Arsenal drew 1-1 away at Manchester United in the WSL on Sunday lunchtime despite completely dominating the game. Alessia Russo gave Arsenal a second half lead but Melvine Malard scored a late equaliser. Renee Slegers spoke to the press post-match, the first two questions are from Arseblog News.
On dominating the game so emphatically but only scoring one goal…
I agree, that is the frustrating part of today. Performance wise there are so many positives and I think we are getting closer to converting more because we find better areas when we get the ball into the box, now it is about how do we time the runs? The detail on the final pass and the run, how many players do we have in the box? I think we are one step further, we get the ball into the box more often in good positions.
On the half time substitution and how it helped Arsenal to sustain pressure…
It was very much connected, we felt like we were in control for most parts in the defensive details of the game. We were looking at how we unlock United’s defence and we wanted Mariona closer to the ball more often, Beth Mead has big qualities in the final third, her composure and the quality of the final pass, the shots. That was why we wanted to bring her on.
On the disappointment of dropping two points and its ramifications…
We have only played six games but you know against the top teams, it is going to be important to win, especially where we come from, that is why the disappointment is so big today. We do a lot of good things today, we had a lot of involvement from the players and what we want to achieve in this block of games and we do a lot of those things today. Performance wise, a lot of positives but disappointment to only get one point.
On Russo scoring her first WSL goal of the season…
I am happy for her, she is a great player, she works very hard in training every day, she is humble, she asks questions and she wants to get better and those players with that mindset, over time they are going to develop. Alessia is that type of player, I am happy for her and I think she is getting into good positions for a long time, so it is not only about Alessia but how we try to find her, what type of balls we get into the box.
On whether she has seen evolution in the team in her three games in charge…
I think Jonas over the time he was at Arsenal built a really good foundation with the squad, the way of playing and everything around it, with the staff as well. It is really hard in a short period of time to have a really big impact so we try to be consistent with everything that was already very good and a lot of things were very good already, we try to work on the details and maybe shift onto things we didn’t focus on so much before. As I said, the foundation and the work Jonas has done, we are very thankful for.
On her specific goals and aims for this block of games in November…
We were very clear with the players, who have been heavily involved too. When we came back from this international break we had a meeting with the players and got their input, what in our football do we want to develop, what do we want to focus on what do we think will bring our game to the next level? Coaches and players together have worked on this. We spoke about intensity, ruthlessness in the boxes, communication and we could all see that was good on the pitch today. If we keep on building, I am positive about the block of games ahead of us. How we play the game, how we start games and how our games normally look. For example, we tend to create chances in the first 15 minutes but we don’t convert and we know in the last 15 we always create a lot. So we look at how can we get the most out of a 90 minute game, also the consistency and concentration of playing games is something we spoke about.
On Emily Fox’s contribution…
Foxy has played three games with the US, obviously not 90-minute games, but she’s been involved in three games, she came back with a delayed flight and performs like this today. I’ve very impressed. She plays a good game, both defensively and offensively. I think the attack we have on the right side, I haven’t seen it back yet but I think we pass and move on the right side, we keep on moving the ball, and then we have a third player run, Foxy ended up making that run into the box pocket, and the timing of that run is just great, the first touch is very good and then her awareness of the run in the box, it’s a very good part of her performance but overall I think Foxy played really well today.
On the players’ reaction to the result…
From what I remember, we were disappointed after City as well, playing at home at the Emirates, having a good enough performance against top opposition to win the game. So I remember we were disappointed, and obviously this one is fresh in my head now, but how the players reacted and for example, Lia Walti that has the shot on the post and then this last shot at the final second of the game. I think the girls really kept on working until the final second and they did that really well, but I think they feel like, over the full game, we were better than United and we should have gotten the three points. But I think they also reflected that they’re happy with a lot of the things in our performance and obviously when the performance is so good, and you only get the one point, disappointment becomes clear. But it’s constructive. They all feel very motivated and they take a lot of positives from the performance.
