Renee Slegers says she must “find the solutions” to Arsenal’s difficult run as they prepare for a significant Women’s Super League meeting with Manchester City this weekend.
Arsenal have failed to win any of their past three league matches, drawing twice and losing once. Another game without victory would match their longest winless sequence in the competition, recorded in May 2014 and October 2023.
The Gunners have also made an unusually slow start in front of goal. They are only the third side in WSL history to have scored two or fewer goals and conceded two or fewer across their first four matches. Liverpool achieved the same record in 2014, while Chelsea did so in 2018-19.
Should Arsenal fail to beat City, they will have their second-worst start after five games since joining the division. Their poorest opening came in 2014, when they had collected four points.
“I have to find the solutions, I have to be calm. I have to get direction,” said Slegers.
“I have to lead now but at the same time, what I also feel is gratitude for how everyone is responding and how together we are, the session on the pitch was today. It was really, really good.”
Slegers was also asked about her decision not to take part in the post-match interview after Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Paris FC in the Women’s Champions League.
Arsenal had led by two goals but were held to a draw, and Slegers said she chose to remain with her players because of the emotion surrounding the result.
“After the game, there was emotion from my end but to control that point quickly I made the decision to be with the team instead,” said the Gunners boss.
“So I spent time with the players straight after the game. I thought that was important and that was a decision I made in the moment in my leadership and I decided to be with the team.”
Manchester City have won their home fixture against Arsenal in six of the past nine WSL seasons. Arsenal have won two of those matches, with the other ending in a draw.
Those nine meetings have produced an average of 3.9 goals per game, with City scoring 21 and Arsenal 14.
The fixture is one of only two in WSL history in which both teams have recorded at least 10 victories. Arsenal currently hold the advantage in the overall head-to-head record, leading Manchester City 12-11, with two draws.
