Arsenal were 5-0 victors over Spurs at Emirates Stadium on Sunday in the WSL. A Claire Hunt own goal got the ball rolling, before Mariona made it 2-0 at half time. Second half goals from Maanum, Russo and a lone range effort from Emily Fox made it 5-0. Renee Slegers spoke to the press post-match, the first three questions are from Arseblog News.
On Kyra Cooney-Cross’ pressing for the first goal and whether it is an area she has worked on with Kyra…
It is not specifically with Kyra individually but as a team how we want to press, players play different roles on the pitch and often she plays in the that role where she wins the ball for us a lot.
On Spurs swapping their wide players over today and how she responds to teams changing their plans against Arsenal…
We are very specific in what we do so we go to all possible scenarios when we get the line up and the analysts watch their warm ups, so we have all the tools to see what the opposition is going to do and how we want to deal with that. We have a plan with everything, basically. What they try to do is to get into those pockets and make it hard for us to defend a left foot on the right side but I think we managed it really well.
On Lotte Wubben-Moy’s absence from the squad…
She got a muscle injury during the week and she is going to get a scan.
On Chloe Kelly making her return…
There were a couple of tactical messages, we ask her whether she is ok and now how to play and we talk a bit about setpieces, but my final message was to enjoy your comeback in an Arsenal shirt on a very special occasion and to enjoy your football. She has been smiling a lot in training and working very hard, she is very passionate as a person. She is smiling a lot and is very happy with where she is at and that is important that players are in a good place, feel good, are motivated because then you will get the best out of yourself and that is hopefully what we can keep building on that with Chloe. I was very impressed with the reception she got and the crowd has been so inspiring for us.
On Russo’s performance…
She has been very, very sharp and she is finding that edge in her game which makes her even sharper. She is a fantastic footballer, so versatile, can play so many different roles and does really well in and out of possession, we are really happy to have Alessia in the team.
On Mariona’s performance…
She is amazing, she is everything that football is to me, she understands. The best thing about her is that she works really hard and sets up really good situations, not only for herself but everything she does makes it easier for the other players to play. She creates a little bit of extra time and space for everyone. She reads things, she sees things, she is on such a high level, we are so happy to have her. I don’t want to take away all the rest because we have because we have a lot of individuals on a very high level similar to her i agree with you, she is an outstanding player.
On Robert Vilahamn describing Arsenal as a ‘world leader’ in women’s football…
I know Robert, we did our coaching badges together in Sweden. I have huge respect for him, who he is and what he wants to build. With Tottenham he is on a journey and I fully support what he is doing. It is good to hear that from your opposition, to understand what it is like to play against us. I want to give him credit for the way he wants to work and how he is building and how he believes in what he wants to do, I wish him all the best.
On whether this was Arsenal at their best as a club…
At times, definitely. The whole event, playing at the Emirates, with a beautiful pitch and a big crowd, the way the women’s game is growing and how Arsenal is leading in this, I am very proud. Of course, it is about the football we play, at times we play brilliant football today, on the ball and how quickly we counter press and win the ball back and we score different types of goals. But still I am like, there are still periods of the game where we could’ve done better. We are on such a high level at times today but the next level is to be that consistently over 95 minutes.
On having different goal scorers and different types of goal today…
That is what we want to build, to be unpredictable and hard to defend and hard to beat and that is what you want to create. If you have only one type of threat, it is going to be easier for the opposition to nullify, but we come with different things and it is going to be really hard for them. That is what we work towards and I am in the very lucky position to have so many quality players in the squad.
On keeping another clean sheet…
Aaron D’Antino has a big part in that because he works with the girls on the defensive part of the game. The buy in is big and the game plans we have are good and strong and always with high value on keeping clean sheets. We work with the mindset of how we emphasise things in training and in games on how important it is not to concede. Steph Catley is a great example, she is doing so many things so well in the game that you might not even notice, but that helps us getting in the right positions, making the right decisions and not even letting the opposition close to our goal. What we as coaches think is important and what the girls think is important is that we go for clean sheets in every game and defensive solidity is such a big part of our game. It is about trusting the team and the forwards can trust the defenders and the goalkeeper to keep it clean and the defenders and goalkeepers can trust the forwards to score the goals and there is so much trust in the team at the moment. We don’t split the units, because we do everything together, we defend together and we attack together and that is a big part of our strength. But there is big trust in the team in the roles and the collective that we can score goals and we can keep clean sheets.
