Arsenal Women: Why Gunners didn’t win Women’s Super League or Champions League
The extra time on the pitch was likely to have taken its toll on the players in last week’s 1-1 draw at Brighton, four days after their European title defense came to a crushing end at Lyon.
Dropping points against the Seagulls meant Arsenal were unable to catch City, who won the title for the first time since 2016.
While fixtures were postponed due to Champions League and Champions Cup commitments, Arsenal’s program was condensed towards the end of the season.
Arsenal have played six matches in the last 18 days. In the same period, City played two matches.
“Too many games have been postponed into this part of the season,” former Scotland and Arsenal defender Jen Beattie told the Women’s Football Weekly podcast.
“That’s the hardest part of the job, so you don’t want your biggest game accumulation to come to this point in the season.”
With the season effectively over for Arsenal, the club’s transfer plans have already begun to perhaps address some of its shortcomings ahead of what promises to be a busy summer.
On Monday, Arsenal confirmed that Beth Mead, who scored 86 goals in 264 appearances, will leave the club after nine years. Defender Laia Codina and midfielder Victoria Pelova will also leave the team at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, the club has been heavily linked with some big signings, including Bayern Munich and England midfielder Georgia Stanway and Barcelona full-back Ona Batlle.
