**Arsenal**are turning their attention to a Friday night meeting with West Ham. A week after the club celebrated a new deal for Alessia Russo, they must get ready to battle one of the other top strikers in the league, whose return to the capital city has been "impactful" in the eyes of Renee Slegers.
‘It has been a hard game for Arsenal’
Slegers' side sealed a 4-1 win over London City last week, but went behind in the first half against the newly promoted outfit. More so than ever before, every fixture will be a fight for these players.
“We will have to be [disciplined]. Of course, we believe in ourselves and our own qualities, but we'll go there with humility because we know it's a hard game and we have things to prove for ourselves.”
Two seasons ago, West Ham beat **Arsenal**2-1 to dent their hopes of winning the league title for the first time since 2019. The guests will not want a repeat and will go to East London with respect.
“A very hard game. Historically, it has been a hard game for Arsenal to go to, it’s a hard ground. They play a type of football that they believe in. They’re very disciplined in the way they do things.”
‘She brings full threats’
A key figure to watch will be Shekiera Martinez. The striker returned from a loan to **Freiburg**to score nine goals in twelve WSL fixtures in the new year. Slegers is wary of what she will offer.
“She’s added something to their game. If you look at her contributions in the second half of last season, she's been very impactful. She brings a lot. She brings full threats. She's a threat in behind. She has physicality and a high work rate. So she's definitely a player that we'll have to deal with.”
**Tottenham**defeated the Irons 1-0 last weekend, shackling Martinez with a tight marking style. This tactic has inspired the coach, but she also wants to ensure her players have room for self-expression.
“Other teams have plans to exploit weaknesses and to stop strengths. Of course, we had a look at that game, but we will do what we think is right for us tomorrow. We always want to respect the opposition and look at what they will bring to the game but then play off of our own strengths.”
‘We have quite a good idea’
Rehanne Skinner has managed the team since July 2023. She oversaw a 2-0 loss at home and a 4-3 defeat away against **Arsenal**last term, so her counterpart is expecting another tight duel on Friday.
“We played two league games against them last season, and especially towards the end of last season, I think they performed really well and played to their own strengths and made it really hard for us.”
The two teams met in preseason last month. Again, the Gunners walked away with a triumph thanks to two goals from Frida Maanum. But it was by no means easy against a side with a strong identity.
“You see similar things in the pre-season game. I think they tweaked a couple of things and changed a couple of things but I think we have quite a good idea who we’re going to play against tomorrow.”