Arsenal Ladies were defeated by Rosengard 2-1 in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Carsharlton FC.

This is the third defeat in as many pre-season games against tough opposition.

With the next and final pre-season game against Manchester City next Tuesday, behind-closed-doors again, Arsenal have built up a series of games against top quality Champions League teams only.

So, it is only a half surprise to see the team beaten three times so far with a 3-1 reverse against FC Bayern and 1-0 defeat against Wolfsburg.

Lotta Schelin and Marta (pen) scored for Rosengard while Chloe Kelly was on the score sheet for the Gunners.

There is little news on the line-up as it was played behind-closed-doors, except for friends and family. Danielle Van De Donk took to social media to say her family was there prior to the game, while Chelsea’s Ramona Bachmann, an ex-Rosengard player turned up as well as per her instagram stories.

https://twitter.com/DanielleDonk/status/829678576278634496

The Arsenal Ladies will play their first public game on Sunday 19th February with the Kelly Smith celebration game. Obviously, the build-up to it is important in order to get a huge number of fans turning up at the game.

So, on the marketing side, it makes sense to open the season with that game, but in terms of competitive games, the four pre-season friendlies are much more interesting than a game against a team of players in their 30s and 40s.

As the fan have been deprived of Champions League football for four seasons now, the only way to see the team live against quality opposition was to travel to Spain or Portugal. Or to be invited to the two behind-closed-doors games.

Do the Arsenal really have something to hide to prevent fans from watching?

Rosengard don’t because they play Chelsea on Sunday in the same ground, Carsharlton FC, and it is open to the public.

I do understand Man City wanting to hide tactics, line-ups and other stuff from the their Champions League opponents, but they played a friendly in Berlin against Turbine Potsdam, open to the public and will play at home to Frankfurt again with fans allowed.

Many FA WSL teams play games behind-closed-doors, something that really does not help in promoting the game. It has been the same for years and is not likely to change.

Hopefully the Arsenal can get a result against Manchester City next Tuesday because four defeats in four would not be a great pre-season.