An equaliser from Olivia Smith averted defeat for Arsenal, but a home draw with Birmingham did little to calm fears for Renée Slegers’s future as Gunners coach. Boos accompanied the final whistle at the Emirates Stadium, as the result left Arsenal on six points from six matches and without a win in five Women’s Super League matches, the club’s longest winless run in WSL history. They are eighth in the table, nine points behind the 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 Sophie Baggaley was kept the busier of the goalkeepers.

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