Renee Slegers under pressure at Arsenal after 10-point WSL gap

Arsenal are five games into the Women’s Super League season and Renee Slegers is facing scrutiny after the club found itself 10 points behind leaders Manchester City. The Gunners have won only two of their opening seven matches across all competitions, and they are 10th in the WSL table.

The pressure intensified with Sunday’s 4-2 defeat at City. Arsenal led twice, but they were undone by fine margins at the Etihad Stadium. Slegers responded to questions over her role by saying the group has been “aligned in the direction”, describing the result as disappointing while insisting she still has energy and believes in the club’s way forward.

Review on the international break

Despite the criticism growing outside the stadium, Slegers received a warm reception from visiting supporters, with 2,500 fans singing “North London Forever” as she stood in front of them. Within the club, sources insist she retains full backing even though results haven’t met expectations.

On the pitch, Arsenal’s goals have been the issue: they scored just twice in the WSL before the City game, and Alessia Russo’s opener at 49 minutes was her first league goal of the season. That lack of ruthlessness has left Arsenal winless in their past four WSL matches, their worst run since October 2023. Slegers says the international break will be used for “a big review of our season so far” as the club looks to stop the slow starts.