_Before every home game, Renee Slegers gives her thoughts around the team and our upcoming game in her manager's notes published in the matchday programme._
_Ahead of our London derby against Chelsea at Emirates Stadium, our head coach emphasised the importance of playing for the badge and living up to expectations in the biggest of the games._
Good afternoon and welcome to Emirates Stadium for today’s massive London derby against Chelsea, and what promises to be a fantastic game of football in front of the best set of supporters in the world.
I’m really looking forward to this one. We always stick to our approach of looking at one game at a time but, at the same time, there’s no way to deny the weight of this fixture. We all understand what facing Chelsea means, not only for our fate this season but historically. It’s for the squad, the badge and you, the fanbase.
I remember how we felt the last time we played against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and we never want to feel that way again.
The team doesn’t need extra motivation, especially when it comes to playing a rival, but it’s important to remind ourselves. What makes our squad so resilient is the internal drive that they can tap into when they need to most.
We look at Chelsea’s unbeaten record in the league and respect it, but we do not fear it. As a team, we’ve spoken about how good we are when we’re at our best and we have the proof to back it up. But there is time, energy and focus that we need to invest this week in order to be at our very best this afternoon.
The margin for error in this league is minuscule. Our football needs to be rock solid in all areas for the full 90 minutes. Our team needs to stand up for each other.
If there are solutions we need to find, let’s uncover them together. We need to play with communication and connection, and when the momentum swings in our favour we have to capitalise. There might not be a second chance against a team like Chelsea. We have to be ruthless.
This is just the beginning of a very important month for us. Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Spurs. That’s quite a run of fixtures in the space of a week and a half. UEFA Champions League quarter-final rematches, London derbies and an opportunity to reach our standards.
We want to find the right balance between using that run to motivate us – because there’s so much we can achieve here – and making sure we stay in the moment. It doesn’t need any extra pressure.
It was brilliant to see how the team approached the first game back from international break against Leicester City. We had just two days together as a unit and we came out of the blocks firing, which is exactly what I wanted to see.
The intensity we built on the training pitch was on display for all to see last weekend. Three goals before half time is proof of just how clinical this team can be. Confidence builds more confidence, and that’s what we needed to bring into this game.
And it’s not just those 90 minutes. I can’t wait to hear the noise as we step out of the tunnel in front of our biggest crowd so far this season. We feed off that energy and every single weekend you outdo yourself.
Seeing that sea of red and white on a matchday is a highlight for everyone, staff and players alike. This is going to be a battle on the pitch that we’re prepared for, and one that needs every single one of us.
Finally, we hope you will all join us in marking Remembrance Day ahead of kick-off, and that you enjoy hearing from Naz Ball, who as well as being a pioneering footballer here at Arsenal also served in the Royal Air Force.
We remember the roots of Arsenal Football Club and honour those who lost their lives in combat. And, then, we hope you all enjoy the game.
Copyright 2025 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.