Arsenal emerged 4-3 winners in a topsy turvy game at the Academy Stadium on Sunday lunchtime. Mariona and Lotte Wubben-Moy gave Arsenal a 2-0 lead after eight minutes, before Fowler and Miedema made it 2-2. Frida Maanum put Arsenal 3-2 ahead before a Fowler penalty for a foul miles outside the area made it 3-3. Stina Blackstenius scored the winner. Renee Slegers spoke to the press post-match, the first two questions are from Arseblog News.
On Arsenal being careless off the ball until Walti came on…
We talked about managing spaces better in midfield and also, yeah, to not get into too much detail but they have a couple of key players who got onto the ball and they use a lot of playing forward and then backwards to switch, stopping those mechanisms with the players on the pitch.
Walti’s got great leadership on the pitch. She’s a very good communicator. She covers a lot of space and she reads the game really well. So she was definitely what we needed today and I think we often speak about game-changers in an attacking, from an attacking point of view, on the attacking positions, but she was definitely a game-changer for us from a midfield perspective today.
On starting Blackstenius to take advantage of City’s weakness in the channels…
Yeah, that’s a scenario we didn’t have at the moment, of course, because we didn’t have so many attackers available today. So this was definitely the best set-up and it worked well today. But we know that Stina has been very effective against Man City before. So as soon as there’s a lot of space behind opposition lines and players that want to step forward, then it’s always good to have Stina on the pitch.
On bouncing back from the Chelsea defeat last weekend…
No, it was important. I was hurt, of course, after the loss against Chelsea and we analysed and I went to myself and said, who are we? What’s the Arsenal way? What’s our identity and how are we going to be winning games, which we have been doing really well, but against a top opposition.
The girls were all with us on that and we spoke about it. I think we did something very well against Bristol with a lot of changes and early goals in that game as well. I think we do it today again. So obviously it was important for us, even though Chelsea was a tight game and it was decided by a penalty. So it wasn’t the end of the world from a performance perspective, but obviously the loss of the three points meant a lot for us.
But I’m happy that we can and I think the group is so strong at the moment also from game to game, which we haven’t proven yet, like you say, but also within games how we can show resilience and whatever phase we’re in or whatever event that happens in the game, we can come back and that’s what we did today again.
On staying patient and with the game plan when City equalised twice in the game…
Yeah, passing is central. Patience is central. We want to problem solve. We want to press. So there’s quite some things in there. So I think the different types of goals that we scored today are all part of the Arsenal way. But the Arsenal way is not only our football, it’s also who we are as human beings and as a group.
On the penalty award for Manchester City…
We have a screen on the bench and yeah it looks like it is outside the box. So yeah, that’s the situation. They get a penalty, but I’m mostly happy with how we come back from that situation. Thank you.
On whether they took inspiration in their pressing from Manchester United’s recent victory over City…
Yeah, definitely we saw that game. But we have our way and our strengths in our players. So we didn’t copy-paste what United did. So we wanted to play to our strengths. So we get the early goal straight away from a pressing situation, which was very good. But then on the other side, we’re critical of our defensive game in the first half later on because we invite them back into the game. And there was a couple of details we wanted to do better. And that’s everyone, staff and players. So it’s good. They’re on a very high level, the players. They want to be better and they want to problem-solve things together with us. And that’s what we did today. So yeah, that’s definitely a big part of how we want to play, is the press and defensive solidity.
On whether the WSL should have VAR…
Yeah, I think in general, we want to grow the women’s game so all aspects are important. And then it’s not up to me, but up to the people who work with the strategies for women’s football and football in general to see what’s best. But all I say is that there’s a lot at stake. And you see it in the men’s game and it’s growing in the women’s game now as well. So I think fair play and fair decisions are important in our game at the moment as well.
On retaking the lead twice after City equalisers…
No, that’s what I’m very happy with. I think the girls are on a very high level at the moment in how you manage those momentum shifts in games and big events influence those shifts. But I saw a great determination today as well. And they’ve been doing that well for a while now. But they did well changing it back around and staying composed and not letting emotions take over. But I saw some extra determination in the girls, which was very good to see.
On both teams playing like it was a must win game…
I think both teams felt that, yeah. We didn’t speak about it with the girls. We just spoke about we want the Arsenal way to lead to winning. So nothing specific for this game. But I think City, of course, playing at home against us and they’re sweating. So I think the pressure was there for them. But in general, it’s two very good footballing teams playing against each other. So that’s why the game becomes like this.
On the mistake in possession that leads to City’s second goal…
We back players because we want to be brave on the ball. So we back players and sometimes errors will happen. We just have to make sure that we know where on the pitch they happen. And I think what we’re going to have a look at is how we position ourselves better on the ball when we’re on our own half. So we create a little bit better and bigger margins for ourselves when we play.
On the mental resilience shown by the team…
I think the girls are growing on that. So they’re on a very high level when it comes to resilience in the game, managing different phases of the game, managing different events that happen in the game that you can’t always control. So I think I’m just very proud of how they take this game on because we get a really good start in the game and how we finish the game with everything that happens during those 90 minutes.
On how long Caitlin Foord might be out for…
She was on pitch today, so there was a minor issue that we had to manage. But she was on pitch today, so she’s really coming closer to becoming a part of the squad again.
On the additions of Chloe Kelly and Jenna Nighswonger…
We’re very happy with the squad and I think both Jenna and Chloe coming in, they make us better, they make us stronger, they make us more versatile and they give us more options. So I’m very happy with the squad.
14.van Domselaar; 2.Fox, 6.Williamson, 3.Wubben-Moy, 7.Catley; 32.Cooney-Cross (13.Walti ‘69), 8.Mariona; 9.Mead (28.Ilestedt 90+4), 12.L.Maanum, 23.Russo; 25.Blackstenius (16.Kafaji ‘88).
Unused; 1.Zinsberger, 5.L.Codina, 22.Nighswonger, 40.Williams, 43.Peacock
Renee has clear ideas and communicates really well
More from the boys, please
I love what the gaffer is doing. I just hope she can crown it with a trophy down the line. Itd be so satisfying.
The game was very tough
The perfect style of a Head Coach, The ultimate communicator with words the whole team and press corps know there is no argument or contridiction.
I love the change Renee has made to an amazing bunch of platers.
“I was hurt, of course, after the loss against Chelsea and we analysed and I went to myself and said, who are we? What’s the Arsenal way? What’s our identity and how are we going to be winning games…” Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Ms Renee Slegers. It feels like I haven’t heard “the Arsenal way” from an Arsenal manager for such a long time. Aspirations for the club, not for her own ego. I admire this coach so much. We’re hanging on to a 1-goal advantage, and what does she do? Ignores all the defenders and brings on… Read more »
The Renee-ssance continues!
Great day for the entire club.
A great game. Real edge of the seat stuff! It was great to see Lotte starting again and her contributions, including an all important goal, were first class. I noticed that there was a tendency just to sky the ball to get it away from our goal area. I’m sure that is something that Renee will pick up on. There is no way that a penalty should have been given. The minor foul was outside the box and the City player dived into the box. Once we get VAR fixed in the men’s game there is no reason why it… Read more »
“The minor foul was outside the box and the City player dived into the box”. May I disagree only with this statement? It was a foul, but If I remember correctly (unfortunately the goal video on here does not include the foul) she TRIED to dive into the box, but in the end only about 15 % of her body actually even landed inside the box, even though she was moving towards the box. Shocking to not see that, but yeah, if the standard of refereeing is such, then VAR is needed urgently. I don’t think that the ref wanted… Read more »