Renée Slegers' Arsenal: Formation, style of play and key players
Tactical deep dives on all 12 Barclays Women's Super League sides from The Cutback and Football Manager
The Cutback has partnered with Football Manager to deliver a series of articles that go deeper on the tactics and gameplay of the world’s leading football management simulation game ahead of Football Manager 26’s release.
This year, women’s football features in Football Manager for the very first time, so to get fans ready for a brand new experience, The Cutback has put together the ultimate insights on FM26. Find out about the secrets of building FM26, dive into the tactical details of all 12 Barclays Women’s Super League sides and hear about the next gen talent that will feature in the game.
The next team to be profiled in this deep dives series is Arsenal.
Formation
Arsenal primarily line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, though they occasionally shift into a 4-4-2 depending on the opposition.
The lone striker alternates between running in behind the defence and dropping deep to link play, offering versatility in attack. On the flanks, one winger tends to provide width either by driving to the byline or cutting inside, while the opposite winger inverts more frequently, moving into half-spaces and creating opportunities for overlapping runs from the full-back.
The attacking midfielder operates between the lines as a creative link, combining quickly, shooting from distance, and exploiting open spaces. In midfield, one player usually serves as a volante, providing defensive cover but also stepping forward to help progress the ball and link attacks, while the other midfielder functions as a more conservative shield in front of the defence and as a deep-lying playmaker. In the latter part of the season, Mariona Caldentey was shifted into the volante role alongside Kim Little. When possession is sustained, she often assumes a free role, acting as an additional number 10, overloading the edges of the box while maintaining positional flexibility.
This solution proved to be effective even in Uefa Champions League games like the semi-final against Lyon, where she gave Arsenal an extra playmaker and finisher around the edge of the area, scoring in both legs. Full-backs advance selectively, alternating between wide overlaps and underlapping runs to add unpredictability to the attack. Katie McCabe is usually more aggressive in overlaps on the left.
In possession: Arsenal’s buildup is carefully orchestrated, with the two central defenders spreading wide alongside the goalkeeper to form a trapezoid, while the defensive midfielders drop deep. This initial setup involves 5 players in central buildup, allowing Arsenal to bypass most presses unless individual errors occur. When opponents press with more than 5 players, it opens channels for direct passes behind the defence or into the half-spaces, one of Arsenal’s key strengths.
Central combinations between the five “builders” are fundamental; occasionally, an attacking midfielder drops deep to draw opponents out, compressing the opposition’s shape and creating opportunities for sudden switches to wide areas. The full-backs push high to remain available for passes without being picked up by opposing wingers. Players like Mariona Caldentey (when deployed on the wing) or Mead frequently tuck inside and drop behind the opposition midfield, acting as an unmarked playmaker, while the corresponding full-back exploits space to drive forward or launch long passes to the forwards.
When possession reaches advanced areas, the goalkeeper often recedes from active involvement, and the right-back moves inwards, creating a 3+2 structure that can resemble a 3-2-3-2 formation. This structure offers significant attacking advantages but also entails risks, as turnovers could expose isolated defenders to 1v1 situations. When successful, Arsenal manages to overload on the flanks, involving the attacking midfielder, full-back, and winger, while the centre is freed for the striker and opposite winger. The volante often makes late runs to the edge of the area to sustain pressure and maintain numerical superiority.
Arsenal’s approach in possession is flexible depending on the opponent. Against stronger teams, they often adopt a fluid counter-attack strategy. In matches against top opposition, such as Barcelona in the Champions League final, they tend to stay compact and strike on the counter, with Alessia Russo dropping deep to hold the ball before releasing runners into space. This allows Arsenal to exploit the spaces left by teams that are pushed high up the pitch.
On the other hand, against weaker sides, they favour a more aggressive gegenpressing style, seeking to win possession high up the field and immediately attack disorganised defences. In this approach, teams “defend from the front”, asking attacking players like Frida Maanum, Caitlin Foord and Chloe Kelly to apply intense pressure to recover possession and exploit transitional moments. This was evident in the 5-0 win over Brighton in one of Slegers’ first games in charge, where their press forced multiple turnovers leading directly to goals. Both strategies can be alternated within the same match, allowing Arsenal to adapt fluidly to shifts in momentum and game state.
Out of possession: Defensively, Arsenal adopts a well-organised 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 shape. The striker and attacking midfielder apply the first line of pressure, aiming to block the opponent’s main playmaker, while wingers track opposing full-backs, and central midfielders monitor the opponent’s central pair. The objective is to close central lanes and force play wide, providing a balance between solidity and pressing efficiency.
A notable vulnerability arises when quick combinations pull players out of position, particularly at the edge of the box. The squad previously included players capable of providing a more defensive or controlling presence in the double pivot, such as Lia Walti, but recent choices have often favoured those with greater roaming tendencies in Mariona Caldentey, Kim Little and Kyra Cooney-Cross. This approach can leave gaps if opponents exploit sudden movements between the defensive and midfield lines, requiring central midfielders to react swiftly to recover, close passing lanes, and prevent dangerous situations. The balance between dynamic movement and positional discipline remains crucial to maintaining defensive solidity.
Against top opponents, Arsenal often maintain a mid-block, compact and focused on denying the main playmaker. Against lower-ranked teams, they adopt aggressive pressing, with wingers closing down full-backs and forwards pressuring centre-backs, forcing opponents to lose the ball or to attempt long balls where Arsenal’s aerial ability allows them to regain possession. Away wins over Tottenham and Manchester City showed this clearly, with turnovers in the opposition half creating goals within the first 2 minutes of both matches. In games against teams playing with a back three, such as Brighton and West Ham, Arsenal implements man-to-man pressing, with the striker, attacking midfielder, and volante forming the front three, while wingers mark the opposition’s advanced midfielders, aiming to block central access and force play wide.
Key players
Mariona Caldentey – Not only one of the team’s most talented players, her versatility and adaptability have made her a major weapon, capable of impacting virtually the entire pitch from midfield forward. Her technical skills allow her to combine quickly in tight spaces, exploit half-spaces, and create overloads on the edge of the box. Caldentey’s freedom to roam both vertically and laterally makes her unpredictable, enabling the team to manipulate defensive structures and open passing lanes for wingers and forwards.
Alessia Russo – A striker who combines physical presence with exceptional technical ability, Russo is not only a constant goalscoring threat but also highly effective in playing for and with her teammates. Her skill on the ball allows her to hold possession under pressure, link play with midfield runners, and create opportunities for others. Last season, she significantly improved her movement in the box and her finishing, becoming a much more complete forward.
Leah Williamson – The leader of Arsenal’s defence, Williamson excels at organising the back line and reading the game. Her anticipation and ability to close down attackers make her highly effective at intercepting passes and cutting out danger before it develops. While she is not the fastest defender and not a traditional 1v1 marker, she consistently raises her performance in crucial moments, particularly when defending in the box. Her composure and precise ball-playing ability allow her to initiate attacks from the back, combining defensive solidity with intelligent distribution. Williamson has just returned to the team after missing the start of the season through injury.