Renée Slegers and her side picked up another win at home, making it five out of five in all competitions for the _Gunners_ after beating Aston Villa 3-0 at the Emirates yesterday.
Alessia Russo opened the scoring in the 18th minute and Beth Mead doubled their advantage just before halftime. Substitute Stina Blackstenius put the game out of sight with twenty minutes left to play before Russo completed a brace in stoppage time.
After the game, the Arsenal interim head coach spoke to reporters, highlighting the importance of getting all three points and how she is finding her role after three months at the helm.
Sunday’s win sees the _Gunners_ move into third after Brighton’s 4-2 loss against Chelsea and Slegers believes her side can push to challenge leaders Chelsea and Man City.
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_“Yeah, I think so. We have to believe that. But also today we’re happy that we’re in the top three at the moment, but we won’t settle for third place, of course. So we try and go for more and the same in the Champions League group.”_
Two of Sunday’s goals came from Alessia Russo, taking her tally to five for the season so far – all coming in her last four appearances. Slegers discussed how extra training with an Arsenal legend has helped the Lioness hit form.
_“I think we defend as a team. That’s what we’re so good at and we attack as a team. So obviously it’s our forwards most of the time getting at the end of attacks, but credit to the whole team, for the way we create at the moment._
_“But for example, in training, we’ve been working specifically with the forwards, so Kelly Smith is with us and we spend a little bit more time with the forwards working on the finishing specifically in their roles. And that hopefully is a part of why we are so clinical and ruthless at the moment._
_“I think Kelly puts in great detail, so. But again, it’s all in the players, how much effort and how much investment that comes from them.”_
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Since previous boss Jonas Eidevall left the club in mid-October, Arsenal have seen a huge boost in performances and results. It has been confirmed that Slegers will stay on as interim head coach until the New Year – but there is still no update on a permanent replacement for Eidevall.
Slegers says she has enjoyed her role since taking over, but doesn’t want to make a statement: “_I’m enjoying it, so I’m having fun. It’s also very hard work, so sometimes you forget to enjoy it as well because there’s so many things that need to be done from a planning and preparation and reviewing perspective._
_“So you’re working most of the time and then these results and seeing the fans of Emirates and being able to play for so many fans, that’s moments where you really feel the enjoyment and are happy about what you’re doing.”_
_“I’m not thinking about me making statements. We’re just trying to help the team perform and get the results we need. At the moment, that’s working really well. So I’m happy, especially with the clean sheets, how the whole team is invested in defending together. I think there’s things we talk about and separates us from the rest.”_
Arsenal have another busy week before the winter break, travelling to Vålerenga in the Champions League on Thursday night before facing Liverpool in their final league game of 2024 on Sunday.