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 league's leading teams after just three matches, and a familiar weakness has resurfaced at the Emirates Stadium, threatening to derail their early-season ambitions. The season began on a promising note with a win over Brighton – a side that had denied Manchester City the title the previous year by dropping points at a crucial moment. However, that optimism was quickly tempered by consecutive draws against newly promoted Crystal Palace and a Manchester United side that had also stumbled in its opening two fixtures.
Those results have amplified the scrutiny on Arsenal as they prepare for a high‑profile clash with Chelsea this weekend, a game that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Arsenal’s struggles have been particularly evident in their inability to break down low‑block defensive setups.
Last season the team seemed to have found a formula for dealing with compact, deep‑lying defenses, but this year they have posted the worst expected‑goals (xG) under‑performance in the league at this early stage, despite the abundance of attacking talent at Slegers' disposal. While analysts and fans may offer a range of explanations, Slegers insists the core of the problem is psychological rather than tactical.
She is determined to shift any lingering pressure away from her players and onto herself, believing that a calm, confident coach can create the environment needed for the squad to rediscover its instinctive play. "It’s frustrating that we’ve dropped four points," she acknowledges, "but we can’t change the past. The focus now is on the positives and on what we can improve moving forward." Slegers makes it clear that she is willing to shoulder the burden of expectation. "If anyone has to carry the pressure, it should be me.
I want the players to feel free on the pitch, to play with clear heads and trust their instincts," she says. She also points out that the team had previously found ways to counter low‑block tactics, but she is eager to broaden Arsenal’s arsenal by exploiting set‑piece opportunities and other nuanced aspects of the game. The coach outlines two possible approaches for a manager facing such challenges: dive deeper into minutiae and risk over‑complicating the game plan, or strip everything back to basics. "In the end, actions speak louder than words," she adds.
"There has been a lot of talk, now it’s time to deliver on the field." A sense of déjà vu crept in during Arsenal’s recent Champions League opener at home against Koge. An early goal by Chloe Kelly was disallowed after a VAR review, and the Gunners struggled to regain momentum. They eventually secured a 93rd‑minute penalty conversion by Mariona Caldentey to edge past the Danish minnows, who had previously lost all six of their Champions League outings.
Had Kelly’s strike stood, it might have eased the subconscious feeling of a repeat performance that seemed to haunt the squad. Slegers repeatedly stresses the importance of quick starts to win the mental battle. "We are hungry for early goals and we need them.
We keep pushing for that in every game and focus on everything we can control," she explains. She praised her side’s mental resilience after the Champions League win, noting that belief in their ability to secure a result persisted even when the timing of the goal remained uncertain.
"If we had scored early, the whole dynamic of the match would have changed," she reflected. Breaking down low blocks remains a specialist skill, and Slegers admits that only a handful of teams excel at it.
Nonetheless, she believes Arsenal must improve in this area if they are to compete with the league’s elite. Looking ahead, the upcoming fixture against Chelsea offers a potential breather. Unless the Blues dramatically alter their tactics, they are unlikely to sit deep for extended periods at Stamford Bridge, meaning Arsenal’s attacking players could finally find the space they have been denied in the opening games. While Chelsea will undoubtedly pose their own threats, the match could serve as a showcase for Arsenal’s forward line, allowing them to demonstrate the quality that has been largely untapped so far.
The game also presents a platform for young talent Lisa Baum, the 19‑year‑old winger signed from RB Leipzig over the summer. In the three WSL matches she has started, Baum has shown flashes of promise, and Slegers has publicly expressed confidence in her development. "She has earned her place in the team," the coach says. "Her training attitude, behavior, and performances justify the trust we have placed in her.
She is quickly becoming an integral part of the squad, and despite her youth, she is already making a significant impact." Four matches into any season, the phrase “must‑win” can feel excessive; perhaps “must‑not‑lose” is a more realistic mantra, especially as the WSL expands and competition tightens. Dropping seven points to the league leaders by the end of September would have been a nightmare scenario that the club’s pre‑season planning aimed to avoid, and the current trajectory suggests that risk may be materialising. Slegers remains pragmatic about the upcoming London derby.
"Playing Chelsea away is always a special occasion – it’s a charged London rivalry. We know what to expect and we are prepared," she says. Once again, she reiterates her willingness to bear the weight of expectation: "If there is any pressure, I want to be the one taking it." Fans can tune in to watch Chelsea versus Arsenal on Sky Sports Premier League, with kickoff scheduled for 4:30 pm on Sunday.
The match promises a clash of two of England’s biggest clubs, a test of Arsenal’s ability to adapt tactically, and an opportunity for the young talents Slegers has nurtured to shine on a big stage. In summary, Slegers is focused on maintaining composure, protecting her players from external pressure, and refining both the mental and tactical aspects of Arsenal’s game. By returning to fundamental principles, exploiting set‑piece scenarios, and giving emerging players like Lisa Baum the confidence to perform, she hopes to reverse the early‑season slump and re‑establish Arsenal as a genuine contender in the Women’s Super League.