Renée Slegers says Arsenal are targeting the Women’s Super League title this season, insisting “there’s a real hunger” within the squad ahead of the club’s first game of the 2026/27 campaign.
Speaking to reporters as Arsenal prepare to open their season against Brighton, the Gunners head coach described the need to “go after the WSL” after finishing second last term, four points behind champions Manchester City.
“I’m very excited,” Slegers said. “The quality of players in the league, the quality of coaches, it’s all very exciting. But I mainly look at what we have, what we’re doing and what we’ve done in the last six weeks – and the desire, quality and alignment we’ve created within our squad. That’s what I’m really excited to see: that’s all good, all nice, and that’s a great foundation, but now let’s go and play competitive games.”
Arsenal have not won the WSL since 2019, though the club have collected three trophies in the seven years since, including a Champions League triumph in 2025. Asked whether the league title is the one she is most determined to win, Slegers did not hold back.
“Yes, I think we’ve been open with it, it’s something we’re going after – and of course we are, because we’re Arsenal,” she said.
“There’s a real hunger – of course, there are other competitions, the draw for the Champions League was today as well, and there’s the FA Cup. Those competitions are very important for us as well, but the WSL is something because of the two teams coming in, and there are more games, and it’s symbolic for endurance and consistency. It’s something we really have our mind set on.”
Slegers says this is the “strongest” squad she’s had at Arsenal
Arsenal added eight new faces during a busy summer window, including Lioness Georgia Stanway and two-time Champions League winner Ona Batlle. Asked whether the club now have the tools to turn last season’s costly draws into wins, Slegers was in no doubt.
“Yeah, absolutely,” she said. “The quality of players that we have here now and the variety – there’re so many things that we can bring to a game now. It’s so good, I’m so happy with it. We want to be unpredictable as well with what we do, what the game plan is and what personnel we have on the pitch. So I do think we have the tools this year.”
Much of Arsenal’s business was completed early in the window, and Slegers said that had allowed her to work with close to a full squad throughout pre-season.
“To then have those things ready early so we can start with the full group, apart from Élisa [de Almeida] who came in yesterday, it’s given us a really good foundation, because there was a couple of things we were going after, and to do that all together, and the investment that everyone has shown in that process, it’s been really good for us.”
Asked whether this was her strongest squad yet, Slegers answered simply: “Yes, I would say so.”
De Almeida arrival brings “experience” after deadline-day move
Arsenal’s window ended with the signing of France international centre-back Élisa de Almeida, 28, from Paris Saint-Germain. Slegers praised the profile the defender brings to the squad.
“She’s competed at the highest level,” Slegers said. “She’s been at PSG for five years now. She brings experience. She’s good on the ball, which you have to be at Arsenal. She has a good athletic profile as well. So if you look at how our games usually play out, it’s fast attacks and counterattacks that you have to manage really, really well, and she has the speed and the mobility to do that.”
Slegers expects a “good and stubborn” Brighton on Sunday
Arsenal open the new WSL season away at Brighton, a side who gave them problems on three occasions last term – a win, a draw and an FA Cup quarter-final exit. Slegers says her side are ready for another difficult afternoon.
“Yeah, they’re a stubborn team and a good team,” she said. “They know when to press and press aggressively and make spaces small quickly, but they also know how to be patient and make it really compact in front of their goal.
“So it’s been hard games for us, we acknowledge that. We won the game at the Emirates, but the other two weren’t the results we wanted. So yeah, we look forward to the challenge, and we know that there’s things that they will make hard for us. And of course, there’s a big belief in what we’re doing at the moment, the quality that we possess and the different tools that we have to use on Sunday. So I really look forward to the game.”
Van Domselaar, Reid, Agyemang and De Almeida remain out
Slegers confirmed that Daphne van Domselaar, Katie Reid and Michelle Agyemang all remain sidelined as they continue their rehabilitation, though “everyone else is fit to play”. De Almeida, meanwhile, will not be involved against Brighton so soon after her move.
“She played 120 minutes against Frankfurt. She was here yesterday, first day yesterday. Her visa had to come through still, so still recovery day, no training day for her today. So there will be one session to then go in. So it’s probably a little bit too early. We really want to get it right with her, and next week will be a full training week for her.”
Brighton host Arsenal on Sunday, kicking off at 12:00pm BST, live on Sky Sports.
