Tim Stillman
Verified- Football Writer, Freelance
- Host, The ArsenalVision Podcast - Arsenal FC
- Reporter, Arseblog Arsecast, The Arsenal Podcast
London
Writer & podcaster ✍🏻 about Arsenal @arseblog. AWFC Correspondent @arseblognews. 🗣 about Arsenal @arsenalvpodcast. WSL. Falo 🇵🇹. Blue tick given not paid.
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Articles by Tim Stillman
Opinion piece from Anfield: Russo is platforming Arsenal
I couldn’t follow the early WSL kickoffs yesterday. In fact, I couldn’t check the results until a few hours after they had finished since I was at the Emirates for the men’s game before rushing to Euston to make my train to Liverpool. I was finally able to look at the scores and saw that Manchester City had beaten West Ham 5-1. I could not immediately see the scorers and had to click another link to see those. ‘How many of these goals did Bunny score?’ I asked myself.
Emily Fox reacts to 2-1 victory over Liverpool
After an assist and a strong display in Arsenal’s 2-1 win at Anfield on Sunday, Emily Fox spoke to the written press. The first three questions are from Arseblog News. On the attacking display and targeting Liverpool’s left side… In this game I had more of a free role, so I think you could probably see that getting to the attack with crosses and whatnot. So obviously, pleased to be able to contribute and help the team win.
Renee Slegers reacts to 2-1 victory over Liverpool
Arsenal were 2-1 winners at Anfield in the WSL on Sunday lunchtime. Alessia Russo gave Arsenal an early lead, Beata Olsson equalised before Russo grabbed a winner. Renee Slegers spoke to the press post-match, the first two questions are from Arseblog News.
Little starts for Arsenal at Liverpool
Kim Little comes back into the Arsenal starting line-up for Arsenal against Liverpool at Anfield in the WSL today. Stina Blackstenius misses out with an Achilles injury which requires further tests, Ona Batlle has a small knock and ought to return for the midweek game against Barcelona. Misa starts in goal behind a back four of Fox, Williamson, Catley and Taylor Hinds. Kim Little and Georgia Stanway in the double pivot.
Are you ok, Noni? Original
Arsenal’s squad construction has given them a lot of depth and diversity in terms of profiles. Timber and White for right-back, Calafiori and Hincapie for left-back. Ezri Konsa has, incredibly, offered both protection and threat to the impregnable Saliba and Gabriel partnership. Bruno and Lewis Skelly, Rice and Zubimendi and Odegaard and Merino for midfield. Eze and Tzolis for the left-wing. Havertz and Gyokeres for centre-forward. Of course, some of these pairings are more symbiotic than others.
‘We’re looking to be aggressive in moments’ Slegers reflects on Arsenal pressing demands
In this week’s Arsenal Women Newsletter I wrote about how Arsenal’s more aggressive pressing structure this season has left them more open to counter attacks. Against Aston Villa on Sunday, Chastity Grant opened the scoring after the Gunners overcommitted to the high press. Being more aggressive in pressing situations has been one of Slegers’ offensive targets for the season.
Renee Slegers has more options but fewer that she trusts as Arsenal draw again
So after a grand total of two consecutive wins, the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday felt so familiar it might as well have been generated by AI. A slow start to a game is punctured by a fast break down Arsenal’s left side exploited by a fast opposition right winger. It’s the fifth time in eight WSL games this season where the Gunners have conceded the first goal.
Renee Slegers reacts to 1-1 draw with Aston Villa
Arsenal drew 1-1 with Aston Villa at the Emirates on Sunday in the WSL. Chastity Grant gave Villa a first half lead, Alessia Russo scored a late equaliser. Renee Slegers spoke to the press post match. The first two questions are from Arseblog News. On the game feeling very familiar… We just said it feels like we’re playing the same game over and over again. We go one goal down from a break and we don’t start with enough urgency. I think ball speed wasn’t high enough.
Williamson back in starting line-up for Arsenal Women- only change from Wednesday
Arsenal only make one change from Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over Benfica in the UWCL for today’s visit of Aston Villa in the WSL. Williamson comes back into defence in place of Elisa de Almeida, otherwise the team is the same. Frida Maanum is back in the matchday squad. So Misa starts in goal in front of a back four of Ona Batlle, Leah Williamson, Steph Catley and Taylor Hinds with Cooney-Cross and Stanway in the midfield double pivot.
