Arsenal’s opening UEFA Women’s Champions League win over HB Koge was the kind of result that feels both satisfying and deeply unsettling. A stoppage-time penalty from Mariona Caldentey sealed the 1-0 victory at Meadow Park, but the reality is this: the Gunners have not looked like the side that dominated the competition just last season. Three goals in five matches across all competitions—including just two in their first three Women’s Super League games—paints a stark picture of an attack struggling to find its rhythm without Beth Mead.
The absence of the England captain is the elephant in the room. Mead’s departure to Manchester City was a seismic shift, and the numbers tell the story: Arsenal’s scoring drought extends beyond individual brilliance. The Gunners’ 2024-25 Champions League triumph was built on a lethal combination of creativity and finishing, but this season’s opening campaign has exposed a worrying lack of clinical precision. Even against HB Koge—a side that has been a regular in the competition since 2021—Arsenal’s attack failed to deliver until the final whistle, a pattern that cannot be sustained in the knockout stages.
Renee Slegers acknowledged as much after the game, framing the win as a testament to resilience rather than dominance. ‘The football didn’t give us the win,’ she admitted, emphasizing the need to ‘keep things simple.’ Her words carry weight, but they also underscore a deeper question: if Arsenal’s attack cannot find its footing in the league phase, how will they adapt when the pressure mounts in the knockout rounds? The Gunners are still chasing the WSL title against Manchester City, and the Champions League demands a different kind of consistency. Without a surge in goals, their campaign risks being defined by late comebacks rather than controlled superiority.
The contrast with Chelsea’s approach is striking. The Blues, also returning to the Champions League after a disappointing 2025-26 season, have at least shown flashes of their usual dominance in the WSL. A 5-0 win over Manchester United and a 2-0 victory against Birmingham City have restored confidence, even if injury concerns linger. Chelsea’s stability under Xabi Alonso—unlike Arsenal’s rivals who have seen managerial changes—could be their greatest asset. But for Slegers’ side, the challenge is clearer: they must rediscover the finishing that made them champions last year, or risk another season of near-misses and late drama.
The road ahead is steep. Arsenal’s Champions League group includes Liverpool, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain—teams that will test their depth and adaptability. The Gunners’ stability under Slegers is their strength, but without a return to clinical form, their title ambitions in both domestic and European competitions will remain fragile. The stoppage-time penalty was a reminder of their resilience, but it is not enough. The real test begins now: can Arsenal’s attack rediscover its edge, or will they be left chasing their past glory?
