Arsenal are said to be very close to appointing a new manager following the resignation of Jonas Eidevall last October.
The Gunners remain without a permanent solution to their managerial dilemma at the start of 2025 as they prepare to face Bristol City on Sunday in the Adobe FA Women's Cup, before the Women's Super Leage (WSL) returns on 18 January.
Interim coach Renee Slegers remains one of the names at the top of the list as the former assistant coach remains unbeaten in eleven games in charge. Arsenal ended a turbulent 2024 with a historic 3-2 victory over Bayern Munich at Meadow Park, catapulting them to the top of their group in the UEFA Women's Champions League.
Since then, fans have called for the club to reward Slegers with the permanent role. Although no resolution has been reached over the winter break, recent reports from The Guardian suggest that an end to the ongoing saga is near.
Speaking in The Guardian's weekly women's football podcastTom Garry suggested that “the process to find a long-term manager is coming to an end”. Confirmation of the appointment may not arrive before Sunday's cup tie, however an announcement is expected before Arsenal take on Crystal Palace in the WSL next weekend.
After her near-perfect form as interim boss, Slegers has been confirmed as one of the candidates being interviewed for the permanent role. Despite having a strong case for hiring her, Arsenal are understood to have spoken to managers across the world to ensure they land the best candidate.
The Dutch manager has remained silent over the past three months when questioned about whether or not she wants the job on a permanent basis. Despite keeping her cards close to her chest, Slegers has insisted she is “just happy to be at Arsenal at the moment”.
Speaking to 90min in December, Slegers said “I don't know about the future, I'm just doing the best I can in my role at the moment”.