Slegers seeks to sustain ‘positivity’ and ‘lightness’ in Arsenal dressing room before Chelsea clash
LONDON COLNEY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Arsenal Women's Head Coach Renee Slegers with Arsenal Coach Melissa Clarke-Reed during a Arsenal Women's training session at Sobha Realty Training Centre on September 25, 2026 in London Colney, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Renee Slegers stressed her assurance about the quality of her squad before a big game on Sunday.
Arsenal are going for the Women’s Super League title for the first time since 2019, and significant summer recruitment reinforced the stated intent of their head coach. However, draws with Crystal Palace and Manchester United have already left the Gunners four points adrift of the top spot.
‘Too early still to draw conclusions’
Arsenal also needed a second half stoppage time penalty from Mariona Caldentey to get the better of Koge in their first fixture of the Champions League campaign. So, concerns about the start of the season are not unfounded — but the boss did not amplify that feeling ahead of the clash with Chelsea.
“It’s been clear we wanted more points, so the two draws we’re not happy with, and I don’t think we need to over-dramatize the performances, but of course we want to and need to score and win games, and we’re of course very aware of it, and that’s where we are now and we’re looking ahead to Sunday.
Arsenal’s focus areas in front of goal
“Worrying, I think that’s not a word that we use internally, but the focus areas are things that we need to get right, and that’s of course in front of goal, what kind of situations we set up.
“We do get shots off, but like I said, are they open and clear enough to be able to get a relatively easy finish? But we’re also looking at the final pass, how we set each other up, and that’s connected that, how do we set each other up in those moments? How calm are we? How do we see things clearly in front of goal?
“We know [the gelling of new players] takes time, but at the same time, we have a really strong foundation. I think we’ve spoken a lot about it externally. I think for us it’s now about action and we want action towards and on.
“I think it’s too early still to draw conclusions. We’re three games in and there’s 26 games, so it’s too early still to draw the conclusions. I think halfway into the season you’ll have a better understanding of where everyone’s at.
Keeping the environment light
“[We need] people coming together, aligning on where we want to go, reflecting in honesty, making plans going forward, bringing people together, keep positivity, lightness in the environment, see the bigger picture, see the direction, and make sure that it's not too heavy.
“I think these players, they're so good, and they want it so bad, and they want to take responsibility, and that's really good. They just have to sometimes also go out and play, and enjoy the game as you did when you were a kid, so trying to find that balance as well.”