Arsenal were 2-0 winners away at Benfica on match day two of the Champions League on Thursday night thanks to a second half own goal and a late goal from Lessi Russo. Renee Slegers spoke to the press post-match, the first two questions are from Arseblog News.
On having to manage a physical stop start game…
I think when we managed that the best in the game, you didn’t see it because we were in control and we positioned ourselves well, we had the ball, we had good details. I think the moments in the game when you see that happening, that’s when we couldn’t dictate the game as well as we like. So I think the game has flows and spells, but what I’m happy with is that we find a way to win. We don’t create clear cut chances, the amount that we would like, so you have to find other ways to win and I think we really battled for it tonight. I’m really happy with that and I’m also happy with the goal from the set piece.
On Manu Zinsberger’s injury and Emily Fox having to come off…
Foxy seems alright, she has a knock on the shin. I think she should be alright. Manu sustained the knee injury in training in a week.
On Mariona finding spaces between the lines…
We always think it’s good to find spaces between lines and I think what we did well and earlier built space and we were manipulating the ball to open up spaces and I think the players moving in those positions did well, finding those spaces. So especially the first half spaces were big, and we did that well and the next step is to create better chances from those moments where you’re is facing against the back line, but I’m really happy with the win, and the two goals we scored tonight.
14.van Domselaar; 2.Fox (11.McCabe ‘84), 3.Wubben-Moy, 7.Catley (5.L.Codina ‘84), 24.Hinds; 10.Little(c), 32.Cooney-Cross (25.Blackstenius ‘59); 15.Smith (19.Foord ‘69), 8.Mariona, 9.Mead (18.Kelly ‘59); 23.Russo
Unused: 12.L.Maanum 21.Pelova 22.Nighswonger 44.Harwood 53.Liddiard