Renee Slegers appears more composed than the recent fortunes of Arsenal might suggest. The Gunners have stumbled early in the Women's Super League, and an old nemesis—defensive low blocks—has resurfaced at the Emirates Stadium, threatening to derail their campaign. After a promising start that included a win over Brighton—a match that had secured Manchester City’s title the previous season—Arsenal have since drawn against newly promoted Crystal Palace and a Manchester United side that had lost its opening two fixtures.
Those two stalemates have amplified the pressure ahead of this weekend’s clash with Chelsea, a game that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The low‑block tactics that the Gunners seemed to have mastered last year have once again exposed their vulnerabilities. Despite boasting a wealth of attacking talent, Arsenal now sit at the bottom of the league’s expected‑goals (xG) performance table, indicating a significant under‑achievement in converting chances into goals.
Other commentators may have their own theories, but Slegers is convinced that the root of the problem is mental rather than tactical. She is determined to shift any criticism or expectation away from her players and onto herself, believing that a calm, confident coach can give the squad the freedom to express themselves on the pitch. "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 what we can improve moving forward." She continues, "I’m happy to take the pressure off the players when it’s needed. If anyone has to carry the burden, it should be me. I want the players to feel free, to play with clear heads, clear minds, and to trust their instincts." Slegers notes that Arsenal had previously found ways to counter low‑block defenses, but she admits 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 says. "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 Tuesday. An early goal from Chloe Kelly was disallowed by VAR, and the team struggled to regain momentum. It took a 93rd‑minute penalty from Mariona Caldentey to finally secure a narrow win over the Danish minnows, who had lost all six of their previous Champions League matches.
Had Kelly’s strike stood, the psychological narrative of "here we go again" might have been softened, giving the squad a boost rather than the lingering doubt that followed the eventual late winner. Slegers repeatedly stresses the importance of fast starts to win the mental battle that often decides close games.
"We’re hungry for early goals and we need them," she explains. "We keep pushing for that in every match and focus on everything we can control.
Tuesday showed our mental resilience—the belief that we could win even when the goal came late. If we had scored early, the whole match would have felt different." She adds, "Low blocks are difficult for anyone to break down; only a handful of teams excel at it. We know we must improve in that area." Looking ahead, the upcoming fixture against Chelsea offers a brief respite from the low‑block grind. Unless Chelsea dramatically change their approach, they are unlikely to sit deep for prolonged periods at Stamford Bridge.
While the Blues will still pose a significant threat, the game could also provide Arsenal’s attacking players with the chance to showcase their quality—something that has been lacking so far this season. One player 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 matches to date, and Slegers has praised her development. "She’s earned her place," the coach says. "I trust her because of her training attitude, her behavior, and her performances. She’s becoming an important part of the squad, and despite her youth, she’s already making a mark." Four games into any campaign, the phrase "must‑win" feels a bit exaggerated; perhaps "must‑not‑lose" is more accurate, especially in an expanded league where every point matters.
Dropping seven points to the league leaders by the end of September would be a nightmare scenario that Slegers hoped to avoid in preseason planning, yet that prospect now looms. "Playing Chelsea away is always a special occasion," she notes.
"It’s a London derby, it’s always charged, and we’re prepared for that intensity. As with everything else, if there’s any pressure, I want to be the one taking it." In summary, Slegers is positioning herself as the focal point of scrutiny, allowing her players to operate with confidence and clarity. By simplifying tactics, emphasizing early goals, and trusting young talent like Baum, she hopes to reverse the early-season slump and restore Arsenal’s reputation as a dominant force in women’s football.
Watch Chelsea vs Arsenal on Sky Sports Premier League from 4.15 pm on Sunday, kick‑off at 4.30 pm.