Renee Slegers appears more composed than one might expect given Arsenal’s uneven start to the Women's Super League campaign. The Gunners have already fallen behind the pack after just three matches, and an old nemesis – the low‑block defensive setup – has resurfaced at the Emirates Stadium, testing the side’s attacking flair.
The season began brightly with a win over Brighton, a match that had previously handed Manchester City the title when they dropped two points. However, that optimism was quickly tempered by consecutive draws: first against newly‑promoted Crystal Palace, then against a Manchester United side that had lost its opening two fixtures.
These results have amplified the pressure ahead of the weekend clash with Chelsea, a game that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Arsenal’s struggles against compact, deep‑defending teams – a pattern the Gunners seemed to have solved last season – have now resulted in the league’s worst expected‑goals (xG) under‑performance at this early stage, despite the abundance of creative talent at Slegers’ disposal.
While analysts and supporters will inevitably voice their own diagnoses, the head coach insists the core issue is psychological rather than purely tactical. With that perspective, Slegers 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 confidence.
She describes herself as the calmest voice in the club, a role she embraces fully. "It’s frustrating that we’ve dropped four points," she acknowledges, before adding, "We can’t change that now.
The focus has to be on the positives and on the aspects we can improve moving forward." She continues, "I’m happy to take the pressure off the players whenever it’s needed. If anyone has to carry the weight, it should be me.
I want the players to feel free on the pitch, to play with clear heads and trust their instincts." Slegers also reflects on the tactical side, noting that Arsenal had previously found ways to neutralise low‑block opponents, but that there are still other avenues to explore, such as set‑piece routines. "As a coach you can either dive deeper into detail and make things more complicated, or you can strip everything back to basics," she explains. "In the end, actions speak louder than words. There’s been a lot of talk, 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 a Tuesday.
An early goal from Chloe Kelly was disallowed after a VAR review, and the Gunners struggled to regain momentum. It took a dramatic 93rd‑minute penalty from Mariona Caldentay to finally secure a narrow win over the Danish minnows, who had lost all six of their previous Champions League outings. Had Kelly’s strike stood, it might have eased the subconscious feeling of "here we go again" that seems to linger among the squad. Instead, the match underscored the importance Slegers places on quick starts to win the mental battle.
"We’re really hungry for fast starts and we need them," she says. "We keep pushing for that in every game and focus on everything we can control." She adds, "Tuesday showed our mental resilience – the belief that we could get the win.
We didn’t know when the goal would come, early or late, but an early strike would have changed the whole dynamic. Low blocks are tough for anyone to break down; only a few teams excel at it, but we know we have to improve in that area." Looking ahead, Arsenal will face Chelsea, a team that, unless they radically change tactics, is unlikely to sit deep for prolonged periods at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
While Chelsea will pose their own threats, the match also offers Arsenal’s attacking players a chance to showcase their abilities, something that has been lacking so far this season. One young talent who could benefit is 19‑year‑old winger Lisa Baum, signed from RB Leipzig over the summer. Baum has started all three of Arsenal’s WSL games to date, and Slegers has voiced strong confidence in her. "She’s earned her place," Slegers says.
"I trust her because of her training, attitude, and performances. She’s becoming an important part of the squad. She’s young, but she’s already making a significant impact." Four matches into any campaign, the phrase "must‑win" may feel excessive – perhaps "must‑not‑lose" is more realistic, especially in an expanded league. Still, the prospect of slipping seven points behind the leaders by the end of September would be a nightmare scenario that the pre‑season planning aimed to avoid.
"Playing Chelsea away is always a special fixture," Slegers notes. "It’s a London derby, it’s always charged, and we’re prepared for that intensity. As always, if there’s any pressure, I want to be the one taking it." In summary, Slegers is positioning herself as the primary conduit for any criticism or expectation, allowing her players to focus on playing freely, trusting their instincts, and improving their execution against stubborn defenses. The upcoming clash with Chelsea will be a crucial test of whether this approach can translate into the decisive, early‑goal performances she emphasises as essential for turning the season around.
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