Arsenal head coach Renée Slegers says the Gunners are in a good place heading into the 2025/26 Women’s Super League (WSL) campaign.
The European Champions will face London City Lionesses on Saturday September 6, in the first game of Arsenal’s 2025/26 WSL campaign. Saturday’s opponents prepare for their first game in England’s top-flight after signing 16 first-team players over the summer transfer window, including new world record breaking signing, Grace Geyoro for a reported fee of £1.4 million.
“There are a lot of unknowns,” Slegers said on facing London City. “Of course, we’ve seen them play last season and we have a good idea of who they are and what they are. At the end of the day, we haven’t played against this team because it’s very new with a lot of new players.
“I spoke about rock and roll football, it was more about the opposition, but of course it takes two to tango. That’s the unknown. Of course, we know what their ideas are and it’s going to have to play out tomorrow. I think we’re very prepared for what they will try to do tomorrow and we are very humble about the game.
“Hopefully, we want it to be joyful because we want to deliver a good product for everyone. That’s what we try to achieve together, but of course, we go out there and try to play our game the Arsenal way and make that lead to wins as well.”
Following the fairytale finish to the 2024/25 season that saw Arsenal lift the UEFA Women’s Champions League trophy, Gunners fans are hoping that their side can translate that success over to the WSL.
“There’s zero guarantee because I think what we achieved at the end of last season, there was so much work put into it. If you look back at the season we had, there were so many challenges that we had to overcome on the way.
“A lot of things weren’t perfect. Then you end up at the end of the season winning the Champions League. That also brings us a lot of clarity. You will go through different phases in a season.
“Not everything has to go and be perfect but you have every single day ahead of you to be able to make the best out of it and things are possible. What we learned is that we have a belief in what we do. What we also learned is that we need to be very humble. There’s no guarantee.”
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Olivia Smith adds layers to Arsenal praises Slegers
Arsenal got their summer business done early, signing four players in Chloe Kelly, Taylor Hinds, Anneke Borbe and Olivia Smith. Smith, who signed from WSL opponents for a world-record fee of £1 million, will be a key piece in the puzzle of Arsenal’s ambitions heading into the new campaign.
“We’re very proud of the way we play our football and it’s very important to us,” Slegers said on Arsenal’s attempts to improve the squad. “Also, it needs to be very purposeful, and it needs to lead to the wins, that’s why we play and that’s the case when you represent Arsenal. What we think is that Olivia can add to that. She can add new layers to our game. She’s very talented.
“There’s so much potential and she’s shown a lot of that last season in the WSL, which is very impressive, coming to the WSL and performing like that because it’s one of the hardest leagues in the world, in Europe. We see all the potential and she’s going to add something new to us. We’re so very proud that she’s with us now.”
That world-record fee has already been broken twice during the summer transfer window, once by London City and once by Orlando Pride’s acquisition of Lizbeth Ovalle.
“You see the record is being beaten. I think we want to push and grow the women’s game, that’s everything included, that’s the work the players do on a daily basis to make the game even better,” Slegers said on the increase in transfer fees.
“It’s the work we do as coaches and as staff to make sure that the game grows and the players can perform on even higher levels. It’s you guys, the media, helping us pushing the game forward, giving us the exposure. It’s everything. Investment is always going to be key and I’m really happy that you can see that on all different levels. I’m just very happy that the game is growing.”