Renee Slegers appears more composed than the headlines might suggest regarding Arsenal’s uneven 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, threatening to derail the team’s early ambitions. The season began promisingly with a win over Brighton—a match that, a year earlier, had handed Manchester City the title after they dropped two points. However, that optimism was quickly tempered by consecutive draws against newly‑promoted Crystal Palace and a Manchester United side that had also lost its opening two fixtures.
Those results have amplified the pressure ahead of Arsenal’s upcoming clash with Chelsea, a game that will be televised live on Sky Sports. Both opponents have employed low‑block defensive structures, a tactic Arsenal seemed to have managed more effectively last season. This season, however, the Gunners are suffering the worst expected‑goals (xG) under‑performance in the league at this early stage, despite the wealth of attacking talent at Slegers’ disposal.
While analysts and supporters will undoubtedly have their own interpretations, Slegers believes the core issue is psychological rather than purely tactical. With that perspective in mind, she is determined to shift any lingering pressure away from her players and onto herself, hoping to give the squad the mental space needed to rediscover their best form. In her own words, she wants to be "the calmest person at the club." "It’s frustrating that we’ve dropped four points," she acknowledges, before adding, "We can’t change that now.
It’s about focusing on the positives and the things we can improve, looking forward." She continues, "I’m happy to take the pressure off the players where it’s needed. If anyone has to carry the weight, it should be me. I want the players to be free on the pitch, to play with clear heads, clear minds and trust their instincts." Slegers also noted that Arsenal had previously found ways to counter low‑block defenses, developing tools and solutions that seemed to work. "We had gotten away from finding low blocks difficult to play against; we had found the tools and solutions.
But there are other things we can try to capitalise on, like set‑pieces." She reflected on coaching philosophy, stating, "As a coach you can go one of two ways – you can dive into more and more detail and make things more complicated, or you can strip things back and return to basics." "Ultimately actions speak louder than words, and there’s been a lot of talking. We just want to show things now and look forward," she concluded. 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 disallowed after a VAR review, and the Gunners struggled to regain momentum. They eventually secured a 93rd‑minute penalty conversion from Mariona Caldentey to edge past the Danish minnows, who had previously lost all six of their Champions League matches in their solitary prior appearance.
Had Kelly’s strike stood, the subconscious narrative of "here we go again" might have been softened for the squad. Instead, the team endured a nail‑biting finish that underscored the importance of quick starts—a point Slegers repeatedly emphasizes to her players. "It’s something we are really hungry for and it’s something we need," she said.
"We are continuing to drive it and go after it in games and look after everything that is in our control." She praised the side’s mental resilience after the Tuesday match, noting, "The endurance of the belief that we could get the win. We said before the game we didn’t know if the goal would come, or if it would be early or late, and had we scored early I think it would have been a very different game." Slegers also addressed the tactical challenge of low‑block defenses, acknowledging, "Low blocks are hard to break down for anyone; there are only a select few who are really good at it, but we know it’s something we have to be able to do better." Looking ahead, Arsenal can find a brief reprieve in the upcoming fixture against Chelsea. Unless the Blues dramatically alter their approach, they are unlikely to sit deep for prolonged periods at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. While Chelsea will still pose a significant threat, the match offers Arsenal’s attacking players a chance to showcase their abilities—something that has been lacking in the first three league games.
One player who could benefit from that opportunity is 19‑year‑old winger Lisa Baum, signed from RB Leipzig over the summer. Baum has started all three of Arsenal’s WSL matches to date, and Slegers has voiced strong confidence in her development. "She’s earned the right to play," Slegers said.
"I have trust in her already; the way she’s been training, behaving and performing, she deserves it. She’s making herself an important player in the squad.
She’s only young, but credit to her." Four games into any campaign, the phrase "must‑win" feels excessive; perhaps "must‑not‑lose" is more realistic, especially in an expanded WSL format. Dropping seven points to the league leaders by the end of September would be a nightmare scenario that the club’s pre‑season planning aimed to avoid. Slegers remains pragmatic about the upcoming London derby: "Playing Chelsea away is always the same game.
It’s always charged; it’s a London derby. That’s already there, and we’re prepared for it.
As with everything else, if there’s any pressure, I want to be the one taking that." Arsenal fans can tune in to watch Chelsea versus Arsenal on Sky Sports Premier League from 4:15 pm on Sunday, with kick‑off at 4:30 pm. The match promises a test of both tactical acumen and mental fortitude, and Slegers hopes her approach—shielding her players from undue scrutiny while emphasizing basics and confidence—will help the Gunners rediscover the winning form they displayed last season.