‘She is going to grow from this’ Slegers rues latest Katie Reid injury
Renee Slegers admits that Katie Reid’s latest injury setback is a big blow for the player but insists she will grow from the experience. Reid started last season as first choice central defender and earned a call-up into the England squad at the age of 19 but ruptured her ACL before the international window.
‘That’s a constant puzzle’ Slegers talks balancing short-term and long-term priorities
In the last two games, Arsenal have put together back-to-back wins for the first time this season against Spurs and Benfica. Slegers made some changes to the team in the North London derby and some of those partnerships bore fruit again against Benfica last night. Taylor Hinds and Caitlin Foord again struck up a good relationship on the left hand side. Meanwhile, Alessia Russo played in the mumber 10 behind Olivia Smith upfront, who usually plays as a winger.
A Thousand Myles
This Monday marks six months since Arsenal defeated Fulham 3-0 at Emirates Stadium. The game offered a rare oasis of calm in an otherwise fraught season of nailbiting wins. The Gunners, in the midst of a five game ‘playoff’ for the league title with Manchester City, as well as a Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid on the horizon, raced into a three-goal lead by half-time at the Emirates, earning an uproarious reception as the players made for the tunnel at half-time.
A Thousand Myles
This Monday marks six months since Arsenal defeated Fulham 3-0 at Emirates Stadium. The game offered a rare oasis of calm in an otherwise fraught season of nailbiting wins. The Gunners, in the midst of a five game ‘playoff’ for the league title with Manchester City, as well as a Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid on the horizon, raced into a three-goal lead by half-time at the Emirates, earning an uproarious reception as the players made for the tunnel at half-time.
‘Taylor has had really good challenge and support’ Slegers talks up Hinds’ North London derby display
Taylor Hinds made her first WSL start of the season on Saturday and put in an outstanding performance at left-back. She hadn’t played since the 1-0 Champions League win over Koge in September and had been omitted from four matchday squads this season. Arseblog News asked Renee Slegers how she managed Hinds during a time when she was not playing and how she balances rewarding those good performances going forwards.
Hinds sight: analysis of Taylor Hinds’ performance against Spurs
Renee Slegers made a few big calls in her starting line-up away at Spurs on Saturday, few were bigger than starting Taylor Hinds for the first time in the WSL this season. In fact, Hinds has not made the match day squad on three occasions to boot. The player has World Cup ambitions with England next summer and was not selected for the October World Cup qualifiers due to a lack of playing time. It has been a tough time for Hinds.
Energy and emotion the key factors as Slegers and Arsenal get back on the ladder
When the final whistle sounded at a rain soaked Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Arsenal captain Leah Williamson sprinted to the away end and leapt punching the air. Nearly 4,000 Arsenal fans travelled to see a team who had not won a WSL game since the opening day of the season. Before the game, Renee Slegers was clear that playing for the fans was a significant objective today. That message was repeated in Slegers’ post-match press conference.
Renee Slegers reacts to 2-1 victory over Spurs
Arsenal were 2-1 winners away at Spurs in the WSL on Saturday lunchtime. Tandberg gave Spurs a first half lead before Georgia Stanway equalised. A second half penalty from Alessia Russo gave the Gunners the points. Renee Slegers spoke to the press post-match, the first two questions are from Arseblog News.
‘It can and must be better’ Slegers seeking improvement in North London Derby
Arsenal take on Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday in desperate need of a victory. The Gunners underwent significant squad surgery over the summer with eight players arriving and six leaving. Slegers’ side have been especially vulnerable to counter attacks this season and Spurs boast big counter attacking threats such as Shekeira Martinez and Kirsty Hanson.
Tottenham Hotspur Women v Arsenal Preview
THE LOWDOWN Arsenal travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to play Spurs in the WSL on Saturday lunchtime. The Gunners have endured a horrendous start to the season and sit in 8th place in the WSL table. Last weekend’s draw at home to Birmingham City compounded a start to the season that has made the WSL title impossible and Champions League qualification now feels like a tall order too.
