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Writer's pictureJames Barnes

Should Renee Slegers Become the Full-Time Manager of Arsenal?

Having only conceded two goals in their last five games, it seems as though Arsenal have been rejuvenated by interim coach Renee Slegers. Having struggled for consistent results before the Dutchwoman took over, the Gunners have now won six out of seven since Jonas Eidevall's departure.


Since taking over as the interim Arsenal boss following the disappointing defeat to Chelsea, Slegers has brought a breath of fresh air to the side. This includes cleansheets in emphatic victories over Tottenham, West Ham and a promising Brighton team who currently sit 3rd in the WSL.



Slegers has not only got Arsenal's domestic season back on track, but has also kick-started their Champions League campaign.


The Gunners were thrashed 5 - 2 by Bayern Munich in Germany in their opening group match this season, but have now beaten Valerenga at the Emirates and won home and away against Juventus under Slegers.


Being three for three in the Champions League is impressive whoever you are or whatever club you're managing, especially with nine goals scored and only one conceded.


Despite the impressive start to her interim tenure however, would it be smart of Arsenal to give Slegers the permanent job?


Whilst she is a young coach, she is not someone who walked into Arsenal straight from retirement as a player. Once she stopped playing football herself, she started coaching at Rosengard through their youth academies as she worked her way up, eventually taking over as the first team coach following the departure of Jonas Eidevall as he headed to Arsenal in 2021.


She would join his coaching staff in 2023 before subsequently taking over following Eidevall's resignation in October. During her time as the full-time coach of Rosengard, she enjoyed a successful run, winning successive league titles in 2021 and 2022.


This is a level of success Arsenal are keen to bring back to North London, and Slegers looks like an ideal candidate to deliver that so far.



Due to the fact that she was an assistant coach for the season prior to Eidevall's resignation, Slegers has developed her connections and trust with the players early on, which will help for players to gel. Going on a seven-game unbeaten run is all well and good, but a season is much longer than seven games and there is still work to be done.


Despite this, some fans may see only one head coaching job to her name and not feel as if she is quite ready to coach them to their expectations of being among Europe's elite teams and getting their first WSL title in five years.


However, the dominant start to her tenure can't be understated for Arsenal and the season could be a promising one once again for the Gunners.




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