LONDON — Arsenal, fresh off their Women’s Champions League triumph, entered the season with sky-high expectations. Interim manager Renee Slegers, who guided the team through a tricky period, was rewarded with the full-time role and delivered one of the club’s biggest trophies.
The summer transfer window also saw Arsenal strengthen their squad, including the record signing of Olivia Smith for £1m, adding depth to a roster brimming with talent.
A Rocky Start for Arsenal
Despite the optimism, Arsenal’s campaign has stumbled. Two draws and a defeat in their past three matches have left them fifth in the Women’s Super League, trailing Chelsea by five points. Chelsea, by contrast, dropped just six points all last season while going unbeaten and completing a domestic treble.
Arsenal’s slow start mirrors last season, where they finished 12 points behind Chelsea, ultimately leading to the departure of former boss Jonas Eideval.
City’s Latest Win a Setback for the Gunners
The recent defeat at the hands of Manchester City adds pressure on Slegers’ squad.
“We are very disappointed with the result. We were disappointed with the United and Villa results [both draws] as well. We know the league is quite small,” Slegers said. “There are some really good teams in this league that make it hard for you. Anything that is within our control, we want to try to control.”
Despite the challenges, Slegers remains confident in Arsenal’s resilience:
“We always go for three points in these types of games. If you would [ask] before the season, we wanted more points at this point. But we know how much strength we have in this squad. When we are in pressured situations or we know we have to come back from things, we know we can.”
With Chelsea maintaining dominance early in the season, Arsenal faces a critical period to regain momentum. Man City’s recent performances also signal they will be major contenders in the WSL title race this year.
