_Arsenal qualified for the fifth round of the Women’s FA Cup on Sunday with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Meadow Park thanks to second half goals from Stina Blackstenius and Kim Little. Renee Slegers spoke to the press post-match, the first three questions are from Arseblog News._
**On what was better about the second half compared to the first…**
I think our intensity went up a little bit, clarity in what we wanted to achieve, so that’s always easier if you have the clarity that you can do with higher intensity. And it was a numbers game, how many numbers do we want in our attacking game in the final third, basically. And I think that worked out well and they did that really well on the pitch.
**On causing Villa problems all afternoon from setpieces…**
Happy for the team. They are good at set pieces, Villa, attacking set pieces. They have conceded on defending set pieces. So we knew it was an area for us today that was going to be important. So I’m really happy we got that goal.
**On Villa switching their wing-backs to deal with Smilla Holmberg…**
I think, in general, she did so well. You’ve seen her come on against United and she did really well in that game. We’ve seen her since she’s come into us. She trains really well, brings new, fresh ideas, new qualities and I’m really happy. It was, of course, a scenario that you have to plan for every scenario, but that Fox would have to come off early and then bring Smilla, but we were all very determined that when we bring Smilla on, she’s ready. So, I’m really happy with her performance. She’s been doing really well, observing, learning, about the Arsenal way and how we do things. We are also bringing her ideas to what we do. So it’s been really good.
**On Russo and Blackstenius starting together…**
They have played quite some games together this season. They’re both doing really well. We have a lot of versatility in the team, players that can play in the nine, in the 10. I think we’ve had, I don’t know how many different players in the ten. There are players that can play in the nine for us as well that you haven’t seen. So, who knows? But they did really well together and the press is always important for us and the more you play together, the more you train together, the more you get used to each other and always communication is important for us, but they did well.
**On four clean sheets in a row and Anneke Borbe’s performances…**
She’s really grown into the team. Of course, the first game against Liverpool, at the Emirates, you want to see how that is, because you haven’t seen it yet in a competitive game. She did so well and just from there on we’ve conceded two goals, and we have, I don’t know how many clean sheets, and she’s been a big part of it. But also on the ball, her composure, her decision making, has been really good, but we do everything as a team. It’s definitely credit to Nekki. She’s done so well for us.
**On playing at Meadow Park today…**
I have been at the club for a long time, but not as long as many others. I love to come here. I think the players as well, it’s a historical ground for Arsenal Women. They’ve played here for so many years and we love the community because it’s intimate and close to the fans.
28.Borbe; 2.Fox (31.Holmberg ‘21), 3.Wubben-Moy, 7.Catley, 11.McCabe; 10.Little(c) (21.Pelova ‘85), 8.Mariona (5.L.Codina ‘85); 9.Mead, 23.Russo (12.L.Maanum ‘68), 15.Smith (19.Foord ‘68); 25.Blackstenius
Unused: 24.Hinds, 40.Williams, 44.Harwood, 53.Liddiard