Slegers admits 'cocktail' of problems as Arsenal's misfiring attack meets Chelsea test

Arsenal's Women's Super League season is in danger of slipping away before autumn has even arrived. Sunday's visit to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea carries the feel of a must-win match, with Renée Slegers' side already seven points behind leaders Manchester City after successive draws against Crystal Palace and Manchester United.

"If I look at the last two games, not turning that dominance into goals and wins, is something we have to look at," Slegers said. "We believe in the quality of the squad and their ideas. We can create in a variety of ways. When that starts clicking, it will be really good. It really is about the details in the final third."

The numbers make grim reading for a club tipped by many to win the title after heavy summer investment, including the additions of Germany duo Lisa Baum and Selina Cerci — though England winger Beth Mead departed for Manchester City. Across their first three WSL matches Arsenal have registered 56 shots and scored just twice. They needed a 95th-minute Smilla Holmberg equaliser to salvage a 1-1 home draw with Manchester United on Saturday, having been held 0-0 by newly promoted Crystal Palace despite 70 touches in the opposition box and 79% possession, and required a 93rd-minute penalty to beat HB Koge in the Champions League.

"It's a combination of things. There's some details in decision-making and some details in technical execution," Slegers said. "It's also the ruthlessness in front of goal. I know the players want it. They want to execute for Arsenal."

Why isn't Russo playing as a striker?

The obvious question is why England's number nine, Alessia Russo, is not leading the line. Only Manchester City's Khadija Shaw scored more WSL goals than Russo's 13 last season, yet Slegers has preferred to use her in the number 10 role at some point in every league game so far. It has not paid off: Russo is yet to score this season despite attempting 11 shots, and she has netted just three times in 507 minutes as an attacking midfielder compared with 21 goals in 2,913 minutes as a striker under Slegers.

"We were expecting to be spending a lot of time in their half. It was looking at how we could pose as much threat as possible in the box, hence why both Stina Blackstenius and Alessia Russo started," Slegers explained. "We wanted to keep Alessia as high as possible on the pitch. She's a fantastic number nine. We have three [players who can play there] but the plan was to have two number nines in the box as much as possible for crosses."

With Chloe Kelly, Olivia Smith, Stina Blackstenius and Caitlin Foord all available, and Michelle Agyemang expected back from an ACL injury later in the season, Slegers has no shortage of attacking options. What she needs now is a breakthrough — and quickly, against serial winners Chelsea, with a title race that punishes slow starters already under way.