On having 27 shots and whether she expected such a dominant performance…
They have some really good threats in their team, the front four players that started today we had to nullify them, they have every good individuals. Looking at the line up we thought they would go for fast counter attacks with some speed in behind, credit to the girls that we deal with that so well and set ourselves to create attacks. I wasn’t expecting 27 shots, that is very big for us, not many games we’ve had 27 shots and I am happy with almost 50% on target that is something we work on a lot.
On whether North London is red…
Yes, yes.
14.van Domselaar; 2.Fox, 6.Williamson(c), 7.Catley (5.L.Codina ‘76), 11.McCabe; 32.Cooney-Cross (10.Little ‘76), 13.Walti; 19.Foord (18.Kelly ‘60), 12.L.Maanum (25.Blackstenius ‘60), 8.Mariona (22.Nighswonger ‘86); 23.Russo
Unused: 1.Zinsberger, 9.Mead, 28.Ilestedt, 62.Reid
What a huge mindset change the team has had with Renee at the helm. I fear under Jonas we would have had those shots but would have won it at a nervy 1 nil
Possibly, but Arsenal have also smashed Tottenham at the Emirates under Jonas.
What do we think of Tottenham – s**t………
True, but it was a nervous 1×0.
Was at the game, and it was very enjoyable, if only all North London Derbies could end this way!
Excellent team performance and Walti and KCC were great in midfield. However, Russo was the stand our and superb again today, not just the two excellently taken goals but her all round play was fantastic. The contrast to where she was during the City game at the start of the season and now is extraordinary. Right up there with Fox as being Jonas’ best signing. Perhaps Tim’s punt of Russo as the Golden Boot winner isn’t that far fetched.
In my personal opinion Mariona is the best Jonas signing
An impressive team performance which really shows what Arsenal are capable of. Emily Fox’s goal must be a contender for Goal of the Month, like it was shot from a cannon.
” Yes, yes. “
Great game in which all our players seemed inspired, whilst the Spurs players all seemed to be uninspired. Daphne didn’t have to make 1 serious save. KCX was so effective both offensively and & defensively, with excellent forward plays plus I’ve noticed that she’s deceptively robust. Russo was sensational once again whilst the oh-so-reliable Emily scored a blockbuster. Mariona again brilliant too. Chloe Kelly looks like she’s a “personality player” in the same mould as her best pal Katie McCabe!!!!! I was impressed in the first viewing of Jenna whilst I reckon Laia Codina will become a top Gunner pretty… Read more »
Just look at the advice Chloe was given when she came on; enjoy your game! Difference is Renee understands what makes players tick. Today was one of the best team performances of recent times despite the fact that the Spuds just rolled over and without Kop the scoreline could have been embarassing. Our players were playing for each other, the club, and the crowd today. More of the same please even when there is an opposition on the pitch.
I think KCX is playing better game by game, you can visibly see the differences in every match.
She is defending better too. It has been a huge adjustment for a young player to come to London to play but her confidence is growing in proportion to her game time.
Last year I recall seeing her walking quite a bit when not involved.
No more….
Her slide tackles are a glory to watch and her long ball service is very good.
I sensed they were really up for it today by the expressions on all their faces in the tunnel. They are all enjoying their football; but I can’t understand why the first goal was given as og. Perhaps Maanum’s goal was allowed to stand because otherwise it would have been two Hunt ogs.
Lessi’s header was deemed to be going wide but Hunt deflected it in but Frida’s strike was on target. The fact that Kop may have saved it without the Hunt deflection doesn’t matter it counts towards Frida’s tally because her shot was on target. Emily on the other hand just buried it! No question on the scorer to be answered!
This advice from Renée to Chloé is very good, this is the essence of football. Arsenal have players with natural talent and this has to be maintained.
Well, that was fun.
Has Alessia Russo been given credit for the first goal against Spurs?
Should be an OG from what I have seen not that I want to take goals away from Lessi she certainly deserved some on Sunday!
Obviously a brilliantly planned carom off Hunt’s hip on Russo’s part.