Renee Slegers Disappointed After Arsenal Women 3-2 Loss to City

Renee Slegers laments Arsenal Women 3-2 defeat to Manchester City but urges resilience ahead of their Champions League clash with Lyon.

Arsenal Women head coach Renee Slegers expressed disappointment after Arsenal’s 3-2 loss to Manchester City, a result that leaves the Gunners five points behind leaders Chelsea and winless in their last three league matches.

The WSL clash at the Joie Stadium saw Arsenal fight back twice through Mariona Caldentey and Chloe Kelly, only for substitute Imane Beney to strike late in the 88th minute and secure victory for City.

“We’re very disappointed,” Slegers admitted post-match. “It’s two top teams going against each other, so you’re prepared that momentum will shift. We’re disappointed, conceding three goals. But I think the two goals that we score today are high quality goals.”

Momentum and Ruthlessness Key for Arsenal

Slegers emphasized the need for greater ruthlessness when the team has momentum, insisting that seizing key moments will be crucial for future results.)

“When we have momentum, capitalise, be ruthless and protect yourself really well for when the momentum shifts again,” she said.

The coach acknowledged Arsenal’s earlier struggles against Manchester United and Aston Villa and expressed frustration over the dropped points.

“We felt very disappointed with the United and Villa results. The league is quite small, so as a team, we committed to staying consistently consistent.”

Despite the setback, Slegers aims to move forward quickly as Arsenal prepares for their UEFA Women’s Champions League opener against Lyon on Tuesday. She emphasized the need to recover well and strengthen the team’s bond with fans at Borehamwood.

“We’re going to do everything we can to recover from this one and show up in a really good Arsenal way on Tuesday,” Slegers said.

Squad Rotation and Player Management

Against City, Slegers gave Lotte Wubben-Moy her first start of the season, replacing Katie Reid, who had started every match until now. She praised Wubben-Moy’s display while reassuring Reid of her importance to the squad.

“It’s always hard to leave players out… Katie Reid shouldn’t change anything she’s doing, she’s doing really well,” Slegers explained.

For Slegers, the message is clear: Arsenal must learn from their 3-2 loss to Manchester City Women, respond with resilience, and harness their strengths in Europe. The clash with Lyon provides a timely opportunity to reset ambitions and reaffirm their credentials on the continental stage.

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