Arsenal head coach Renée Slegers says she has felt firm support from the club’s leadership during what she described as a “difficult time”, as her side prepare to face Women’s Super League leaders manchester City on Sunday. The endorsement from the board and senior staff comes amid a run of poor results that has left Arsenal trailing the champions and scoring sparingly in the league.
- Slegers says Arsenal’s board and senior staff have been supportive during a difficult run.
- Arsenal have one win in five and have scored twice in four WSL games; they are seven points behind manchester City.
- manchester City are 100% in the WSL this season and strong at home under Andrée Jeglertz.
- Slegers praised the captains and players for leadership and cohesion after the Paris FC draw.
What Slegers said and who backed her
Slegers told reporters she had experienced regular contact and encouragement from Arsenal’s senior figures. She specifically credited director of football Clare Wheatley, chief executive Rich Garlick, director of football operations James King and technical director Jodie Taylor for what she called “superb” leadership and said that support had helped her through the current spell.
She apologised for not addressing the media after Arsenal’s midweek Women’s Champions League draw with Paris FC, explaining that she chose to remain with the squad in a highly emotional moment. Slegers said she will meet the media next time but used the occasion to stress she was “angry” about recent results and wanted the team’s reaction to be fuel for improvement.
Where Arsenal sit and why Sunday matters
The immediate context is clear: Arsenal have taken one win from their last five matches and in the WSL have fallen seven points behind manchester City, the reigning champions and current table-toppers. In their four league outings so far this season Arsenal have scored twice, a statistic Slegers and the club will be keen to address.
Sunday’s trip to City is therefore more than a single fixture. City arrive on the back of a 100% WSL record this season and have won every home league game since Andrée Jeglertz became their head coach in the summer of 2025, making them a formidable opponent and a measuring stick for Arsenal’s response.
Player leadership and internal response
Slegers praised the reaction of her squad after the Paris FC match, saying she had seen “the best sides” of players and singled out the captains for what she called “monumental” leadership. She described the group’s approach as calm, solution-orientated and focused — traits she said were vital as the club seeks to turn results around.
That internal cohesion appears to have reinforced Slegers’s position: she said the club’s leadership had been “really good and positive” and that she felt united with staff and players in seeking solutions.
What is confirmed and what is not
- Confirmed: Slegers has publicly said she feels support from Arsenal’s board and senior staff, naming Wheatley, Garlick, King and Taylor as sources of backing (The Guardian).
- Confirmed: Arsenal are preparing to visit WSL leaders Manchester City on Sunday; City have a 100% WSL record this season and have won all home league matches since the summer of 2025 under Andrée Jeglertz (The Guardian).
- Confirmed: Arsenal’s recent form includes one win in five across competitions and a draw at Paris FC in the Women’s Champions League where they conceded a late penalty; Arsenal have scored twice in their four WSL games this season (The Guardian).
Why this matters for Arsenal and Slegers
For Arsenal the match represents both a tactical and psychological test. Beating or matching Manchester City at the Etihad would signal immediate progress and help close the gap in the title race; by contrast, another setback would deepen questions about the Gunners’ attacking efficiency and consistency.
For Slegers personally, public backing from the club’s hierarchy and visible leadership from senior players buy time and support to implement changes. She has acknowledged the need to find solutions while also expressing gratitude for the unity within the squad and staff.
What comes next
The next confirmed events are Arsenal’s WSL trip to Manchester City on Sunday and upcoming domestic and European fixtures as the season progresses. Short-term focus for the club will be restoring goal threat and tightening defensive concentration; Slegers has framed the current emotion as fuel to be channelled into improved performances.
Beyond the immediate fixtures, the situation will be assessed internally by the club’s football leadership — the same group Slegers praised — as they monitor results, player form and the team’s response under pressure.
Timeline of key recent developments
- Summer 2025: Andrée Jeglertz appointed Manchester City head coach (The Guardian).
- Early 2026-27 WSL season: Manchester City record a 100% start and have won all home league matches under Jeglertz (The Guardian).
- Recent run: Arsenal have one win in five matches and drew at Paris FC in the Women’s Champions League after conceding a late penalty; Arsenal have scored twice in four WSL games (The Guardian).
- 2 October 2026: Slegers publicly states she feels club leadership support and praises player leadership ahead of the trip to Manchester City (The Guardian).
Bottom line
Renée Slegers has emphasised unity and backing from Arsenal’s hierarchy while acknowledging a difficult patch of results. Sunday’s meeting with an unbeaten Manchester City is a clear test of whether that support and the players’ leadership can translate into an immediate upturn in results; the club’s football executives will continue to monitor outcomes closely.