It has been 94 days since Jonas Edvarr left Arsenal. The Gunners have played 11 games since that gloomy day in October, recording 10 wins and a draw. The improvement was evident in both results and performance and the winner was Renee Slegers.

A number of coaches from around the world have been considered for a permanent job at Arsenal, but none have such a convincing record in the hot seat. Slagers is a candidate lucky enough to have made it in-house — a distinct advantage — but her graduation from an interim boss is equally well-deserved.

The Dutchwoman has been hailed by some, including this journalist, as a sure-fire winner, but that praise has been earned by achieving results “the Arsenal way” and showing the ability to shrug off adversity with impressive strength.

In short, she has been a steady hand for the club.

It is understood that the process to replace Adwal is rigorous and thorough, focusing both on style of play and philosophy, as well as a vision for immediate and long-term success.

Arsenal had stayed close during the Swede’s three years in charge – winning two Conte Cups – but there was a one-sided view that the team had finally lost its way. Despite huge profits, performance declined, results were poor, and the club’s relationship with its wealthy fans began to sour.

Reality has arrived. Arsenal have a good side somewhere, but it’s hidden under a cloud of burden and pressure. Adwal told sky sports He himself thinks of his existence It only drags the player further into the quagmire, and his sudden exit is meant to stop that slide.

By comparison, if Advall was a cloud, Slagers’ leadership was like a breath of fresh air. Her style – confident and direct – resonated with the locker room, where people began to flourish and feel free to express themselves again.

If the word “temporary” is distracting, it doesn’t show. Slagers never saw himself as just holding his ground.

Arsenal enter the winter break on a four-game winning streak in the WSL, their best run of 2024 and their best winning run in the calendar year since 2019, with one win in their opening four games.

In Edvar’s ending, they are not inherently bad people, just laborious and uncreative. It feels like the direction is wrong.

Slegers came in as a coach who relied on her existing trust and credibility within the camp to create a structure better suited to Arsenal’s approach. Her three-month run unbeaten in all competitions is testament to the small tweaks that have made the plan clearer.

Most notably, players spoke openly about the calming effect of Slagers’ even-tempered personality. Her style is synonymous with many Dutch coaches currently working in women’s football – England’s Sarina Wiegman is one such example – as she has earned respect for her consistency and open communication.

“You can see the team growing” slegs told sky sports December. “The players want to play a kind of football, the Arsenal way. It integrates into the club and that’s what we strive for, to get as much playing time as possible.”

Advar was always emotional. Off-field outbursts are commonplace and often a little excessive. Now, the steady sound in the lounge promotes better control. Players want to play for Slegs. They want to win for Slagers.

Forward Alessia Russo’s recent purple patch is perfect proof of that. She has scored one goal in nine games this season under Advall and 10 in 11 games under Slagers. Her all-around game feels more instinctive, as if a weight has been lifted and replaced with belief.

Performance is a fickle thing and the 35-year-old’s dominance will hit a stumbling block at some point, but the Magic do seem to be back. Synergy with fans is back. The atmosphere at the Emirates once again came into play on match day, bringing an energy rarely seen elsewhere in the WSL.

Slagers is off to a remarkable start, with the new head coach bouncing back and proving her recipe can lead to short-term success. She assured Arsenal’s hierarchy that she was the right person to take the club forward, and the players seemed convinced.

Now the hard work really begins. There is no doubt that Arsenal lag behind rivals Chelsea and Manchester City in the WSL standings and resolving this issue should be a priority for the new manager.

The WSL returns to Sky Sports screens this weekend. Watch highlights from every WSL match for free on Sky Sports’ digital platforms.