- Published
It is only five matches into the Women's Super League season and Arsenal are already 10 points behind leaders Manchester City - so is manager Renee Slegers' position at risk?
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position → publish → risk
The Gunners have won just two of their opening seven matches in all competitions and sit 10th in the WSL table.
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Gunners → win → table
It is dismal reading for Arsenal fans, whose optimism has quickly diminished and their 4-2 defeat at City on Sunday added further salt to their wounds.
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defeat → diminish → wounds
The Gunners have not won a WSL title since 2019 and it has been a familiar story each year as slow starts have ultimately proven costly.
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starts → win → 2019
Slegers did lead Arsenal to the Women's Champions League title in 2025.
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Slegers → lead → 2025
But they failed to win any trophies last season, although they did finish second in the WSL and reach the semi-finals in the defence of their European crown.
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they → fail → crown
Asked if she was worried about her position, Slegers said: "All I know so far is that the last couple of days we have been together as a club, and a team.
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we → ask → club
"We have been aligned in the direction.
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We → align → direction
I care a lot for the club and the players.
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I → care → club
I see perspective.
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I → see → perspective
It's good to have an international break coming up.
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break → have → ?
It's good for the players to change environment, play their football elsewhere, then come back in with new energy."
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players → change → energy
Does Slegers have the club's backing?
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Slegers → have → backing
At full-time on Sunday, Slegers gathered her dejected players in a familiar team huddle before walking over to their fans.
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Slegers → gather → fans
She stood in front of the 2,500 away supporters at Etihad Stadium applauding as they sang "North London Forever" in a somewhat emotional release.
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they → stand → release
She was greeted warmly and it did not look like a fanbase who were keen to push her out of the door.
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who → greet → door
Arsenal had performed reasonably well against City, took the lead twice and were ultimately undone by small margins.
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Arsenal → perform → margins
"I mostly went there to thank them, connect with them and show them I care for them and I appreciate them coming out to Manchester," said Slegers.
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Slegers → go → Manchester
"I also wanted to show that – not that I feel sorry for them as I'm a big part of it too – but they are coming here and not getting the rewards, just like the team.
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they → want → team
"I just wanted to connect with them instead of walking away and hiding.
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I → want → them
I don't know how they are going to react to me!
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they → know → me
I just wanted to thank them for being there for us.
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I → want → us
"
Outside of the stadium however, noise among the fanbase has been building and Slegers knows her position is being questioned.
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position → build → fanbase
Sources at the club insist she retains their full backing and, while there is disappointment and acknowledgement that results have not been good enough, they believe Slegers can guide them in the right direction.
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Slegers → insist → direction
There was investment in the transfer window with the likes of England international Georgia Stanway and Spain full-back Ona Batlle arriving, as well as the talented, young Germany forward Lisa Baum.
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likes → be → Stanway
Those signings were made early in an attempt to ensure a full pre-season and avoid a slow start with most players returning to Arsenal from their holidays in mid-July.
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players → make → July
It has clearly not paid off but rather than worry about her job, Slegers is already planning an inquest into where the problems lie during the international break.
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problems → pay → break
"There will be a big review of our season so far," she added, when asked if there was a wider club issue regarding their continuous slow starts to WSL seasons.
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she → add → seasons
What has led to the scrutiny?
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What → lead → scrutiny
Some of the issues have been obvious.
They had scored just twice in the WSL prior to Sunday's match and Alessia Russo's goal in the 49th minute against City was her first in the league this season.
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goal → score → league
That lack of ruthlessness has meant Arsenal have failed to win in their past four WSL games - their worst winless streak since October 2023.
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Arsenal → mean → October
Defeat by City also confirmed this as their second-worst start after five games in the WSL, only picking up fewer points (four) in 2014.
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Defeat → confirm → 2014
Confidence has clearly taken a hit and Wednesday's bizarre error from defender Leah Williamson summed up the chaotic nature of their season so far.
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error → take → season
Emotions were high after their 2-2 draw with Paris FC in the Women's Champions League, so much so that Slegers did not show up for post-match media duties.
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Slegers → show → duties
She later explained her actions, saying she was angry and felt the team needed her in that moment.
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team → explain → moment
But despite the obvious concerns for Arsenal, Slegers was defiant on Sunday, stating she believes she remains the right person to lead the club.
"
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she → state → club
I have energy, I feel the connection and I think we're going through a really difficult time but we also see perspective," she said.
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she → have → perspective
"We look forward and see solutions.
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We → look → solutions
We see the closeness [of the squad].
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We → see → squad
"We have to work to get them on our side but when we do, I think we'll be really good.
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we → have → side
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
