Arsenal’s miserable start to the season continued, but not in the way you’d think, in a 2-2 draw with Paris FC in the league stage of the Women’s Champions League. After leading by two goals in the 50th minute, it looked like the finishing problems that plagued Arsenal in the first half of the season were put to rest; but they created new problems. Clara Mateo scored in the 72nd minute, but it is the 87th-minute penalty that is the story of this game. Nineteen-year-old Maeline Mendy dispatched it easily, but it was a lack of awareness that also resulted in a penalty.
After the ball stopped moving, Arsenal keeper Misa passed the ball to center back Leah Williamson, who picked up the ball to stabilize it, thinking she would take a goal kick. But due to the ball coming to the end of the stoppage, the referee ruled that the ball was offside, giving Paris FC a chance to equalize. Since there is rarely a foul, it is effective as the law of the game which is referred to the referee.
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In the process for goal kicks, the ball must be stationary and can be kicked from any point within the goal area by the possession of the team’s players. When Misa finished rolling the ball forward, he made a perfect stop before passing to Williamson, who picked up the ball for a goal kick. Which leads to the second point of the goal kick procedure: that the ball is in play when it is kicked and it moves clearly, which it did when it was kicked in Williamson’s box. If Misa was involved for kicking, then it wouldn’t be an issue, but with the kick, that’s why it was called for a penalty and the offense of Arsenal was drawn.
Paris FC have been a team on the rise in the League Women’s League play since they make their third group or league season appearance ever. They have all come in the last four years, but have been dominated by English teams, losing their last five UWCL matches since 2023-24, ending Arsenal’s run in qualifying between the ranks.
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Arsenal have now won just two of their six matches in all competitions, with a third of them being draws. While they’re certainly not losing, it’s not the kind of form that sees Koge open things up through the League Stage after tough wins, or at the top of the Women’s Super League, where they chase title holders Manchester City. There were moments where this game could have faded from view, but as long as Arsenal’s poor performance continued, Manager Renée Slegers had a tough task ahead.
Someone has to step into the void that Beth Mead left when she moved to City, and there were chances as Alessia Russo took five shots against FC Paris, but many of them came from poor competition. When the games are going against you like this, it can be harder to go back to basics, but Arsenal must do what it takes to put this wacky penalty situation firmly in the rearview mirror. Only the top four teams in the league stage will advance directly to the last eight of the Champions League, while the teams finished fifth through 12th will see the team go into the qualifying stage of the playoffs, which Arsenal would like to avoid, but they can only do so if the goals start coming.