​Arsenal controlled the game in the opening 15 minutes but were unable to create any opportunities.

​The Blues' plan was clear though, as in-form Hurtré broke away and had an effort deflected just wide, before, minutes later, Lily Crosthwaite sped through the middle of the Arsenal backline, but her effort caused Misa Rodriguez no trouble.

​Birmingham almost undid their positive early defensive work when goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley played a wayward pass out the back, though Alessia Russo’s attempted lob hit the roof of the net.

​Arsenal’s early-season struggles in front of goal were clear in the first half, though Kyra Cooney-Cross took the initiative on herself, which forced Baggaley to tip her low effort from range around the post.

​Seven minutes before half-time, the post denied Arsenal the lead. Leah Williamson's first-time cross was met by a diving header from Russo which crashed off the inside of the right post.

​The Gunners hadn’t scored a first-half goal at home in any competition this season, and in truth they hadn't created enough opportunities in the first half to worry their newly promoted opponents.

​The hosts continued to dominate play at the start of the second half, and edged closer to breaking the deadlock as Smilia Holmberg ventured forward from right back and fired over the bar.

​Moments later, though, disaster struck for the Gunners as Birmingham City took the lead in the 53rd minute.

​Once again it was a devastating counter-attack led by Hurtré, who put the afterburners on to reach Neve Herron’s exquisite through ball before she dinked the ball over Misa Rodriguez. It was the French international’s seventh goal in seven games for both club and country, and one which left the Emirates stunned into silence.

​Baggaley denied Arsenal making a quick response 11 minutes later as Ona Battle’s cross to the back post was met by a header from Lisa Baum from point-blank range, which the Birmingham keeper somehow managed to prevent from crossing the line.

​It seemed the Gunners desperately needed a moment of magic to get back into the game, so up stepped the back-to-back PFA Young Player of the Year Olivia Smith. The ball dropped to the Canadian on the edge of the box, and urged by the crowd to shoot, she hit a rocket into the top corner to provide the Emirates with the spark that they needed.

​She had a great chance to get her brace and give Arsenal the lead with 15 minutes to go, but Smith didn’t manage to keep the bouncing ball down. Renee Slegers made two immediate attacking changes as Géraldine Reuteler and Emily Fox replaced Stina Blackstenius and Holmberg.

​The hosts kept the pressure on Birmingham as the game ticked into the final five minutes, during which they made two more changes: Caitlin Foord replaced Baum and Batlle made way for Élisa De Almeida to make her Arsenal debut. The French defender was immediately involved as she tried to head a deep cross back towards the penalty spot, but she couldn’t reach it.

​Reuteler was then denied a potential winner with a last-ditch block from Birmingham captain Mille Turner.

​They couldn’t break the deadlock, and that same familiar feeling was felt around the Emirates as the Gunners drew a league game at home for the third time in a row. 27 shots, 2.71 xG… they’d certainly had the opportunities, but the same issue persisted: they were too wasteful with the chances they created.

​However, Birmingham should receive lots of high praise, as they put in an astounding defensive display to earn a draw, and were denied their first win of the season by a stunning equaliser from Smith.

​