Renee Slegers appears more composed than the situation might suggest when it comes to Arsenal's uneven start to the Women’s Super League campaign. The Gunners have already fallen short of expectations after just three fixtures, and a familiar weakness has resurfaced at the Emirates Stadium, threatening to derail their early‑season ambitions. The season began promisingly with a win over Brighton, a match that had previously handed Manchester City the title when they dropped two points. However, that optimism quickly faded as Arsenal were held to consecutive draws – first against newly promoted Crystal Palace and then against a Manchester United side that had also lost its opening two games.
These results have intensified the scrutiny ahead of the upcoming clash with Chelsea, a game that will be televised live on Sky Sports. Arsenal’s struggle against low‑block defensive setups – a tactical pattern they seemed to have mastered last season – has left them with the league's worst expected‑goals (xG) under‑performance at this early stage, despite the abundance of attacking talent at Slegers’ disposal. While analysts may offer a range of explanations, the head coach insists that the core issue is mental rather than purely tactical. With that perspective in mind, Slegers is determined to shoulder any external pressure herself, hoping to free her players to concentrate on their football.
"It’s frustrating that we’ve dropped four points," she acknowledges, before adding, "We can’t change that now. We have to focus on the positives, improve where we can, and look ahead." She continues, "I’m happy to take the pressure away from the players where it’s necessary.
If anyone has to carry the burden, 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." Reflecting on the previous season, Slegers notes that Arsenal had found ways to counter low‑block teams, developing tools and solutions that seemed effective.
Yet she admits there are still other avenues to explore, such as set‑piece routines, to unlock stubborn defenses. "As a coach you can go one of two ways – you can add more detail and make things more complicated, or you can strip things back to the basics," she says. "Ultimately actions speak louder than words, and there’s been a lot of talk.
We just want to show what we can do on the field and move forward." The feeling of déjà vu resurfaced during Arsenal’s Champions League opener at home against Koge on Tuesday. After an early Chloe Kelly strike was disallowed by VAR, the Gunners appeared rattled, struggling to regain momentum. It took a dramatic 93rd‑minute penalty from Mariona Caldentey to finally secure a narrow victory over the Danish minnows, who had previously lost all six of their Champions League matches in a single prior appearance.
Had Kelly’s goal stood, the subconscious narrative of "here we go again" might have been softened, but instead the team endured a tense finish that underscored the importance of quick starts. Slegers repeatedly emphasizes the need for a strong opening phase to win the mental battle. "We’re really hungry for fast starts and we need them," she explains.
"We keep driving for that, focusing on everything we can control. Tuesday showed mental resilience – the belief that we could win.
We said before the game we didn’t know when the goal would come, but an early strike would have changed the whole dynamic." She adds, "Low blocks are difficult for anyone to break down; only a few teams excel at it, but we know we must improve in that area." Looking ahead, the upcoming encounter with Chelsea offers a potential breather. Unless the Blues dramatically alter their tactics, they are unlikely to sit deep for extended periods at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
While Chelsea will undoubtedly pose their own threats, the match also presents an opportunity for Arsenal’s attacking players to demonstrate their quality – something that has been limited so far this season. One player who could benefit is 19‑year‑old winger Lisa Baum, signed from RB Leipzig over the summer.
In the three WSL games she has started, Baum has shown flashes of promise. "She’s earned the right to play," Slegers says.
"I trust her because of her training attitude, behavior, and performances. She’s becoming an important squad member despite her youth – credit to her." Four games into any campaign, labeling matches as "must‑win" feels excessive. At this stage, perhaps "must‑not‑lose" is a more realistic mantra, especially in an expanded league where points are harder to come by.
Dropping seven points to the leaders by the end of September would have been a nightmare scenario in pre‑season planning and now threatens to become a reality. Slegers remains pragmatic about the Chelsea fixture, describing it as a familiar London derby that always carries extra intensity.
"Playing Chelsea away is always the same game – it’s charged, it’s a London derby. We’re prepared for that," she states. "If there’s any pressure, I want to be the one taking it." In summary, Slegers is working to protect her squad from external scrutiny, focusing on mental resilience, simplifying tactics where necessary, and giving young talents like Baum a chance to shine. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether Arsenal can reverse their early‑season slump, adapt to low‑block opponents, and reclaim their status as title contenders in the Women’s Super League.
Watch Chelsea vs Arsenal on Sky Sports Premier League from 4.15 pm on Sunday, kick‑off at 4.30 pm.