Renee Slegers has had to put a brave face on things over the past couple of weeks. Arsenal are winless in each of their last four league outings, their worst start to a campaign since 2014. Slegers' consistent claim that her side are falling foul of 'fine margins' becomes less credible the longer such a stagnant run continues.
Perhaps it lost its legitimacy completely when Slegers admitted after defeat to Man City that the club will use the upcoming international break to stage a comprehensive review of "not only what we see on matchday, but everything in the background". Small margins, by definition, do not tend to require such intense investigation.
In reality, Arsenal appear to be suffering a crisis of confidence. Lisa Baum offered exhibit A within three minutes of kick-off at the Etihad, escaping Niamh Charles only to snatch at a near-post effort instead of squaring to Alessia Russo. Georgia Stanway's off-target strike from 30 yards bore all the same hallmarks, a problem becoming a pattern.
This version of Arsenal have lost all nuance. Their xG differential is the worst in the division, their conversion rate just as damning. This was not a defeat by margins. Man City have killers in their ranks. Arsenal do not.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing