The Reneesance | Arseblog … an Arsenal blog

When Jonas Eidevall resigned as the Head Coach of Arsenal Women in October, it is not my opinion that Arsenal were in disarray. Clearly, the relationship between the coach and the supporters was broken, which he would admit shortly after his resignation. There were certainly tactical issues and it had become clear that his message with the players had become lost.

I don’t believe there was anything especially tempestuous about his departure, the squad has some creases to iron out for sure, but he neither inherited nor left behind a bad squad at all. His tenure had run its course. What is true, is that Arsenal’s WSL season was in disarray, starting with a draw at home to Manchester City (not a bad result in isolation), defeat to Chelsea, a drab home draw with Everton and a chastening 5-2 Champions League defeat in Munich meant the time had come (passed, in truth) for change.

Arsenal were in fifth place in the WSL table when assistant coach Renee Slegers took over the reigns on an interim basis. Slegers had Head Coach experience at Rosengard in Sweden where she won successive Damallsvenskan titles. She joined the Arsenal coaching staff in the summer of 2023 at the invitation of Jonas Eidevall, with whom she had worked in Sweden. (For greater depth on her career, I interviewed Renee when she was permanently appointed to the role in January).

Previously, Slegers’ role at Arsenal had been as the individual player coach, this involved one-to-one sessions with players going through their clips and identifying development points. She was also the liaison between the dugout and the analysts on match days. It enabled her to build strong relationships with the players and other areas of the coaching staff. That player focus is something she has taken with her into the Head Coach role.

Slegers asks for, demands even, input from players on game plans and tactics during team meetings. She will often randomly select two or three players before a team meeting, review something the opposition does, like goal kicks, and ask players for their input in how Arsenal ought to press, for example. Player involvement and accountability are key pillars in Slegers’ strategy.

Not only does it ensure player buy-in but it keeps players sharp and thinking when they know at any time they might be asked to give their specific input. Numerous coaching studies will tell you that female athletes are more curious about why they are being asked to execute tactics and actions by a coach. They are more likely to ask questions but, once satisfied, will absolutely buy-in.

After Arsenal lost their UWCL quarter-final first leg 2-0 in Madrid, Slegers says she asked the players to meet to discuss the game and how to fix some of the issues ahead of the second leg, while the coaching staff went away and did the same, before the two groups came back together to compare notes and form the game plan.

The Dutch coach’s ‘primus inter pares’ approach is also reflected in her touchline attire. She always wears the same club tracksuit as her coaching staff. When asked how she masterminded Arsenal’s UWCL semi-final second leg performance against Lyon she answered, ‘I am part of the team, I do not put myself above that.’ Her assistant coach Aaron D’Antino focuses on the defence and Slegers on the attack.

Occasionally players need a change of temperature or a switch in delivery. Eidevall cut a very animated touchline and training ground presence. ‘If you want your players to bring the heat, sometimes you have to bring the fire,’ was a beloved catchphrase of his. That approach clearly has its place, just look at Jurgen Klopp.

But what was clear was that Arsenal’s players needed a change in delivery and Slegers is one of the calmest individuals you will ever meet. (One day there may come a time when players will need a change in delivery once more and will require a more bombastic presence in the dugout, but that time is certainly not now).

However, there are other, more tangible ways in which Slegers picked up a talented yet weary squad and turned them into European champions. Under Eidevall, Arsenal were very well structured. When the Swede took over in 2021, he inherited Joe Montemurro’s team, who were capable of flowing, fluid football that destroyed every low block in the league but struggled against the bigger sides.

Eidevall ultimately over corrected the issue. Under his stewardship the team were very well structured, solid and difficult to transition on. But over time, that came at the expense of the fluidity and freedom required to deconstruct deep defensive blocks and, in reality, those are the games Arsenal face often. Eidevall transformed Arsenal’s record in big games but seasons were often derailed by disappointing results against lesser teams.

Slegers has fixed this issue, her team is far more fluid and free scoring, they have scored nine more league goals this season than last (bear in mind the WSL season has 22 games) and the team have scored a minimum of four goals for every home league match she has taken charge of. In pre-season, the formula will need finessing a little because Arsenal are now a little too easy to transition on and concede more against fast counters.

But this is the firepower that saw them overturn UWCL deficits against Madrid and Lyon, that saw them roar back from 3-1 down to beat West Ham 4-3 in March and that saw them dispatch Manchester City 4-3 in February. (Arsenal have registered three 4-3 WSL wins under Slegers).

She has made small tweaks, as well as generally making the team a little more fluid with greater interchanging of positions in attack, she has switched some pillars of the team in more concrete ways. In her second game in charge, she moved left-back Steph Catley to left centre-half. This was both to give Arsenal a left footer in the heart of their defence and to liberate Katie McCabe from left-back.

McCabe was given license to overlap and to invert into midfield, having spent her career at left-back, Catley is well schooled in covering the spaces McCabe leaves as she forages in advanced areas. McCabe has registered eight assists across the WSL and Champions League this season, an incredible number for a full-back. Slegers also put a stop to the previous goalkeeper rotation policy and threw her lot in with compatriot Daphne van Domselaar who, at 24, is already one of the best goalkeepers in the world and likely in line for improved terms this summer.

Slegers also moved attacking midfielder Mariona into the midfield double pivot and availed of her skills in build-up (think of Arsene Wenger dropping Santi Cazorla deeper circa 2015). All these changes have been at least slightly adventurous and have changed what Arsenal can do in deeper areas.

Players have been given greater freedom to express themselves on the pitch and on the training ground. Slegers has brought a calm hand to previously turbulent waters and, crucially for Arsenal’s Champions League run, she is a very astute tactician. Aged just 36, Slegers is the youngest female coach to win the Women’s Champions League. For Arsenal Women, 2024-25 has truly been the Reneesance.