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 slipped off the expected pace after just three fixtures, and an old nemesis has resurfaced at the Emirates Stadium, threatening to derail their early ambitions. Following a promising debut – a win over Brighton that had previously denied Manchester City the title in the prior season – Arsenal have since stumbled into two consecutive draws. The first came against newly-promoted Crystal Palace, and the second versus a Manchester United side that had lost its opening two matches.
These results have amplified the pressure ahead of this weekend’s clash with Chelsea, a game that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Arsenal’s difficulty in dealing with low‑block defensive setups – a problem they seemed to have solved last season – has left them with the poorest expected‑goals (xG) performance in the league at this stage, despite the abundance of attacking talent at Slegers’ disposal. While pundits may offer a range of explanations, the head coach believes the root of the issue lies more in the players’ mindset than in tactical flaws.
With that perspective, Slegers is determined to shift any scrutiny away from her squad and onto herself, hoping to give the players the mental space they need to rediscover their best form. She insists on remaining the most tranquil figure within the club. "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." "If someone has to shoulder the pressure, it should be me," she continues. "I want the players to feel free on the pitch, to play with clear heads and instincts." Slegers also noted that Arsenal had previously found ways to counter low‑block teams, but she believes there are other avenues to explore, such as set‑piece routines. "As a coach you can either dive deeper into details and make things more complex, or you can strip everything back to basics," she said.
"In the end, actions speak louder than words. There’s been a lot of talk, now it’s time to show results." A sense of déjà vu crept in during Arsenal’s Champions League opener at home against Koge on Tuesday. After Chloe Kelly’s early strike was disallowed by VAR, the Gunners struggled to regain momentum and ultimately needed a 93rd‑minute penalty from Mariona Caldentey to edge out the Danish minnows, who had previously lost all six of their Champions League matches in their sole earlier appearance.
Had Kelly’s goal stood, it might have alleviated the subconscious feeling of "here we go again" that seemed to haunt the squad. Instead, the team was forced to scrape a win in the dying moments, underscoring the importance Slegers places on quick starts to win the mental battle. "We’re hungry for fast starts and we need them," she explained. "We keep pushing for that in every game and focus on everything we can control." "Tuesday demonstrated mental resilience – the belief that we could secure the win.
We knew before the match that the goal could come at any time, early or late, and an early strike would have changed the whole dynamic," Slegers added. "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 side that, unless they dramatically alter their tactics, are unlikely to sit deep for extended periods at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
While the Blues will certainly pose a threat, the match also offers Arsenal’s attackers a chance to showcase their abilities in a way they have not yet managed 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 so far, and Slegers believes she has earned her place. "She’s earned the right to play," Slegers said. "I trust her because of her training, attitude, and performances.
She’s becoming an important member of the squad, and despite her age, she’s already making a strong impression." Four matches into any campaign, the term "must‑win" feels excessive; perhaps "must‑not‑lose" is more appropriate, especially in an expanded league. Dropping seven points to the leaders by the end of September would have been a nightmare scenario that the pre‑season plan aimed to avoid, and that danger now appears to be looming. "Playing Chelsea away is always a special game," Slegers noted. "It’s a London derby, it’s charged, and we’re prepared for that intensity.
As with everything else, if there’s pressure, I want to be the one carrying it." Arsenal supporters can tune in to the Chelsea versus Arsenal clash on Sky Sports Premier League from 4.15 pm on Sunday, with kickoff at 4.30 pm. The match promises a test of both tactical adaptability and mental fortitude for Slegers and her squad as they strive to turn early setbacks into a platform for future success.