Arsenal manager Renee Slegers apologised after she missed her post match duties on Wednesday following the 2-2 draw with Paris FC in the Champions League stating that it was "important" to be with the players instead.
Sources told ESPN that the Dutch coach was too angry to face the media following a controversial refereeing decision and the manner in which the side threw away the win having been 2-0 up at halftime. Instead, assistant coach Aaron D'Antino fielded questions.
Addressing her absence, Slegers offered an apology and some context as to why she skipped her press conference.
"After the game, there was emotion from my end but to control that point quickly I made the decision to be with the team instead. So I spent time with the players straight after the game. I thought that was important and that was a decision I made in the moment in my leadership and I decided to be with the team. So sorry for not being there," she said on Friday.
Sources told ESPN Slegers and staff were visibly emotional after the game. She said that her anger was not directed at the players but at the situation of allowing the three points to "slip through our hands again."
She defended her decision to remain with the team, seeing it as a valuable opportunity to connect.
"I think we had that moment to connect with the team straight after was really important for the group- seeing where we are and a connection of that we're in this together, and seeing that everyone wants to find a solution, and seeing that there is belief going forward."
Arsenal have suffered a dire start to the season. After a narrow 1-0 win over Brighton to start the season, Arsenal limped to a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, 1-1 draw with Manchester United and a 1-0 loss to Chelsea, scoring just two goals across the opening four games, returning a conversion rate of 2.5% -- the lowest in the league since 2017-18.
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In the Champions League, the Gunners claimed all three points over HB Koge through a last minute penalty and suffered the bruising 2-2 draw against Paris FC, throwing away a two-goal lead.
Slegers praised the captains after the tough draw, calling the leadership group "monumental."
"It's the strongest leadership I've seen so far working in football, they've been amazing. They're very calm, composed solution orientated, laser focused. So it was a great moment that I think vital for us moving forward.
"It was a difficult night, because we did some good things to get the 2-0 lead and that's things that we've been working on that we really showed. I think we scored two really good goals, so it was claims of us and moving towards our best. So then, of course, it was really hard to take, not getting the 3 points."
Questions had been raised over Slegers' leadership following the poor start to the season. The club are already seven points off holders Manchester City who they face at the weekend.
Despite this, sources have told ESPN that Slegers retains the backing of the dressing room and leadership, though there is an acknowledgement that performances need to improve as quickly as possible. There is still pressure on the Dutch coach to turn results around.
"I have to find the solutions, I have to be calm. I have to get direction. I have to lead now but at the same time, what I also feel is gratitude for how everyone is responding and how together we are, the session on the pitch was today. It was really, really good," she said.
Arsenal could be completely out of the title race on Sunday. A loss to Manchester City would be catastrophic to their title hopes and would put pressure on their Champions League retention hopes.