Arsenal conceded a bizarre late penalty as they were held to a surprise draw by Paris FC in the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday night.
The Gunners had been on track for a comfortable 2-1 win on the road thanks to goals from Alessia Russo and Georgia Stanway as their match in the French capital meandered into the closing stages.
But three points quickly became one as a rare error from experienced captain Leah Williamson handed Paris a surprise spot-kick.
The Gunners were awarded a goal kick in the 86th minute of play, and goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez, having retrieved the ball, placed it down on the edge of the six-yard box and passed to Williamson.
Williamson then stopped the ball with her hand and placed it as if to take the goal kick herself, though the referee saw things differently. She deemed Rodriguez to have taken the goal kick and awarded a penalty for handball against Williamson.
Both Williamson and Rodriguez defended themselves enthusiastically, appearing to claim the ball had been rolling before Rodriguez’s pass, but the decision was not overturned.
Watch: Arsenal concede bizarre late penalty in UWCL
Leah Williamson didn't realise the ball was in play... 😬
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) September 30, 2026
The referee said a goal kick had been taken, handball! ❌ pic.twitter.com/CHXlscYoBP
The penalty was duly dispatched by Maeline Mendy, equalising with minutes left on the clock, and the match ended level.
The incident compounds what has been a frustrating start to the campaign for Renee Slegers and Arsenal. They sit seventh in the WSL after four matches, having won once and scored just twice. Sunday’s derby defeat at Chelsea leaves them seven points adrift of runaway early leaders Manchester City.
Questions are starting to be asked of Slegers, given the slow start follows a summer of not inconsiderable investment, with eight new signings joining the squad.
And she did not face the media at full time in Paris, such was her frustration with the dropped points. Her assistant Aaron D’Antino instead shouldered media duties.
“The way that the game ends is incredibly disappointing,” said D’Antino. “We didn’t think it was a penalty, we don’t think the goal kick had actually been taken for what we had seen.
“But it goes to VAR and apparently that’s a penalty.
“As far as we’re concerned, that’s not [a penalty]. We haven’t taken a goal kick, there’s no advantage gained by Leah stopping the ball.
“But as an example of refereeing decisions, we just can’t put ourselves in that situation in the first place.”
Arsenal won the 2024/25 Champions League with Slegers in the dugout.