Declan Rice- the hero that Arsenal need
‘I see him like a lighthouse, he will light (up) the others and improve the others, and make the team better. The way he talks, the ambition he has and the passion for the game is exactly what we need.’ These were the words of Mikel Arteta upon signing Declan Rice in the summer of 2023. However, this season, it seems as though Arteta has revoked Rice’s lighthouse license. ‘I went to him and I said: ‘You are not the lighthouse anymore.
Arsenal 1 Birmingham 1: frustration and confusion reign for Arsenal Women
Another game, another struggle in front of a fairly meat and potatoes low block and at this point, it is difficult to know what to say or how to say it. One can only repeat oneself so often. 27 shots on target for Arsenal but only four on target. Another game where, by the manager’s own admission, the ball circulation was excruciatingly slow and another game where Arsenal are unpicked by a counter attack that exposes their left side.
Holmberg and Blackstenius start for Arsenal against Birmingham
Smilla Holmberg and Stina Blackstenius come into the Arsenal starting line up for the visit of Birmingham City in the WSL this lunchtime, Olivia Smith is also reinstated into the starting line-up. The Gunners start with Misa in goal behind a back four of Holmberg, Williamson, Wubben-Moy and Batlle. Cooney-Cross and Stanway anchor the midfield with Alessia Russo ahead of them. Lisa Baum and Olivia Smith flank Stina Blackstenius upfront. Kim Little and Frida Maanum are not in the squad.
Arsenal v Birmingham City Women Preview
THE LOWDOWN Arsenal play Birmingham City at Emirates Stadium in the WSL on Saturday at 12.45pm. For Renee Slegers’ side, the October international break was vert welcome on the back of a 4-2 defeat away at Manchester City, on the back of a late implosion and surrender of a two-goal lead against Paris FC and a WSL defeat at Stamford Bridge. The Gunners are in 10th having scored four league goals and are without a WSL win since the opening day.
Arsenal v Birmingham City Women Preview
Birmingham City star August Priske striker puts promotion rivals on notice - 'going to be difficult' August Priske insists he still has plenty to work on after being given an ‘eye opener’ when he started his Birmingham City career. With three goals in …
‘I don’t do things half heartedly’ Arseblog Exclusive Interview with Georgia Stanway
When Georgia Stanway signed for Arsenal during the summer, the brief was, on paper at least, significant. Under the stewardship of Renee Slegers, the midfield- arguably the entire team- has been defined by a double pivot of Mariona and Kim Little. Two players who really ought to have won the Ballon D’Or during their careers. The 30-year-old Spaniard and the 36-year-old Gunners captain formed a highly intuitive and complex partnership in midfield.
‘I don’t do things half heartedly’ Arseblog Exclusive Interview with Georgia Stanway
19 hours ago Five matches into the season, the Gunners are 10th in the WSL table. Arsenal’s underperformance has been one of the hottest topics at the start of the Women’s Super League campaign. Data provided by Opta Analyst’s October 2 breakdown covering Arsenal’s opening five WSL matches from the 2026/27 …
‘She is pain free now’ Slegers relishing greater Olivia Smith involvement
Arsenal manager Renee Slegers says she is relishing seeing more of Olivia Smith during the upcoming block, suggesting the player had been ‘dealing with some issues’ around her fitness. The Canadian hasn’t started for Arsenal since 19 September but has been a substitute in each of the last four games. Smith played 45 minutes in Canada’s first game against Denmark, getting on the score sheet. She also scored in the second game of Canada’s double header against Denmark.
Renee Slegers discusses Mariona and Cerci injuries and Geraldine Reuteler playing time
Renee Slegers conducted press duties ahead of Saturday’s game at home to Birmingham City. We had a docket of questions for this one, so we will just go question by question and answer by answer on this occasion. Is it right that Mariona has a grade 3 hamstring injury? It’s a bigger hamstring injury and the estimation right now is between 8 to 10 weeks. But we’ll see. We’re rescanning and we did a rescan this week and the healing process looks good.
Leftism- Arsenal’s left wing issues present opportunity
I suspect most observers of the Premier League would agree that Arsenal have one of the deepest squads in Europe at the moment. In home victories against Leeds and Lille, the Gunners have been able to use their bench effectively to win games, with Bruno Guimaraes scoring the winner against Leeds after coming on as a second half sub, while Bukayo Saka got an assist and a goal within minutes of coming on against Lille on Tuesday. Mikel Arteta has a lot of depth in pretty much every position.
