Arsenal Women's deep squad is a double-edged sword as they pursue a first Women's Super League title in seven years. Manager Renée Slegers must balance the talent of seven summer signings with the expectations of a squad packed with internationals.

Slegers has integrated four new arrivals into her starting lineup. Lisa Baum, Georgia Stanway, Ona Batlle and goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez have all featured from the off, with Baum scoring the team's only league goal so far in the 1-0 win over Brighton. Stanway has settled quickly back in England, while Batlle has adjusted to playing on the left side. Rodríguez has taken the number one spot with Anneke Borbe as deputy while Daphne van Domselaar recovers from injury.

Managing the numbers

The summer business, which also brought in Selina Cerci and Géraldine Reuteler, means Arsenal now exceed the 20-player matchday limit. This forces Slegers to leave senior players out each week, a situation she described as key for long-term planning. "We think it is a key position," Slegers said of the central forward role. "There are a couple of positions in the team we think are key where you need to have quality, so if someone is not there due to illness or injury, we need the backup so that is why we chose to have three central forwards in the squad."

That depth is already being tested. Cerci and Reuteler are yet to make a matchday squad, while the returns of Katie Reid and Michelle Agyemang from ACL injuries will push two more senior players out of the selection picture. Slegers has kept a core of Caitlin Foord, Chloe Kelly, Frida Maanum and Olivia Smith in her starting XI, but experiments with Alessia Russo's position and the introduction of Stina Blackstenius have not yet yielded a consistent attacking formula.

The immediate challenge

Arsenal's quest for a first WSL crown since 2019 continues this weekend against Manchester United. The team sits fifth in the table with four points from two games, having drawn 0-0 with Crystal Palace in their last outing. That result extended their unbeaten run to four matches across all competitions, a sequence you can review on our fixtures page. They are two points behind leaders Manchester City.

Historically, Arsenal have struggled against defensively organised sides, but United's 5-0 loss to Chelsea last weekend may encourage a more open approach. Slegers believes the squad's strength is necessary for the campaign ahead. "We thought this was best for us, long term as well, because there will be a lot of games," she added. The absence of the Players Cup for Champions League clubs this season removes one key rotation opportunity, heightening the need for smart squad management.

The clash with Manchester United represents the first major test of whether Arsenal's abundant resources can be converted into a sustained title challenge. The match kicks off on Sunday.

First reported at ESPN Soccer