Arsenal season preview: European champions target domestic success

After a sensational finish to the 2024-25 season, Renee Slegers' side will look to mount a serious title challenge in the WSL

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European success adds new pressure to the Gunners, can they live up to the expectations of their ever-growing and expectant fanbase?

What happened last season?

Arsenal began their season by winning just one of their opening four WSL games while losing three times in all competitions, leading to the departure of Jonas Eidevall within the first month of their season. They then ended their season by being crowned champions of Europe.

The architect of that success was Renee Slegers, who was promoted from within, taking the reins as head coach following the departure of Eidevall. Initially taking the job on an interim basis, her appointment was made permanent after winning 10 of her first 11 matches in charge, conceding just four goals. Success, beyond the wildest dreams of even the most optimistic Arsenal fans, was to follow in the second half of the season, with emphatic second-leg wins in the knockout phase of the Champions League to eliminate Real Madrid and Lyon en route to Lisbon, where the win of all wins against Aitana and Alexia’s all-conquering Barcelona side was achieved.

Domestically, the Gunners fell short, finishing 12 points behind a Chelsea side who did the league double over Arsenal for the first time since the 2019-20 season. The domestic cups, meanwhile, provided two of the most disappointing performances of the Slegers era, with defeats to Manchester City and Liverpool.