Slegers backed by Arsenal board amid poor run as Manchester City visit looms
Renée Slegers said on Friday she has felt the full support of Arsenal’s board despite a run of poor results, and vowed to find solutions before Sunday’s WSL trip to leaders Manchester City.
Arsenal have won once in five matches, drew after surrendering a two-goal lead to Paris FC in the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday, and have scored only once in their past three league games as they sit seven points behind City, the leaders and defending champions. That string of results has increased pressure on Slegers at the club.
Slegers listed members of the club leadership she has been in contact with and spoke of a collective backing, saying: “Yes, that’s what I felt. That’s been positive and that’s helped me. The club’s leadership has been really good and positive for me in this moment because everyone thinks this is a difficult time and this is not something that we want for the team and for the club. “But the leadership from Clare [Wheatley, the director of football], Rich [Garlick, CEO], James [King, director of football operations], Jodie [Taylor, techical director] has been superb. So I want to give everything back to the club. “There’s been a lot of contact, of course. There’s a strong togetherness and I’ve really felt their support and they’re here with us, which I’m very grateful for, of course, because I care so much for the team, for the club. I believe in the potential that we possess. I believe we can come out of this.”
Slegers apologised to the media for not appearing after Wednesday’s game, saying: “After the game there was emotion from my end,” and that she made the decision “[I] make the decision to be with the team instead.” She added: “I will be there next time.” The post-match absence followed a bizarre penalty concession after Leah Williamson was penalised for handling the ball in the area when she thought she was taking a goal-kick; Slegers’s assistant Aaron D’Antino conducted the media duties.
Speaking about her squad’s response since the Paris FC draw, Slegers said her players had been exemplary, adding that “players have been brilliant – I’ve seen the best sides of them.” She singled out the captains’ contribution, stating: “The captains in the team they’ve been monumental; it’s the strongest leadership I’ve seen so far working within football, they’ve been amazing. They’re very calm, composed, solution-orientated and laser-focused. It was a great moment and I think vital for us moving forward.” She also expressed gratitude for the group’s reaction and for the training session, saying the session on the pitch was “really, really good.”
Sunday presents a huge challenge against Manchester City, who have a 100% record in the WSL this season and have won all their home league matches since Andrée Jeglertz took over as head coach in the summer of 2025. Slegers acknowledged the difficulty of the fixture while emphasising the unity she has seen at Arsenal during a difficult period.
Slegers vowed to find solutions to recent poor form before Arsenal’s WSL trip to Manchester City on Sunday, and said the club’s backing and the players’ response have given her belief they can recover.