Arsenal Women’s Champions League tie away at Barcelona rearranged
Arsenal Women’s Champions League group phase tie away at Barcelona has been pushed back by 24 hours due to a general strike in Spain. The game was originally scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 11 November at 6.45pm local time in the Camp Nou. However, shortly after the schedule was put together a general strike was called in the country which would make it very difficult to hold the game due to staffing and transport issues.
Three questions for Arsenal in October and November
After a sizeable international break, Arsenal return this weekend to a fixture schedule that will be daunting (as it always, always is nowadays). This is the part of the season where the dust begins to settle, some injuries will naturally take hold and each team has to adapt as the variability of the football season really begins to kick in. Here are three things I have my eye on ahead of the next block.
The beat goes on- mythbuster on being an Arsenal Women Correspondent
This was last week’s edition of the Arsenal Women Weekly Newsletter (which is free to sign up to!). We felt it was worth reprinting here since we get a lot of questions about press conferences and the like. Press conferences tend to have somewhere between five and eight questions, it is unlikely we can cover everything and get every fan’s opinion or bugbear addressed.
No substitute for clarity: Arsenal are ending games badly
Following Sunday’s 4-2 defeat at Manchester City, Tom Garry from the Guardian asked Renee Slegers whether it was the substitutions thta proved the difference in the game, with City gradually turning a tight game in their favour after introducing the likes of Beney, Casparij and Fowler. ‘They get immediate effect when they make their changes. They changed their full-backs. Casparij gets the ball on the edge of the box, shoots and scores the goal. The clearest example of the effect that they get.
‘It was important to spend time with the players after the game’ Slegers apologetic about missing Paris press conference
Arsenal boss Renee Slegers was apologetic about missing Wednesday night’s post-match press conference in Paris, but insists she felt it was better to be with her players in that moment.
‘We are in a tough spot’ Alessia Russo speaks to Arseblog News in Paris
After Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Paris FC, Arseblog News spoke briefly with Alessia Russo. Do bear in mind we had a lot of questions written before the end of the game which were rendered less relevant by the result and we didn’t have a great deal of time to pivot, which goes some way to explaining the brevity of the conversation.
‘We are in a tough spot’ Alessia Russo speaks to Arseblog News in Paris
I have been having a very difficult time concentrating for the past days due to the whole scandal and disgusting news regarding the 7 men than gang …
Aaron D’Antino reacts to 2-2 draw with Paris FC
Arsenal’s assistant coach Aaron D’Antino faced the press after the 2-2 draw with Paris FC this evening. Here’s what he had to say. On how the players and manager are feeling … It’s incredibly disappointing, or frustrating I should say, because we felt like for large periods of the game we had good control. They are a counter-attacking team, that is their threat, so we were aware of that. And yes, the first moment we need to the first goal, we can defend it better from the first phase.
Misa for Borbe and Wubben-Moy for Catley the only changes for Arsenal against Paris
Now A miscommunication between Arsenal goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez and England captain Leah Williamson gifts Paris FC a late equaliser as the sides draw 2-2 in the Women's Champions League. MATCH REPORT: Champions League - Paris FC 2-2 Arsenal Available to UK users only.
Misa for Borbe and Wubben-Moy for Catley the only changes for Arsenal against Paris
Arsenal make two changes for tonight’s from Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Chelsea for tonight’s UWCL game against Paris FC with Misa coming back in goal ahead of Anneke Borbe and Lotte Wubben-Moy coming in for the injured Steph Catley. That means Misa will start ahead of a back four of Fox, Williamson, Wubben-Moy and Batlle. The midfield three will be Little, Stanway and Cooney-Cross. Baum and Mariona start either side of Alessia Russo upfront.
Legacy
One of the key fallouts from the guilty verdict against Manchester City for 114 charges of what I will politely refer to as ‘financial chicanery’ is deep introspection. The idea that a decade’s worth of Premier League football has been tainted by, in the words of the Premier League, a move to ‘artificially inflate the club’s revenues, and reduce its costs, by more than £900 million during the affected period, to appear to comply with financial rules,’ is difficult to reckon with.
