promoted Birmingham City, extending their winless run in the Women's Super League to five games.

Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by Birmingham City at the Emirates, extending their winless run in the Women's Super League to five games. Oceane Hurtre fired the visitors ahead early in the second half, but Olivia Smith's response salvaged a point for the hosts. Alessia Russo had struck the post with a diving header in the first half. The result drew boos from Arsenal supporters at the final whistle.

Arsenal have not won in the WSL since the opening day of the season. They could be as many as 12 points behind leaders Manchester City if the champions beat Brighton on Sunday. The Gunners are almost certainly out of the title race already.

The loss increases pressure on manager Renee Slegers. Arsenal visit north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur next week, trailing Spurs by at least four points in the table. Slegers led Arsenal to the Women's Champions League in 2025 but the team has struggled to challenge for the title in the two WSL seasons since.

How it is being reported

• Arsenal held at home by BirminghamArsenal continue to struggle in the Women's Super League after having to come from behind to draw 1-1 with Birmingham at the Emirates.BBC Sport · 17 Oct, 18:46
• Boos for Arsenal as draw with Birmingham extends winless WSL runAn equaliser from Olivia Smith averted defeat for Arsenal, but a home draw with Birmingham did little to calm fears for Renée Slegers’s future as Gunners coach. Boos accompanied the final whistle at the Emirates Stadium, as the result left Arsenal on six points from six matches and without a win in five Women’s Super League matches, the club’s longest winless run in WSL history. They are eighth in the table, nine points behind the leaders, Manchester City, who have played one game fewer. Birmingham opened the scoring at the start of the second half when Océane Hurtré coolly tapped in after…The Guardian · 17 Oct, 16:44
• Pressure grows on Renee Slegers as Arsenal booed off after Birmingham drawOlivia Smith’s strike salvaged a point but it was another frustrating day for the Gunners in the Women’s Super LeagueIndependent Sport · 17 Oct, 16:35
• Arsenal booed after Birmingham draw as pressure builds on SlegersPressure continued to mount on Renee Slegers as Arsenal were booed off the pitch following their 1-1 draw with Birmingham at the Emirates.Sky Sports · 17 Oct, 15:12

In this story: Arsenal · Birmingham City · Renee Slegers · Manchester City · Olivia Smith · Oceane Hurtre · Alessia Russo · Tottenham Hotspur

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem