Arsenal have scored five goals in six Women's Super League (WSL) games this season - the joint-second lowest tally in the division. They might well be grateful, then, to be facing a team on Saturday that have conceded 12 goals in their past two matches. It just so happens that team is fierce rivals Tottenham.
But Spurs have their own fires to fight, given their decent start to the WSL campaign has gone up in flames. This is a north London derby that could define both teams' seasons. The first six games have been galling for under-pressure Arsenal boss Renee Slegers, particularly given pre-season talk of a serious title push.
The facts do not make for pleasant reading for Arsenal and their fans: No victory since the opening day at Brighton Toothless home draws with promoted Birmingham and Crystal Palace Defeats at pre-season title rivals Chelsea and Manchester City mean they are nine points off Champions League qualification Eighth in the table on the same tally as West Ham, Aston Villa and Palace That said, on one level Slegers can feel hard done by. After all, Arsenal have hit the woodwork more times than anyone else (five), had the joint-most touches in the opposition box (283) and created the third-highest number of chances (93). However, their shot conversion rate of 5.9% is comfortably the worst in the division, with leaders Manchester City's at 16.7%.
The statistic is more staggering given the quality they possess in Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius and Olivia Smith among others. "You can't question the commitment of the players, but they are trying to walk it in," England's record goalscorer Ellen White told the BBC's Women's Football Weekly podcast. "They are creating opportunities but look a little lost, a bit desperate.
"It's going to be a very uncomfortable day. I don't think a draw is enough." Slegers has been searching for solutions to the lack of goals, retaining the same front four in her starting XI just once in all competitions She has made more substitutions than any other manager too, including using her full complement of five in all but one match. Where to use last season's top scorer Russo is a conundrum, given she has yet to ignite either as a central striker or in the number 10 role.
Losing team heartbeat Mariona Caldentey for up to 10 weeks with a hamstring issue has been another disruption. "We all know they have the individual quality, but for whatever reason it's not clicking," said former England captain Steph Houghton. In some respects, Tottenham are perfect opponents for Arsenal.
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