Arsenal have bounced-back because the resignation of former supervisor Jonas Eidevall, with interim head coach Renee Slegers main the Gunners on a 5 sport unbeaten run since her short-term appointment.
Latest victories have begged the query of whether or not or not Slegers ought to be thought of for the everlasting function.
The Gunners endured a turbulent begin to the 2024/25 season, after a run of disappointing performances noticed the facet sitting on simply 5 factors after 4 video games within the Girls’s Tremendous League (WSL). The nail within the coffin got here after consecutive defeats to each Bayern Munich and Chelsea, as head coach Jonas Eidevall handed in his resignation leaving the Reds and not using a chief forward of an necessary block of fixtures .
Enter Renee Slegers. The previous assistant took on the interim head coach function efficient instantly, main the facet to a 4-1 victory over Valerenga and a 2-0 win over West Ham earlier than the worldwide break. Many followers pinned the victories right down to the standard of opposition, or the ‘new supervisor bounce’, however current performances beg the query of whether or not Slegers may very well simply be the individual for the job.
Arsenal stormed house to an emphatic 5-0 win over Brighton within the WSL final week, as 5 separate objective scorers tore aside the Seagulls on the Emirates Stadium. The win was adopted up with a stellar efficiency in Biella, because the Gunners triumphed to a 4-0 over Juventus within the UEFA Girls’s Champions League.
Beth Mead 🤝 Emirates Stadium
🍿 Relive all the most effective moments from final evening’s victory with our highlights 👇
— Arsenal Girls (@ArsenalWFC) November 9, 2024
Following the information that Nick Cushing has dominated himself out of the race to turn into the brand new supervisor, buzz has started to flow into as as to whether Slegers may very well be a possible candidate.
Because the optimism wave continues to crash over Arsenal followers, there are a lot of issues to contemplate when questioning whether or not Slegers is the fitting coach for the job. Firstly, her enjoying type is extremely just like the soccer Arsenal performed beneath Eidevall. This resemblance in type ought to come as no shock, contemplating the interim head coach labored as an assistant beneath Eidevall since September 2023.
The Gunners did not capitalise on probabilities beneath Eidevall, but have scored 9 targets in two video games beneath the same managerial type of Slegers. The gamers seem to have gained a newfound confidence, with forwards like Alessia Russo and Caitlin Foord testing their aptitude and creativity in methods they weren’t doing earlier than. Russo particularly has scored three targets within the final fortnight beneath Slegers, after failing to attain in eight consecutive outings when Eidevall was in cost.
Slegers’ tenure has additionally introduced again some classic type within the Arsenal gamers. Within the sport towards Brighton particularly, signature targets had been scored that may make sure to present Arsenal followers with a heat wave of nostalgia.
In a second that may convey again fond recollections for each England and Arsenal followers alike, Beth Mead reduce on her left-foot earlier than burying her shot into the underside nook in true Mead style. Frida Maanum sunk a banger from outdoors of the field into the again of the web like we’ve seen her do many occasions earlier than, and a trademark back-post end from Foord reminded Arsenal followers of the glory days. It is not simply the truth that this crew are scoring, it’s the truth that every participant appears to be getting their aptitude again.
So, was soccer ever the issue? It seems that the identical Arsenal gamers are flourishing beneath the identical system, the one distinction being the individual main the ship.
One other slice of Maanum Magic 🪄 pic.twitter.com/KXfmn5TZCp
— Arsenal Girls (@ArsenalWFC) November 8, 2024
Mead echoed this sentiment, expressing that “She [Slegers] hasn’t modified an excessive amount of, she’s simply given us all a little bit of confidence, a little bit of freedom. We’ve received an excellent crew of gamers and people and it’s simply beginning to come collectively beneath her now.”
Slegers or not, one factor is definite, Arsenal have to be sure of their new appointment if they’re to hurriedly signal a brand new supervisor. Names of potential candidates proceed to flow into the fanbase, and if the Gunners are to hurry their resolution, it may very well be much more detrimental than simply seeing out the season with an interim head coach and making a strong resolution in the summertime.
Presently seven factors adrift of table-toppers Manchester Metropolis within the league standings, Arsenal have all however kissed the WSL title goodbye. The facet would require stability if they’re to progress within the Champions League, and eyes will likely be firmly skilled on securing a top-three end within the WSL. Sticking with Slegers may be the most effective resolution.
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