Renée Slegers says Arsenal are ‘ready to start working again’ as the WSL prepares for return following the international break.
The Women’s Super League (WSL) returns to action this weekend after a month long break due to FA Cup fixtures and a longer international break than we have been used to in recent years. The new FIFA Calendar allows for three games to be played each window, going up from two. The Halfway Line asked Slegers what difference the new break makes in terms of how the staff approach it at Arsenal.
“For us as, as a staff, we get more days to review and preview,” Slegers said. “I think for us the risk is that we have so much time to come up with all these wild ideas. A lot of things that we want to do differently or even better. And for us it’s important that, because we’ve been waiting for it to start again, we want the players to be back, we want to start working again.
“It’s been very quiet here because all the ideas that we have and everything that we’re working on is just theory at that point in time. You want it to become real and it becomes real when the players are back. So, yeah, that’s been different.”
Slegers also had an eye for the impact the break has had on the players.
“We really have to be aware of how a longer period away for the players, with certain players also playing three games this window, most of them two. The travel, being away from home for so long and then having to settle back in that transition. We have to respect that that’s much different for the players than for us.”
Frida Maanum came off injured for Norway during the international break and Olivia Smith did not travel to Canada camp with an injury. But, good news for Arsenal fans as there are no new injuries in the squad according to Renée Slegers. Beth Mead should be making her return after sustaining a hair line fracture to the shin in the match against Manchester City five weeks ago. The staff will assess her on Saturday.
The match between London City Lionesses and Arsenal will kick off at 11:55pm on Sunday. The match is shown live on SkySports.
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London City ‘changed tactically’ since Arsenal’s triumphant season opener says Slegers
As the WSL returns to action, the Gunners prepare to travel to Bromley to face London City Lionesses this Sunday. The Gunners opened their WSL campaign against the same opponent, storming home to a 4-1 victory at Emirates Stadium. Ever since, London City have changed their manager, with Jocelyn Precheur having been relieved of his duties. New manager Eder Maestre plays a different style, according to the Dutch Arsenal manager.
“If you look at the game we played against them at the Emirates, first game of the season, we don’t expect the game to be playing out like that on Sunday because they’ve changed tactically,” Slegers said. “But they might do. They are a little bit more positional and maybe zonal in their defence rather than going player for player.
“Then of course, if you look at the players that are playing for them and how they play them to the strengths, you see that they’ve been really good with fast attacks and doing things on the dribble and counter attacks, and they’ve had tight results against top teams and that’s the way they’ve played those types of games. And I think that set pieces is an area for the game as well.”
‘It will be great to see’ former teammate Daniëlle van de Donk says Renée Slegers
Slegers used to play with London City Lionesses’ summer signing – and former Gunner – Daniëlle van de Donk. Both played together at Dutch club Willem II when they were 18 (Slegers) and 16 years old (van de Donk), respectively. They have also spent time together on the national team. Slegers has fond memories of playing with the now 34-year-old Dutchwoman.
“I loved to play with Daniëlle,” the head coach said. “We’ve known each other for a very, very long time. We grew up and we’ve been in that phase of women’s football in the Netherlands together when the semi professional league started, we started to play at Willem II together.
“She’s a very fiery player on the pitch, aggressive, wants to win, but can make use of the dark arts if you will. She knows how to manage a game and be smart. She’s a lovely person. We come from the same area in the Netherlands, very close to each other, 10, 15 minutes away. So, yeah, it will be great to see her and I’m happy she’s back fit.”