Laura Hunter, a columnist for Sky Sports, breaks down the most pressing issues emerging from the second round of Women's Super League fixtures, offering readers a deeper look at the narratives shaping the women's game today. Over the past fortnight, Arsenal manager Renee Slegens has been forced to maintain a stoic front despite a worrying run of form. The club have now endured four league defeats in a row – their poorest start to a season since 2014 – and the implications of that slump are becoming increasingly stark. Slegens has repeatedly argued that Arsenal’s recent failures are the result of "fine margins" – the idea that a single moment here or there can tip the balance between victory and defeat.
While that explanation might hold some weight in a tightly contested match, it loses credibility the longer a team remains mired in a winless streak. The argument seemed to crumble entirely after Arsenal’s loss to Manchester City, when Slegens announced that the club would use the forthcoming international break to conduct a thorough audit of "not only what we see on matchday, but everything in the background". She added, "We have to turn over every stone." By definition, fine margins do not demand a forensic level of scrutiny. They suggest that small, often random, incidents are to blame – not systemic issues that require a deep dive into tactics, psychology, and preparation.
Arsenal’s situation appears to be more than a handful of unlucky bounces; it looks like a confidence crisis that is manifesting most sharply in high‑pressure moments of big games. The problem is multi‑layered and its consequences are already evident on the pitch. A clear illustration came within the first three minutes of Arsenal’s match at the Etihad on Sunday. Lisa Baum, a fresh face in the league, found herself repeatedly out‑muscled by Manchester City’s Niamh Charles.
Instead of laying the ball off to Alessia Russo for a simple tap‑in, Baum chose to shoot from a low‑probability position near the post and missed. In isolation, that decision could be excused as a young player trying to make an impact. Yet it fits a broader pattern: Arsenal’s attackers are opting for low‑percentage attempts rather than exploiting the structured, high‑percentage chances they have created. The trend repeated when Georgia Stanway delivered an incisive pass to Emily Fox on the right.
Fox attempted a speculative shot from an impossible angle, ignoring a better option for Russo, who was making a well‑timed blind‑side run behind Jade Rose. A fraction of a second’s hesitation could have produced a far more dangerous chance.
Shortly thereafter, Stanway’s own long‑range effort from 30 yards went wide, echoing the earlier mis‑judgment. When such moments become habitual, they erode a team’s belief in its own attacking instincts.
Statistically, Arsenal’s decline is stark. Their expected‑goals (xG) differential is currently the worst in the league, and their conversion rate sits at the bottom as well. The team is taking shots in desperation, a symptom of dwindling confidence, and the fluid, nuanced style that once defined Arsenal’s DNA is fading.
This is not a case of losing by a narrow margin; Manchester City simply possess a higher calibre of players and a more refined tactical approach under Andrée Jeglertz. City’s side moves with balance across all thirds of the pitch, each phase of play serving a clear purpose, whereas Arsenal appears stilted and hesitant. Jeglertz, after the match, praised Arsenal as a "great football team" but also highlighted his own side’s "very fluent" attacking play, noting that "we score in different ways". The contrast could not be clearer.
Arsenal’s creative paralysis meant they could only score twice, largely because of defensive lapses from City rather than any proactive offensive brilliance. Alessia Russo’s second‑half goal – her first of the domestic season – offered a brief glimpse of her finishing quality, but it was not enough to mask the broader issues affecting the squad, many of whom are struggling with form beyond a single off‑day.
Looking ahead, Slegens and her coaching staff face a critical test. The next block of fixtures, including a north‑London derby later this month, will likely determine whether her tenure can be salvaged. Despite the recent results, Slegens has built a strong rapport with her players and still enjoys the backing of the Arsenal hierarchy, which appears unlikely to change during the international window. Nevertheless, a reality check is overdue.
The narrative of "fine margins" must be set aside in favor of a more decisive, accountable approach. Arsenal need to emerge from the break with a clear plan to address tactical rigidity, restore confidence in the final third, and close the widening gap to league leaders Manchester City – a gap that now stands at a daunting ten points.
In practical terms, this means re‑evaluating the decision‑making process of attackers like Baum and Stanway, encouraging smarter off‑the‑ball movement, and perhaps adjusting the team’s formation to better suit the strengths of its key players. It also involves a psychological component: rebuilding belief through targeted mental‑strength sessions, fostering a culture where players trust each other's decisions, and eliminating the hesitation that has plagued recent matches. The upcoming international break provides a valuable window for this comprehensive overhaul.
By turning over every stone – as Slegens herself promised – and moving beyond the excuse of marginal losses, Arsenal can begin to re‑establish the fluid, attacking football that once made them a benchmark in the Women’s Super League. The road ahead will be challenging, but with decisive action and renewed confidence, the Gunners can aim to narrow the ten‑point deficit and restore their status as genuine contenders.