Interim manager Renee Slegers took charge of Arsenal following the resignation of Jonas Eidevall
Mariona Caldentey's penalty and Rosa Kafaji's first Arsenal goal earned victory over West Ham in their first Women's Super League match since Jonas Eidevall resigned as manager.
Arsenal were underwhelming for long periods under interim boss Renee Slegers, but found the breakthrough when Amber Tysiak brought down Stina Blackstenius in the box with 20 minutes to play and Caledentey tucked away the spot-kick.
Balckstenius' cross was then finished first time by summer signing Kafaji to earn Slegers her second win from two games in temporary charge following Eidevall's departure last week.
For long periods, amid awful weather conditions in London, there was no immediate evidence of a new manager bounce.
Arsenal came closest in the first half when Alessia Russo shot across the face of goal on 20 minutes before West Ham keeper Kinga Szemik saved with her legs from Emily Fox shortly after.
Blackstenius was denied brilliantly by Szemik after 62 minutes, before the decisive penalty followed by Kafaji's late strike.
West Ham are one of three WSL sides yet to win this season, with just two points from their first five games.
Arsenal below-par but victorious
Rosa Kafaji (centre right) scored her first goal since joining Arsenal from Hacken
Following Eidevall's surprise resignation, Slegers has been given the opportunity to prove she should succeed the Swedish coach, as she previously did at Rosengard.
And after making a good first impression with a 4-1 hammering of Valerenga midweek in the Champions League, here Slegers was eventually able to draw another win from her team despite a largely below-par showing.
Slegers looked to make her mark on team selection, with both Leah Williamson and Beth Mead dropped to the bench.
Unhappy with the showing in the second half, Slegers made a quadruple change before the hour to try and spark some life into her side. This included introducing both Blackstenius and Kafaji, the primary difference makers.
Yet Arsenal still dominated possession while lacking a cutting edge, the side who have underperformed their xG more than any other WSL team in 2024-25 again flattering to deceive for long spells.
Still, these three points in Dagenham put Arsenal back in touch with the leading pack. They are now two points outside the top three, albeit five off leaders Manchester City.
The result puts even more pressure on West Ham, who were unable to reverse their own unimpressive start to the season as one of a clutch of winless sides down at the bottom of the WSL.
They have not won in the league since beating Arsenal in February - 14 games ago - while manager Rehanne Skinner has now only taken three victories from her last 36 WSL matches.
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