Arsenal's early WSL struggles put Slegers under pressure despite club backing

Five matches into the Women's Super League season, Arsenal sit tenth in the table, already ten points adrift of Manchester City. Manager Renee Slegers is facing mounting questions about her future, even as the club publicly insists she has their full support. The Gunners have won just two of their opening seven matches across all competitions, a collapse in form that has drained the optimism that surrounded the club only weeks ago.

The damage was compounded on Sunday when Arsenal lost 4-2 to Manchester City, a defeat that felt especially bitter because the team had taken the lead twice during the match. They had scored only twice in the WSL before that game, a barrenness in front of goal that has cost them dearly. Alessia Russo's goal in the 49th minute was her first of the league season. This is Arsenal's second-worst start after five games in WSL history; only in 2014 did they accumulate fewer points. Their current winless streak in the league—four games without a victory—is their longest since October 2023.

Slegers won the Women's Champions League with Arsenal in 2025, a significant achievement that has bought her some credibility. Last season, the team finished second in the WSL and reached the European semi-finals, respectable outcomes that fell short of the club's ambitions. But Arsenal have not won a domestic league title since 2019, and the pattern has become familiar: each year begins with a stumble that proves difficult to overcome. The club invested in the transfer window to try to break the cycle, bringing in England international Georgia Stanway, Spain full-back Ona Batlle, and young German forward Lisa Baum. These signings were made early specifically to allow a full pre-season and prevent the kind of slow start that has plagued Arsenal repeatedly. The strategy has not worked.

When asked directly whether she was worried about her job, Slegers spoke with measured confidence. She said the club had been aligned in its direction, that she remained full of energy and cared deeply for the players and the organization. She pointed to the upcoming international break as an opportunity for the squad to reset, to play elsewhere and return with renewed vigor. After the loss to City, she walked to the away end at the Etihad Stadium where 2,500 Arsenal supporters had traveled, stood in front of them, and applauded as they sang. She was greeted warmly, a moment that suggested the fanbase was not yet ready to turn against her.

But outside the stadium, the noise has been building. Slegers is aware that her position is being questioned. Club sources have pushed back against the speculation, insisting she retains their backing and that while results have disappointed, they believe she can guide the team in the right direction. There is acknowledgment that things have not gone well enough, but no indication from the boardroom that her job is in immediate jeopardy.

The scrutiny has been sharpened by specific failures. Arsenal have been chaotic in defense—a bizarre error from Leah Williamson in a recent match exemplified the disorganization. Emotions ran high after a 2-2 draw with Paris FC in the Champions League, so much so that Slegers did not attend post-match media duties. She later explained that she was angry and felt the team needed her in that moment rather than in front of cameras.

Despite the obvious concerns, Slegers was defiant after the City loss. She said it was not about her personally, that she felt the connection with the squad and could see perspective even in difficult circumstances. The margins, she argued, had been small—they were not far away from turning results around. She acknowledged the long run without the results the club wanted but framed it as a problem to solve rather than a verdict on her leadership. She plans a comprehensive review during the international break to identify where the problems lie and how to fix them. What happens when Arsenal return to league play will determine whether that backing from above translates into patience from the fans, and whether Slegers can arrest the slide before it becomes irreversible.