‘We know that it will come’ Slegers bullish about Arsenal attacking woes
Arsenal boss Renee Slegers is bullish about Arsenal’s travails in front of goal, which have seen them score just three times in their opening five games. Slegers says that when the attack clicks the team will reveal its true potential. Speaking ahead of tonight’s UWCL game away at Paris FC, Slegers dismissed the suggestion there have been too many personnel changes in the final third of the pitch this season. ‘It’s not like it was 20 years ago. These players spend a lot of time together.
‘We know that it will come’ Slegers bullish about Arsenal attacking woes
Ex-Celtic star Kasper Schmeichel says he’s ‘basically a full-time Uber driver’ as he reveals post-retirement struggles FORMER Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel admits he’s BORED after being forced to retire. The 39-year old called it quits at the end of last season …
Paris FC v Arsenal Preview
1 hour ago Scotland fans came to Hampden to welcome the new man, Sebastien Pocognoli, and left with all the woes of old weighing them down as they went. More calamitous defending in the beginning, another self-inflicted wound that was a complete game-changer, another day without a goal - four in a row now. In …
The washing machine: lack of clarity hamstringing Arsenal Women’s attack
Sunday represented Arsenal’s first defeat of the season but it certainly didn’t feel that way. Once again, the Gunners toiled in front of goal in their 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge. In isolation, losing a tight game by a single goal away at Chelsea can happen. But previous draws in winnable fixtures left no room for defeat and we are past the stage of being able to consider results in isolation.
Borbe in goal, Mariona on the wing for Arsenal at Chelsea
Renée Slegers has made two major changes for Arsenal’s WSL game away at Chelsea this afternoon with Anneke Borbe coming into the starting line-up and Mariona starting on the wing. Kyra Cooney-Cross comes into midfield too. Borbe starts in front of a back four of Fox, Williamson, Catley and Batlle. Meanwhile, Stanway, Cooney-Cross and Little team up in midfield. Mariona and Baum start on the wings either side of Alessia Russo. Hinds and Maanum don’t make the matchday squad.
‘She has been mature, calm and enjoying her football’ Slegers praises Cooney-Cross reintegration
Arsenal undoubtedly laboured to a 1-0 win over HB Koge on Tuesday night. In the official Arsenal Women Whatsapp channel, they ask for fans to vote for Player of the Match. Cooney-Cross earned over 4,100 votes. Leah Williamson ranked in second place with 366 votes. Her performance did not go unnoticed by Arsenal fans. Arseblog News asked Renee Slegers whether she has been surprised by the speed of Cooney-Cross’ reintegration after missing nine months of football due to compassionate leave.
Winning the league is hard, defending it harder still Original
It is well documented that Arsenal have not successfully defended a league title since 1935. In the Premier League era, the league champions have, more often than not, handed the trophy straight over to a rival. It is incredibly difficult to ‘go back-to-back’ in the English top-flight because quite a lot of things need to go your way along with your own quality as a team.
Emily Fox signs new Arsenal contract
Arsenal right-back Emily Fox has extended her contract with the club. The US international joined from North Carolina Courage in January 2024 and her previous deal was set to expire at the end of this season. Arseblog News understands this is a three year-contract. There was significant ($$$) interest from the NWSL in the player over the summer which was given short shrift by the club. ‘I’m so happy to be extending my stay here,” said Emily.
In your head: Gunners low block woes become psychological against Koge
I was dearly hoping to not have to write another article about Arsenal Women toiling in front of a low defensive block again for a while. But alas. On Tuesday evening, Renee Slegers made eight changes to her line-up for the UWCL opener against Danish side Koge. It made sense, Arsenal have a big squad and three consecutive away games at Chelsea, Paris FC and Manchester City on the immediate horizon.
Renee Slegers reacts to 1-0 victory over HB Koge
A heavily rotated Arsenal side beat Koge 1-0 at Meadow Park on Tuesday night thanks to a stoppage time penalty from Mariona. Renee Slegers spoke to the press post match. The first two questions are from Arseblog News. On the psychological importance going forward of getting the late goal… It was a mentality, resilience win today and the football didn’t give us the win and I’m not saying that everything was, it’s again in front of the goal. But we get the goal as a squad.
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