Arsenal manager Renee Slegers says she is relishing seeing more of Olivia Smith during the upcoming block, suggesting the player had been ‘dealing with some issues’ around her fitness. The Canadian hasn’t started for Arsenal since 19 September but has been a substitute in each of the last four games.
Smith played 45 minutes in Canada’s first game against Denmark, getting on the score sheet. She also scored in the second game of Canada’s double header against Denmark. Slegers says Smith has been managing some physical issues but is raring to go again.
‘Olivia is a player who has such a high ceiling, and she’s amazing. She’s the best I’ve seen in a couple of things she can do – I haven’t really seen it before – she’s a player we brought to Arsenal and believe in extremely. I know the impact she can make for us.
‘Also with Olivia, she has been dealing with some issues that we’ve had to manage in the background, but she’s pain-free now. You saw when she played for Canada, I was so pleased to see, she looked free and did everything she’s good at.
‘She takes on players on the dribble, is good in tight spaces, gets shots off from the edge with her right and left foot. I’m so happy she’s back to her best, we’ve seen that, and I just had a conversation this morning as well that I look forward to the impact she can make. It’s looking positive when it comes to Liv.’
Smith was one of many Arsenal players on the score sheet for their countries during the October break. Georgia Stanway, Caitlin Foord, Frida Maanum, Gery Reuteler, Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius and Smilla Holmberg also scored with their National Teams. Slegers says she and the team need to use that positive energy, starting with Saturday’s home game against Birmingham.
‘That was really nice to see, and there were some other players in the squad with goals as well. I think there were a total of 13 goals scored by our players over the break, so that was really positive. Good for us, and I think for everyone, nice to have a change of environment. If I see how everyone comes back, my mindset, going back into games now and seeing everyone else, I think very driven and very determined.
‘I think we want to be there on Saturday, reconnecting with the fans and bringing our absolute best, play with urgency and play our absolute best football, like I just said. We look forward to that, but I think the break has been good. Now we go into a block of six weeks and nine games, which we look forward to.’
Georgia Stanway scored in both games for England during the break. Recently she has been part of a midfield three with Cooney-Cross and Kim Little which has given her freedom to get forward. Stanway broke her duck for Arsenal in the Champions League against Paris FC last month and was also getting into good scoring positions for Sarina Wiegman’s team. Asked about Stanway’s best position, Slegers did not want to categorise too firmly.
‘I think it depends on when you stop the picture to see whether someone is in or out of position. What we’ve seen with Georgia is that she’s really good in and around the box and in between the lines. She’s done that role for England and for us, she’s really good for England in that role too.
‘Whether on the teamsheet she starts in another system with number seven on her shirt, she ends up in the same area. But yeah, play players to their strengths and we need good balance in the team for Birmingham as well because they break fast, they have quality, they have individuals that can do something by themselves. We go into the game with a lot of belief in ourselves and hopefully a lot of time spent in the final third.’