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Renee Slegers took a moment to pump her firsts on the sideline. Arsenal left late but the job was done. After near domination of the match against Juventus, substitute Lina Hurtig’s 89th-minute winner secured their place in the Champions League quarter-finals with two matches remaining. It was quite a recovery for a team beaten 5-2 by Bayern Munich on the opening night of the competition and who looked in disarray under Jonas Eidevall. “It’s surreal,” said Slegers, the interim coach who turned the season around.
After leading a resurgent Arsenal to the Emirates at the end of that 1-0 victory, Leah Williamson remained in deep conversation with Slegers, pointing back with her hands to suggest her team could have played quicker against Italy’s runaway defense . Clearly, there is still work to be done. But Slegers has now overseen three group wins since taking caretaker role, part of a seven-game unbeaten run following Eidevall’s resignation a month ago. Arsenal will be in the Champions League in March. Slegers, who was part of Eidevall’s coaching team, described it as the “perfect end” to the seven games he was offered.
The question now is whether Slegers will be there to continue the journey. The interaction with Williamson suggested the England captain was intent on progressing Slegers in her job, with the Dutchwoman keen to stress she built on the “foundations” laid by Eidevall. However, the improvement under Slegers, which saw them qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League while stabilizing in the Women’s Super League, still represents a remarkable transformation. The season is far from over, as it felt after defeats to Chelsea and Bayern Munich last month.
The change under Slegers is not only seen in the results. Performances improved, with players enjoying the output and involved in contributing to offensive ideas. Juventus’ comeback was undoubtedly Arsenal’s toughest test, and for a while it looked like they would be unable to break the low block again. Juventus certainly didn’t want to be beaten 4-0 again, after the defeat in Turin last week. The Italian team changed their approach and were much more compact in their five defenders. Arsenal had over 70% of the ball, but the majority of their build-up was confined to the area in front of the penalty box.
Arsenal, however, pressed on, as Kim Little and Mariona Caldentey continued to look for the intricate passes inside. Ultimately it was Slegers’ substitutes who helped break the deadlock, with Stina Blackstenius gifting the winner to Hurtig, who took advantage when Juventus failed to clear their lines for the first time all evening. Arsenal had stepped up their efforts after a first half which had completely overwhelmed them. The irony was that Hurtig had wasted the best of chances with a header headed over the bar from inside the penalty area, Little’s pullback coming too quickly for the substitute, leading to the redemptive moment of Swedish international.
Hurtig’s impact in the two matches against Juventus may illustrate how Slegers helped bring together the different components of Arsenal’s attack. There was at times a freedom and progression of the overall game, resulting in big victories in terms of score and importance. It’s been a good week. If the comprehensive north London derby victory over Tottenham endeared Slegers even more to Gunners fans, progress to the Champions League knockout stages and securing a big knockout match at home in March with such efficiency will have also impressed the whole club.
By the time Arsenal next play, at home to Aston Villa on Sunday December 8, it will be almost two months since Eidevall’s departure. If international breaks seem like optimal times in the season for a new manager to start, Slegers has already passed one and Arsenal appear no closer to appointing a new manager as another approaches. At least that was what was expected when Eidevall resigned and Slegers was initially handed the games against Valerenga and West Ham while the club began “the process of appointing a new head coach “.
Slegers only strengthened his claim to remain in charge. Purely in terms of form, the former Netherlands international deserves the opportunity to continue, in what is her first managerial role.
At the same time, some within Arsenal may think the club should aim higher in its ambitions. Arsenal, after all, have the highest average attendances in Europe and have already submitted record bids in the transfer market. Shouldn’t they be aiming for the caliber of coach that can match that? An example can be found in London. When Emma Hayes left Chelsea, the club opted for one of Europe’s best coaches in Champions League winner Sonia Bompastor, and the Frenchwoman has since won her first 11 games in charge. the team, all competitions combined. Either way, Arsenal have a decision to make.
