Arsenal have not won a Women's Super League title in seven years, but this season feels different after a summer overhaul. Manager Renée Slegers added seven new players, including goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez, center back Élisa De Almeida, fullback Ona Batlle, midfielders Georgia Stanway and Géraldine Reuteler, and attackers Selina Cerci and Lisa Baum alongside Isabella Damm. Departures include long-serving figures Beth Mead, Katie Mc Cabe, Victoria Pelova, Laia Codina, and Manuela Zinsberger.

The rebuilt squad boasts unprecedented depth and international pedigree, theoretically capable of challenging for every trophy. However, this abundance presents Slegers with a unique management challenge: balancing playing time, egos, and expectations across a World Cup year where players crave minutes. The question is no longer about talent but whether Slegers can manage the squad effectively.

Early results mirror last season's struggles: a narrow 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion and a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace revealed familiar issues with clinical finishing and predictable build-up. Only Manchester City have won both opening matches, so Arsenal's four points from six isn't alarming. Yet the persistence of old problems despite massive investment is jarring. Four new signings have already entered the starting XI, with Baum the quickest to adapt.