Arsenal Claims Vital Victory Over Liverpool Despite Defensive Concerns
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Arsenal secured a critical 2-1 victory against Liverpool during their away match. Despite a strong finish by the home team, Arsenal managed to hold onto their lead in the final tense moments of the game.
With this win, Arsenal climbed to sixth place in the league, now six points behind their next opponents, the London City Lionesses, who they face on Sunday.
Arsenal is currently 12 points behind league leaders Manchester City and 10 points behind second-placed Chelsea.
For the match against Liverpool, Renée Slegers made three adjustments to her starting lineup. She included Kim Little, Emily Fox, and Lisa Baum, who replaced Kyra Cooney-Cross, who was injured, and Geraldine Reuteler.
Taylor Hinds featured for the fourth consecutive game but raised concerns after leaving the field injured, especially with Batlle also sidelined.
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As the match progressed, the team’s back four changed significantly. Initially, Arsenal had Fox, Leah Williamson, Steph Catley, and Hinds, but finished with Elisa de Almeida, Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy, and Fox.
The capability of their squad has shown to be beneficial, as despite multiple injuries, Arsenal still concluded the match with a back four composed entirely of full internationals. Additionally, Smilla Holmberg contributed by playing on the right wing.
Currently, Arsenal faces a challenge with eight players sidelined, although several may recover in time for Thursday’s match against Barcelona: Batlle, Hinds, Mariona Caldentey, Stina Blackstenius, Chloe Kelly, Selina Cerci, Katie Reid, and Michelle Agyemang.
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In past seasons, such a number of injuries would have significantly weakened the squad. However, with 27 players available this season, Slegers still has the flexibility to rotate and experiment with different lineups.
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Earlier in the season, having numerous options became a challenge rather than a benefit.
Arsenal conceded another goal due to defensive lapses, with Williamson caught one-on-one with Olsson, triggered by Catley’s position during the play.
Observing Arsenal’s defense, it is clear that Catley occasionally falls behind the defensive line, indicating a possible coaching tactic.
Arsenal “can’t hold a defensive line”? well have you considered that our back 4 operates in a non-Euclidean geometry?? didn’t think so.[image or embed]— Sophie E. Hill (@sophieehill.bsky.social) 8 November 2026 at 14:20
Additionally, playing a high defensive line poses risks without midfield support for balls over the top.
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On a brighter note, Alessia Russo maintained excellent form, contributing to six of Arsenal’s last seven goals. This level of reliance is not ideal but reflects the intention of their current gameplay, which centers around Russo’s role as a forward.
Caitlin Foord also made significant contributions on the left flank, while Fox has displayed impressive form in recent outings, indicating healthy competition at right-back.
While the attacking structure shows promise, it still appears to be evolving.
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Interestingly, the match against Liverpool contrasted with previous games where Arsenal faced teams with low defensive blocks. There were numerous transitional plays and more direct attacking, yielding less control and increasing pressure on their own defense.
Finding a suitable balance remains a complex task.
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As Arsenal prepares for the upcoming game against Barcelona, they will likely focus on a repositioning strategy involving more defensive play, less possession, and an emphasis on counter-attacking.
This match may serve as an opportunity for an all-out defensive performance similar to what was seen in Lisbon.
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However, this will require substantial energy investment while their upcoming opponents, London City Lionesses, have a whole week to prepare for their clash on Sunday. Slegers faces the task of achieving a balance between securing a result against Barcelona and preparing for OL Lyonnes in the Champions League, all while aiming for maximum performance in the league against London City Lionesses.
If successful on Sunday, Arsenal could narrow the gap to three points, thereby making a position in the top three a tangible objective.
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