Renee Slegers appears more composed than the headlines might suggest regarding Arsenal's shaky start to the Women's Super League campaign. The Gunners have struggled to find rhythm after only three matches, and a familiar weakness has resurfaced at the Emirates Stadium, threatening to derail the season before it truly begins. The opening fixtures offered a glimpse of promise, with a convincing win over Brighton that had previously handed Manchester City the title in the last campaign.
However, that optimism quickly faded as Arsenal stumbled into consecutive draws against newly promoted Crystal Palace and a Manchester United side that had also lost its first two games. Those results have amplified the stakes for the upcoming clash with Chelsea, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Arsenal’s opponents have been employing low‑block defensive structures that the Gunners seemed to have begun to counter last season. Yet, despite the abundance of attacking talent at Slegers' disposal, Arsenal now registers the worst expected‑goals (xG) under‑performance in the league at this early stage.
While analysts may offer a range of tactical explanations, Slegers believes the core issue is psychological rather than strategic. With that perspective in mind, the Dutch coach is determined to shift any mounting pressure away from her players and onto herself, hoping to give the squad the mental breathing space needed to rediscover form. She emphasizes the importance of staying the calmest voice in the dressing room.
"It’s frustrating that we’ve dropped four points," she admits, before adding, "We can’t change that now. The focus has to be on the positives and on the areas we can improve moving forward." Slegers makes it clear that she is willing to shoulder the blame if necessary: "If anyone should carry the pressure, it should be me.
I want the players to feel free on the pitch, to play with clear heads, clear minds, and to trust their instincts." She also reflects on the tactical evolution of the side: "We had moved past the difficulty of playing against low blocks; we found tools and solutions. Yet there are other avenues we can explore, such as set‑piece routines." When it comes to coaching philosophy, she outlines two possible paths: "You can either dive deeper into detail and make things more complicated, or you can strip everything back to the basics." Ultimately, she stresses that actions speak louder than words. After a period of extensive discussion, the team now needs to translate intent into performance.
The pattern of near‑misses continued in Arsenal’s Champions League opener at home against Koge on Tuesday. An early goal from Chloe Kelly was ruled out by VAR, and the Gunners struggled to regain momentum.
It took a 93rd‑minute penalty from Mariona Caldentey to finally secure a narrow victory 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 for the squad. Instead, the team was forced to endure another close call, underscoring Slegers' emphasis on quick starts to win the mental battle. "We are hungry for fast starts and we need them," Slegers says.
"We keep driving that urgency in every game and focus on everything we can control." She praised the team's resilience after the Tuesday match: "The belief that we could secure the win showed mental strength. Before the game we didn’t know when the goal would come, but an early strike would have changed the whole dynamic." Low‑block defenses remain a stubborn obstacle for any side, and Slegers acknowledges that only a handful of teams excel at breaking them down. "We know we have to improve in that area," she notes.
A brief respite may arrive when Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. Unless the Blues dramatically alter their approach, they are unlikely to sit deep for extended periods, offering Arsenal more opportunities to unleash their attacking potential.
Chelsea will, of course, pose a greater threat themselves, but the match could also serve as a platform for Arsenal’s forward line to finally display the creativity and firepower that have been missing so far this season. One player who could benefit from the increased attacking freedom 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 publicly expressed confidence in her development.
"She’s earned the right to play," Slegers asserts. "Her training attitude, behaviour, and performances justify the trust we’ve placed in her. She’s becoming an important part of the squad despite her age." Four games into any campaign, the notion of a "must‑win" mentality feels premature. Even a "must‑not‑lose" stance may be more appropriate, especially as the league expands and competition intensifies.
Dropping seven points to the league leaders by the end of September would have been a nightmare scenario in pre‑season planning, and the spectre of that outcome now looms. Slegers remains pragmatic about the upcoming London derby: "Playing Chelsea away is always a charged fixture.
It’s a derby, and we’re prepared for it. As always, if there’s any pressure, I want to be the one taking it." The match will be shown on Sky Sports Premier League, kicking off at 4.30 pm on Sunday. Fans can also enter the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £1 million, with free entry available.
In summary, Slegers is intent on protecting her players from external scrutiny, reinforcing a calm, confident mindset, and simplifying the tactical approach where possible. By doing so, she hopes Arsenal can convert their underlying quality into tangible results, break down stubborn defensive blocks, and re‑establish themselves as genuine title contenders as the season progresses.