Under-fire Arsenal boss Renee Slegers says her side are not in the conversation for this season’s Women’s Super League title after a 4-2 defeat to Man City left them languishing in tenth place in the table, 10 points adrift of the league leaders.

The visitors twice led at the Etihad on Sunday, only for Man City to storm back late on to claim all three points as Andree Jeglertz’s team moved back top of the standings heading into the international break

In stark contrast, Arsenal’s second loss already just five matches into the new campaign increases the pressure on Slegers, with the Gunners having made their worst start to a WSL season since 2014.

All this after Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw at Paris FC in the Champions League on Wednesday in a game in which the visitors had been two goals ahead, only to collapse late in the second half.

That setback only increased the focus on the Dutch coach ahead of Sunday’s trip to Manchester, where her side again threw away a lead to return to the capital empty handed.

Slegers says she and her staff will conduct a comprehensive review into what has gone wrong in the early part of this season during the international break.

“It is a tough result,” she told Sky Sports after the game. “First half goes back and forth. Two teams that have momentum and create. Second half we start well, score a good goal. A lot changes when they make their three changes, they bring an energy and one of the changes makes the goal.

“After that it’s more difficult. But it’s quite an even game, two really good teams going against each other, but we didn’t get the margins in the critical moments on our side. We can’t concede four goals. We’re not happy with that.

“After their changes, they became dominant.

“It’s been a lot of games where we feel like we have it and then we don’t. That’s really pressing, demanding mentally. It’s good the players go away, go to their national teams, get some new energy, change of environment and they’ll come back and then we have the next game to prep for.

“There’s a lot to review. How we’ve been doing things, from all aspects. Training programme, bigger things in the background. We’re going to do everything we can to see where we can be better.

“At the moment we’re not in the (title) conversation, no.”

However, Slegers’ opposite number offered her support, with Jeglertz claiming Arsenal would be back.

“It’s not about Arsenal,” said the City boss. “They are a great football team. They had a struggle in the beginning, but it’s still a good football team.

“There are a lot of good players. So I’m pretty sure when we end up in the spring that they will definitely be up there and fighting about the title. Nothing changes for them.”

‘An uphill battle for Arsenal’

Former Scotland international Rachel Corsie on Sky Sports:

“[Pressure on Slegers?] Not just on Slegers, the whole group.

“When you look at performances, I would say today [Sunday] and against Chelsea they played with enough intensity, enough purpose.

“You can see from the players they are so disappointed with the outcome of today. They are under pressure because they are 10th in the table and that isn’t good enough for this team, this squad, the expectations they put on themselves because of the club they are.

“Palace and United, the two draws there have been the beginning of what has now mounted as huge pressure. I think they’ve still got enough. It’s not finished. They’re not out of it. But it’s an uphill battle from here.”

Christiansen: Slegers should remain at Arsenal

Sky Sports’ Izzy Christiansen:

“I don’t think Renee Slegers’ situation should change. She’s the head coach of Arsenal and she’s an outstanding coach and manager. I don’t think her position should be under any threat at all. It’s clear the cohesion between her and the players.

“That midfield for Arsenal still doesn’t quite look right. For me, Kyra Cooney-Cross has to be the one that’s ever-present in there. Georgia Stanway has yet to find her feet, but you can see the quality we all know she possesses. Kim Little keeps ticking, but Renee Slegers is going to have to be brave with her selections going forward”

“It’s looking like a two-horse race between Chelsea and Man City. Chelsea have had a superb start to the season as well, playing some superb football. I’m sure London City Lionesses will have something to say about that. They’re going from strength to strength.”