Usually, I hold off on writing as soon as I get home—the frustration and adrenaline tends to take over. But tonight, sitting in my hotel room in Borehamwood, I feel a bit disappointed, sure, but also clear-headed. Arsenal were edged out by a solid Manchester City side, ending their chance of facing a familiar rival in the League Cup final in Derby. Still, as I think back on the game, a few things stand out—and it’s not all bad.

Squad Depth is Becoming a Real Issue:

Arsenal had more good performances on the pitch tonight than bad ones. Van Domselaar stood out with her penalty save, Leah and Lotte were solid at the back, and both Cooney-Cross and Walti held their own in midfield. Mariona was everywhere, as usual, making herself available all over the pitch, and Emily Fox, despite playing a ton of minutes this season, still brought plenty of energy.

But the squad depth really showed its limits tonight. Like everyone else, Arsenal have played a lot of games recently, but they struggled more than City. Russo was stuck out on the wing again, which really limits her impact as Arsenal’s best striker. Mead was on the bench but didn’t warm up, and Foord only got limited minutes as she works her way back from injury. City, on the other hand, were sharp—much better than they were at the weekend—and their defense was much more solid. Honestly, they could’ve scored more if they’d been more clinical. Arsenal were a bit lucky in that sense.

Missed Opportunities and Costly Errors:

There was a point where I thought Arsenal might get back into it. The crowd got behind them, Mariona slotted the penalty, and Daphne made a big save at the other end. Arsenal had some momentum, but Yamashita pulled the classic fake injury routine to kill the tempo, and despite all the pressure, Arsenal just couldn’t create a clear-cut chance. Then, right when it mattered most, they switched off and left Mary Fowler with too much space—she punished them with the winner.

Tactically, I wasn’t as frustrated as I usually am after a loss. There were times we lacked energy and put ourselves under pressure by not clearing the ball properly. The bench didn’t have much to offer either—McCabe and Foord gave us a bit of a push, but I would’ve liked to see Kafaji get some minutes. This run of fixtures was always going to be tough, but other teams with deeper squads manage these situations better than Arsenal.

That said, Arsenal had their chances. Blackstenius found space to get in behind a few times, with Williamson playing some perfect balls over the top. But the offside flag has been a real problem in recent games, and it’s stopping them from playing the way they want. Some of it might be down to dodgy decisions, but it’s definitely something that needs work.

Looking forward, I’d like to see Arsenal have more to offer from the bench. Hopefully, future transfers bring more depth and competition in every position—not just to improve performances but to avoid overworking certain players. Emily Fox, for example, can’t be far from burnout as the only proper right-back, especially now that Wienroither’s gone on loan to City. Arsenal need to address that, and I believe they will in the summer.

Perspective is Key: Slegers is Building for the Future

As much as we’d all love to see Arsenal win every game and go deep in every competition, it’s important to keep some perspective. Frustration is understandable, but Renée Slegers is in a unique position this season—one that allows for a bit of experimentation. She’s hit the ground running and handled the challenges well, but this season offers her a valuable opportunity. When she took over, Arsenal were already trailing Chelsea in the title race, making the job of catching them nearly impossible. But that’s given her the chance to push for results while also figuring out what works and what doesn’t.

Looking ahead to the summer transfer window, Slegers will have the opportunity to start shaping the squad in her own vision. She can identify the players and systems that fit her style and, hopefully, bring in reinforcements to bolster the squad depth. Chloe Kelly will soon be available, Pelova is on the road to recovery, and with time, Slegers will have more chances to refine her tactics and continue building on the foundation she’s laid.

Of course, as fans, we want to see the team win every week. We want Arsenal competing on all fronts and fighting for every trophy. But when you step back and look at the bigger picture, this team has made real progress since the start of the season. And in many ways, this feels like just the beginning. Renée Slegers wasn’t brought in on a short-term, six-month deal—she’s been trusted with an extended contract because the club believes in her vision. She’s been given the time and space to grow into her role, and with that trust, there’s every reason to believe she can take this team to new heights. We go again on Sunday.