On the frustration of conceding to a setpiece again…
That is frustrating, but we know United are a good team with good individuals, they have a lot of qualities. They bring on two players that gave them an injection in the game. It is about small margins, it is a cliche but it is true. If two good teams play against each other, it is about the details and small margins. If you concede a corner or a counter attack, you know they have the quality to do something against you. So that was frustrating, we will have a look and review that.
On what Arsenal need to do to get to the next level…
Creating high quality chances, the shots is a really good number in the WSL against a good team to get 16 shots but only four are on target according to the stats I just saw. That is not enough, as I said, we get better entries into the box, now we need to look at how we get better finishes from those entries into the box.
14.van Domselaar; 2.Fox, 6.Williamson, 7.Catley, 11.McCabe; 10.Little(c) (32.Cooney-Cross ‘87), 13.Walti; 19.Foord (17.Hurtig ‘87), 12.L.Maanum (9.Mead HT), 8.Mariona (16.Kafaji ‘87); 23.Russo (25.Blackstenius ‘77).
Unused: 1.Zinsberger, 5.L.Codina, 22.Kuhl, 62.Reid
At least we’ve shown some spark and will to attack. Nice change of mindset since Jonas left. Obviously still not good enough, but players wanting to prove themselves before the new manager arrives is what we want to see.
A lot of dominance but not so many goals. Maybe in time the problems under Jonas will be solved? I hope…
I like Renee, she is a consummate communicator and has worked very nicely since Jonas left. She is always clear, unruffled and clearly liked by the team.
She should get the job.
Not on the basis of yesterday’s coaching performance, no.
You are right. But she is setting us more arsenal-y than Jonas did. Let’s just see how she does against the Old Lady
Yes – there are improvements – we are seeing better passages of attacking play, for example. But I’m beginning to incline towards the view that the problems are baked in and tweaking isn’t going to be enough.
Thought she was doing well for the most part but I fear the decision to swap Stina for Lessi is what cost us the other two points and brings into question her credentials. Lessi was our best troublemaker and still full of running so why take her off just because that is what normally happens?
Yes. Even though that action may or may not have been decisive, not to see the game state and not to make a decision based on what was actually happening is a mark against her. I still really like her as a person, and I’m glad she is being given a chance to prove herself, but I’m less hopeful than i was!
I agree mostly with RS’s take on the good and bad points. (One bonus is that she is very easy to understand!)
We were better, but still not good enough. Two points dropped.
Two games vs the Manchester clubs and only two points when we should have come away with six, four at the very least. Very frustrating in not converting pressure in to goals or even work the goalkeeper that much.
Also, given there’s still a certain amount of negativity around the management, the people who identified Emily Fox and then got her over to us deserve a massive pay rise, she was just outstanding again today.
The substitution of Russo for Blackstenius was a tactical error when the score was 1-0. Manchester United found themselves under pressure, where Russo’s role as a target player—capable of receiving the ball, holding off defenders, and finishing crosses both in the air and on the ground—was crucial. At that moment, she was excelling in this capacity. Conversely, Manchester United lacked the confidence and quality to mount effective attacks, which meant that Blackstenius could have exploited spaces behind the defense during transitions.
Exactly. Should have put both on together or stuck with just Russo.
But despite everything, I don’t think I know if we would have come out with this result with Jonas in charge, I need to watch this game calmly without being in the heat of the moment, from what I noticed in the comments, they are starting to evolve in the game, which is very positive.
Were in must win territory now, lose on Friday and were 7 points behind Brighton and Man City, 9 behind Chelsea and with Man U sitting above us the table will look very bleak, those teams will have played less games as well. There may be some improvements since Eideball but the improvements may come too small and too late to save this season. The forward line need to sort themselves out and put the chances away. We take more of our chances then the Man Utd goal is just a consolation effort and means nothing. As already highlighted the… Read more »
The first three on your list were on it today. Mariona, the pass that led to the goal excepted, was not quite on the same wavelength as the rest of the team but maybe she should be excused this game after the week she had leading up to it. Frida was off the pace and why we swapped Lessi who was our biggest threat for Stina who really added little to this match, I don’t know. Good to see Leah have a more typical game too without the sloppiness of the previous few matches. Pity United equalised as I don’t… Read more »