Arsenal Women head coach Renee Slegers has defended her leadership after a 4-2 defeat to Manchester City left her side 10 points adrift of the Women's Super League summit. The loss at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday confirmed Arsenal's second-worst start to a WSL campaign after five games, leaving them 10th in the table with just five points.

Lisa Baum gave the Gunners the lead twice, first in the 43rd minute and again through Alessia Russo four minutes after the restart, but City responded each time. Lauren Hemp scored twice, with Khadija Shaw also on target, to seal a comprehensive victory for the hosts. The result extends Arsenal's winless league run to four matches, their worst such streak since October 2023.

Slegers' post-match message

At full-time, Slegers gathered her dejected players before walking over to the 2,500 away supporters who were applauding and singing. She was defiant in her post-match news conference, thanking the fans and reaffirming her commitment. "I mostly went there to thank them, connect with them and show them I care for them and I appreciate them coming out to Manchester," Slegers said. "All I know so far is that the last couple of days we have been together as a club, and a team."

She acknowledged the difficult period but pointed to the upcoming international break as a chance to reset. "Of course, this result is disappointing but I'm here. I'm full of energy," Slegers stated. "I care a lot for the club, for the players and I see perspective. It's good to have an international break coming up."

A season of struggle

The defeat compounds a challenging start to the season across all competitions. Arsenal have won just two of their opening seven matches, a run that includes a 2-2 Champions League draw with Paris FC and a narrow 1-0 league loss to Chelsea. Their current league position of 10th, with a goal difference of minus two, is a stark contrast to the pre-season optimism generated by signings like Georgia Stanway and Ona Batlle.

Slegers confirmed a major review will take place during the break to address the team's issues. Confidence has been affected, exemplified by defensive errors in recent weeks. The team now faces a key period to turn their form around, with their next match a home fixture against Birmingham City on 17 October.

Despite the poor results, sources at the club insist Slegers retains their full backing. The head coach, who took over after Jonas Eidevall's resignation last October, believes the squad is close to turning margins in their favour. Top scorer Lisa Baum, who has two goals in five appearances this season, will be a key figure in that revival. The focus now shifts to the training ground before the return to WSL action at Meadow Park in two weeks' time.

First reported at BBC Sport Football