Renee Slegers appears more composed than one might expect given Arsenal’s shaky start to the Women's Super League campaign. The Gunners have already slipped off the pace after just three matches, and a familiar weakness has resurfaced at the Emirates Stadium. Following a promising debut—a win over Brighton that had previously denied Manchester City the title last season—Arsenal have since stumbled into consecutive draws.
The first came against newly‑promoted Crystal Palace, and the second against a Manchester United side that had yet to secure a point in its opening two fixtures. Those results have amplified the scrutiny ahead of this weekend’s clash with Chelsea, a game that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Arsenal’s recent struggles have been highlighted by their poor expected‑goals (xG) performance. Despite possessing a wealth of attacking talent, the team has underperformed in this metric more than any other side in the league at this early stage. The problem, according to Slegers, is less about tactics and more about mindset. The head coach is keen to shift any lingering pressure away from her squad and onto herself, believing that a calm atmosphere will enable the players to think clearly and act instinctively on the pitch.
"It’s frustrating that we’ve dropped four points," she admitted, before adding, "We can’t change the past now. The focus must be on the positives and on what we can improve moving forward." Slegers explicitly offered to shoulder the burden of expectation: "If anyone should carry the pressure, it should be me. I want the players to feel free, to play with clear heads and trust their intuition." She also noted that while Arsenal had previously found ways to cope with low‑block defenses, there are still opportunities to exploit set‑pieces and other attacking avenues. "A coach can either complicate things by adding endless detail, or strip everything back to the basics," she said.
"Ultimately, actions speak louder than words. There has been a lot of talk, but now we need to show results and look ahead." The sense of déjà vu was palpable when Arsenal opened their Champions League campaign at home against Koge on Tuesday. An early goal from Chloe Kelly was ruled out by VAR, and the Gunners struggled to regain momentum. They eventually scraped a 93rd‑minute penalty conversion from Mariona Caldentey to secure a narrow win over the Danish minnows, who had lost all six of their previous Champions League matches.
Had Kelly’s strike stood, it might have alleviated the subconscious feeling of "here we go again" that has been lingering among the squad. Instead, the team was forced to endure a tense finish, underscoring Slegers’ emphasis on quick starts to win the mental battle.
"We are hungry for fast starts and we need them," she explained. "We keep pushing for that edge in every game, focusing on everything we can control.
Tuesday demonstrated mental resilience—the belief that we could still win. We knew before the match that the goal could come at any moment, early or late, and an early strike would have changed the whole dynamic." Low‑block formations remain a tough nut to crack for any side, and Slegers acknowledged that only a handful of teams excel at breaking them down. "We know we have to improve in that area," she said.
Looking ahead, Arsenal will have a brief respite before facing Chelsea. Unless the Blues dramatically alter their tactics, they are unlikely to sit deep for extended periods at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. While Chelsea will pose a greater attacking threat, the match also offers Arsenal’s forwards a chance to showcase their abilities—something they have struggled to do consistently this season. The upcoming fixture could be especially significant for young winger Lisa Baum, the 19‑year‑old who arrived from RB Leipzig over the summer.
Baum has started all three of Arsenal’s WSL games to date, and Slegers praised her rapid integration. "She has earned her place in the team," Slegers said.
"I trust her because of her training attitude, behavior, and performances. She is becoming an important player for us, and despite her age, she deserves the confidence we are giving her." Four matches into any campaign, the phrase "must‑win" feels a bit exaggerated. Even "must‑not‑lose" might be more appropriate at this juncture, particularly in an expanded league format.
Dropping seven points to the leaders by the end of September would be a nightmare scenario that the pre‑season plan aimed to avoid. "Playing Chelsea away is always a special occasion," Slegers remarked.
"It’s a London derby, it’s always charged, and we are prepared for it. As always, if there is any pressure, I want to be the one taking it." Fans can tune in to watch Chelsea versus Arsenal on Sky Sports Premier League, with kickoff scheduled for 4:30 pm on Sunday.
The match promises a compelling contest between two of England’s top women’s clubs, and it will be a crucial test of whether Slegers can successfully relieve her players of the weight of expectation and restore Arsenal’s early‑season momentum.