Arsenal Women boss Renee Slegers says Arsenal have looked closely at setpiece defending- as they always do- ahead of Sunday’s visit of Liverpool in the FA Cup.
Last weekend against West Ham, the Gunners conceded two goals to Irons centre-half Amber Tysiak on corners. Arsenal conceded two goals to setpieces against Bayern in December and one at Manchester United in November. Liverpool won their game against Crystal Palace last weekend via a setpiece goal.
Arseblog News asked Slegers in her Friday press conference whether this was a particular area of concern, ‘We always look at set-pieces. We always do a preview and a review and we train set-pieces ahead of games so that was no different against West Ham and it will be no different ahead and after Liverpool,’ Slegers explained.
‘But we are aware that two of the three goals were from corners, so that’s definitely something we want to do better.’ In the West Ham game and the London City Lionesses match in the previous round, Arsenal adopted a slightly more direct approach at times with the Meadow Park surface a little dry and bumpy.
Boreham Wood, who own the stadium, will play on the pitch on Saturday before the Gunners face Liverpool on Sunday. Arseblog News asked Slegers how much that would factor in her team’s preparation.
‘Normally it doesn’t (factor into preparation), but of course there’s some learnings from the West Ham game, mostly about the way we play and what spaces we’re looking for in a game, but a couple of small details will be linking to circumstances as well and the pitch is one of them, but that’s always going to be the case.
‘We always look at where we’re going to play, what the circumstances are like and we try to be that detailed. That’s no different for Sunday. We want to play the Arsenal way so we want to be very good on the ball but we also want to find ways to win and that’s what we’ll try.’
Arsenal have generally been defensively sound this season but found themselves 2-0 and 3-1 down at home to West Ham last weekend before coming back to win 4-3. Slegers says she was pleased with the spirit the team showed to come back and wasn’t too concerned on a long-term basis about the concession of three goals.
‘I think what’s been the main positive feedback from the West Ham game is that we have never been in this situation I think where we’re two goals down twice in a game and the girls showed that they can come back from those things to stay very composed and calm in the chaotic and pressured moments. That was my big positive feedback.
‘I’m so happy to see that because we know what had to happen. We think clean sheets are very important for us. Defensive solidity, but it can happen sometimes. I think that’s the rules of football, it’s unpredictable.
‘Anyone can score against anyone, otherwise it wouldn’t be interesting to come and watch, but us coming back from those setbacks, I’m very happy with the mentality in the team at the moment.’
Arsenal kick off at 2.30pm on Sunday in the fA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool at Meadow Park, the game will be streamed live on the Adobe Women’s FA Cup YouTube channel.