Renée Slegers has confirmed she feels the full support of Arsenal Women's board as her team prepares for a key Women's Super League fixture against Manchester City. The head coach, whose side have taken just five points from their opening four league games, addressed her recent absence from media duties ahead of Sunday's 4.30pm kick-off.

Slegers explained her non-appearance after Wednesday's 2-2 Champions League draw with Paris FC and stressed the unity within the club. "Yes, that’s what I felt," she said regarding the board's backing. "That’s been positive and that’s helped me." She also highlighted the role of her senior players, describing their influence as monumental. "The captains in the team they’ve been monumental; it’s the strongest leadership I’ve seen so far working within football," Slegers added. She said she told the squad to channel their frustration into fuel for the coming challenges.

Recent form and context

Arsenal Women's form has been a significant concern, with only one win in their last five matches across all competitions. In the WSL, they have scored just two goals in four games, leaving them eighth in the table with five points. This places them seven points behind the defending champions and current leaders, Manchester City, who have a perfect record of four wins from four. The upcoming match at the Academy Stadium therefore represents a major opportunity to arrest the slide. A defeat would see the gap stretch to ten points after only five rounds, while a victory would make the league table look considerably healthier. Arsenal's two WSL goals have been scored in a total of 360 minutes of play, a rate of one goal every 180 minutes.

Champions League frustration

Midweek European action provided a stark illustration of Arsenal's current struggles. They surrendered a two-goal lead against Paris FC in the Women's Champions League, drawing 2-2. Alessia Russo and Georgia Stanway had put Arsenal in command with goals in the 41st and 50th minutes, but late strikes from Clara Mateo and a Maeline Mendy penalty salvaged a point for the French side. This result followed a 1-0 domestic defeat to Chelsea, where Alyssa Thompson's first-half goal proved decisive. The team's recent results, including draws with Manchester United and Crystal Palace, are detailed on our fixtures page.

The scale of the task

Manchester City present the toughest possible challenge. Under head coach Andrée Jeglertz, they have won every home league match since his arrival in summer 2025 and are unbeaten overall this WSL season. Arsenal's attack, which has misfired, will need to find a way past a City side that has conceded only twice. Slegers heads into one of Arsenal's biggest games of the season knowing her team must start converting performances into points. The squad list for this key period is available on our squad page. Manchester City's perfect start of 12 points from four games means they have already built a commanding lead at the top.

Arsenal Women travel to face Manchester City Women in the WSL this Sunday, with kick-off at 4.30pm.

First reported at The Guardian Football