Inconsistencies continue for Arsenal, even against a vulnerable Barcelona

BARCELONA, Spain -- Arsenal held a profligate Barcelona to a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou on Thursday in a gutsy display in the UEFA Women's Champions League, but both teams are still unbeaten in the competition and in contention for a top-four finish.

The Gunners, despite their slow start to the season, sitting 12 points off Women's Super League leaders Manchester City, took a surprise early lead through Frida Maanum, who has barely featured for the side this season, scoring only the third goal Barcelona has conceded in the tournament.

In a repeat of the 2025 final in Lisbon, where Arsenal snuck a 1-0 victory, it was Barcelona who had the better of the chances yet failed to do much with them in an uncharacteristically wasteful display.

Caroline Graham Hansen managed to get Barcelona back on level terms to maintain the club's unbeaten streak at home (11 games in the Champions League) and extended their undefeated run at Camp Nou to seven games in the competition. -- Emily Keogh

Arsenal's inconsistency continues to be made apparent

It is hard to know what you'll get from this Arsenal team. That unpredictability can help against opponents, but for viewers, it is becoming increasingly hard to track their inconsistency and determine what a fair result is.

Whenever things seem to be moving upward, they slip back down. Arsenal's winning run was short-lived after a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, before their 2-1 win over Liverpool was countered by Thursday's 1-1 draw with Barcelona.

There is a caveat, though. Arsenal's performances this season have been similar to the one Barcelona had on Thursday evening. Barcelona had 24 chances, 70% possession and 49 touches in the box but failed to do much with their dominance. Arsenal normally fall into the same trap, taking one too many touches, but in playing a counterattacking game and using their limited chances -- they had seven with three on target -- on paper, Arsenal look to be turning a corner.

There was a very good chance, given how Arsenal's season has gone, that Barcelona could've inflicted a grueling heavy defeat on Arsenal. And the visitors' ability to keep the scoreline level is less reflective of their own ability, but more a result of the hosts' lack of ruthlessness. Still, it showed maturity from Arsenal to prevent Barcelona from sneaking a late winner.

Against Barcelona, you would take anything you can get, and therefore, taking points off the holders will boost morale heading into a decisive league meeting with London City Lionesses on Sunday. But conceding two points from a winning position with Barcelona's complacency in front of goal will not instill mass confidence in the team.

This result is not the most important of their coming games. Arsenal are on track to finish at least within playoff territory, if not clinching a top four spot if other teams slip up. Even facing OL Lyonnes next week, Arsenal are on course for some positivity on the continent, but in the league, it is a different story.

Already 12 points off holders Manchester City and sitting sixth in the table, there is little the Gunners can do but try and claim as many points as they can in a bid to reclaim their European contention, which is under serious threat right now. The hope is that this result will be the turning point the team needs. But that has been said multiple times this season already, and it is yet to happen. -- Keogh

Barça remain unbeaten in UWCL, but still vulnerable

This was a game which exposed some potential weaknesses in the European champions' armory, even if on another day they could have beaten Arsenal 4-1.

That is the point, though. Barcelona had 23 shots, racking up an xG of 2.15, but could only find the back of the net once. Most worrying was the fact that striker Ewa Pajor, the top scorer in last season's competition, didn't manage a single shot.

Spring -- when the big games really start -- is a long way away, but Barcelona will have to be more clinical if they are to retain the trophy this season.

Their success may also depend on how fortunate they are with injuries. Coach Pere Romeu made just two changes here. Aitana Bonmatí, still working her way back to full fitness after a leg break, and youngster Rosalía Domínguez were the only players to come off the bench.

With record signing Kerolin, Vicky López, Kika Nazareth and Laia Aleixandri all injured, Romeu didn't trust the depth offered by the other substitutes. At the other end, Arsenal didn't create many chances, but they did create good chances. Just as Barcelona could have scored four, the Gunners could have nicked it.

They didn't, though, and Barcelona remain unbeaten through four games in the Champions League, although they have ceded the top spot. OL Lyonnes now lead the way ahead of the Catalans on goal difference. -- Sam Marsden

Maanum's goal provides great moment

Maanum has been confined to the bench in much of Arsenal's season, and for a stretch, did not make the matchday squad through injury and squad selection. Her opener -- also her first goal of the season -- felt like a redemption goal, reminding Renee Slegers that she is still a viable option.

Slegers has insisted on dropping striker Alessia Russo into midfield, removing the place for a clear No. 10 choice to impact the game. Having netted Arsenal's last seven goals before the meeting with Barcelona, the Dutch coach opted to deploy Russo into her preferred No. 9 role, allowing Maanum to feature.

Slegers' squad selection has been one of the talking points during this turbulent period with the manager chopping and changing her starting lineup, making it hard for the players to build consistency, dropping points in draws and losses in both the league and Champions League.

At the start of the season, Arsenal boasted immense depth following their summer signings. However, with injury concerns now hitting the squad, ruling key players like Mariona Caldentey and Stina Blackstenius out of the squad, some of Slegers' questionable selection decisions are now proving useful.

Maanum's goal will only add to the selection headache facing Slegers with two vital games against London City in the WSL and OL Lyonnes in the Champions League. The Norwegian may have just earned herself a starring role in both games. -- Keogh

Schertenleib shines, causing selection issues with Bonmati's return

The standout Barcelona player against Arsenal was Sydney Schertenleib. The Swiss midfielder was sensational, driving forward with the ball, creating chances and, whenever possible, trying her luck from distance.

She ended the game with seven shots, more than anyone. Unfortunately for her, she was no more clinical than the rest of her teammates. Her performance deserved a goal.

This is quickly turning into the season in which Schertenleib establishes herself as a regular in the Barcelona side. The 19-year-old is still not a guaranteed starter, but it's becoming increasingly hard to leave her out.

She has performed wherever she has been asked to play. Romeu has used her at right back previously, and she ended Thursday's game at left back, brilliantly shackling Olivia Smith, who had been giving Esmee Brugts a hard time in the minutes before the positional change.

Schertenleib's form, coupled with Bonmatí's return, raises a few interesting questions in the post-Alexia Putellas years. You would imagine, once she's fully fit, it will be Bonmatí, Patri Guijarro and one more forming the midfield three. At the moment, Clara Serrajordi and Schertenleib are at the front of that queue. -- Marsden