Boos for Arsenal as Birmingham draw extends winless WSL run to deepen pressure on Slegers

An equaliser from Olivia Smith averted defeat for Arsenal but their 1-1 home draw with Birmingham did little to calm fears for Renée Slegers’ future as Gunners coach.Boos accompanied the final whistle at the Emirates, as a draw left Arsenal on six points from six matches, without a win in five Women’s Super League matches, the club’s longest winless run in WSL history. Slegers’ team are eighth in the table, nine points behind leaders Manchester City, who have played one game fewer.Birmingham opened the scoring at the start of the second half when Océane Hurtré coolly tapped in after her run from the halfway line went unchecked. Alessia Russo had hit the woodwork in the first half with a diving header, among a slew of Arsenal chances as Blues’ Sophie Baggaley was kept the busier of the goalkeepers.“I don’t think we created enough in the first half,” said Slegers. “Second half is different, there was one player we needed to stop in Birmingham and that was Hurtré. But she came through in a fast break and a counter, we don’t defend that well enough.”Smith’s spectacular strike, in the 66th minute, curled from outside the box, rescued a point but Arsenal would not find the winning goal that might ease pressure on Slegers. Baggaley’s goalkeeping and slack finishing meant Birmingham secured their point.“We are in a scenario that we’ve had too many times season,” said Slegers of her team’s inability to find a path to victory. Next week for Arsenal, a north London derby with Tottenham, who kick off at Chelsea in fourth on Sunday.Slegers said: “The next game is always the next opportunity. [It’s good] that we always keep going and that we rise after setbacks, which we’ve done and we know that about the team.“We just need to put ourselves in better positions earlier so that’s not necessary every time, because it takes energy from the team having to play those scenarios. But yes, the team has been brilliant. Like I said, the urgency, the willingness, the desire in the second half was really good.”skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionDespite those boos at the final whistle, Smith said of the home fans: “They always bring out great support, [we’re] so happy to have them here. Again, disappointed not to get the result, must be frustrating for them, but they stay with us and support us.”