‘A frustrating lesson’: Arsenal’s tactical slip-ups in WSL defeat to West Ham – tactical analysis

The WSL has always been an engrossing league to watch, with close contests to enjoy at the summit and the foot of the table as teams either strive for glory, look to improve on their previous placing or simply try to stay in the division.

The 2023/24 campaign has been one of the most interesting yet, and the weekend saw a considerable clash take place between Arsenal Women and West Ham United Women at the Chigwell Construction Stadium (home to National League men’s side Dagenham and Redbridge), with the final result having significant ramifications at both ends of the table.

In the end, it was West Ham who took the three points and Arsenal who failed to add to their points tally in what is one of the season’s biggest shocks so far. However, it was far from an undeserved victory, with Rehanne Skinner’s side tactically outsmarting Jonas Eidevall’s and demonstrating that, despite a campaign in which they have struggled for form, they are not a side that can be underestimated.

This tactical analysis will look at why Arsenal failed to win a match that many felt they should have done, highlighting how their one-dimensional game plan made it difficult for them to really create many opportunities and how they failed to address that problem as the match wore on. The analysis will also look at West Ham’s tactics to see why their defensive resilience aided their bid for a second consecutive victory and why they showed good tactical variation in their play to ensure that they were the ones celebrating after the 90 minutes were up.

Lineups

West Ham United Women made just one change to their starting XI from the win against fellow strugglers Bristol City Women last time out, with Skinner opting to start with a back three against Arsenal in her efforts to give her team more defensive security whenever they were without the ball.

Forward Emma Harries was the one to drop out of the side, with her taking a place among the substitutes, whilst France centre-back Hawa Cissoko came in to play alongside Belgium defender Amber Tysiak and on-loan Tottenham Hotspur Women and Canada player Shelina Zadorsky in the back line. Japan’s Risa Shimizu and Scotland’s Kirsty Smith moved from full-back to wing-back, whilst Riko Ueki and Viviane Asseyi formed a front two in Harries’ absence.