Despite a bump in the road with midweek defeat in the Subway Women’s League Cup last week, Renée Slegers’ side bounced back on Sunday with a 2-0 victory over London City Lionesses. Since then Slegers’ has had a week to prepare her squad for Arsenal’s home clash with Tottenham at the Emirates this Sunday.
The Dutch head coach faced the media on Friday afternoon and The Halfway Line was at London Colney to hear from her before the final North London derby of the season.
Chloe Kelly ‘lifts our training environment’ praises Slegers
Arsenal left it late on deadline day but managed to make two key additions to their squad before the transfer window slammed shut. One was Olympic gold medallist Jenna Nighswonger who made her first start for Arsenal last weekend. And the other was the iconic Lioness Chloe Kelly.
Kelly has not been eligible to start a game for Arsenal since joining due to being cup tied in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup and because the other two fixtures were against her parent club Manchester City. Slegers was asked just how Kelly was fitting in at Arsenal since her return to the club despite this, she smiled:
“She’s settled very well. She knows what Arsenal is, she comes from the club. We’re happy she’s back and I think what she brings to us are her qualities as a player but what she’s also shown us is her willingness to defend, be aggressive and work hard. She lifts our training environment as well so we’re very happy with Chloe.”
This week Sarina Weigman announced her England squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches, one that saw Kelly’s name omitted from the squad list. This was put to Slegers, and she was asked if she felt Kelly’s confidence could take a knock as a result, Slegers replied:
“We want the best for Chloe and I’ve spoken to Chloe and she’s also said that she accepts situations as they are. She’s just really happy she’s with us at the moment and she wants to take every opportunity wherever it is, in the training or match environment, to try and push herself, find her next level and get her rhythm and playing minutes again.”
As for whether Kelly might make her second Arsenal debut in the derby on Sunday? Slegers refused to be drawn on the subject, when asked she noted, “well we hope she’s available on Sunday and I look forward to her first minutes for Arsenal and we’ll see when that is.”
When pressed further, Slegers saw the funny side, she quipped: “you’ll know 75 minutes before kick off” the words left her mouth with a grin, before she conceded charitably: “hopefully she’s available to be in the squad on Sunday.”
Arsenal fans give us ‘something more’ claims Slegers ahead of the North London derby
The North London derby is one of the biggest matches of any season for Arsenal. Since Tottenham’s promotion to the top flight the fixture has been one eagerly awaited every season by fans and players alike. Slegers was asked for her thoughts ahead of another derby, she responded:
“It’s, of course, the North London Derby and it’s a rivalry, and we’ll both feel it, and I think they will feel it. Hopefully we can make them very uncomfortable at the at the Emirates. But yeah, they’ve been performing well. They’ve been recruiting a couple of players, so I think we’ll have to respect their strengths, of course, but as every opposition, there’s always areas to exploit, and that’s what we’re going after on Sunday.”
Arsenal’s social media team announced this week that over 55,000 tickets have been sold for the match on Sunday, with more set to sell, this was put to Slegers for her thoughts, she noted:
“So we always feel very supported by the by the fans, regardless of of numbers or home or away games, because we sell out away sections as well. And it gives us something something else. It gives us something more. We really want to connect with them, because they they give us that extra little percentage on the pitch and and we’re also very aware that people invest a lot of time and effort to come and see us and support us.”
Slegers continued: “I feel it personally that I feel supported, and I feel that they’re really supporting the team, the players. I feel connected to them, hopefully they feel connected to us. And what we try to bring who we are as players, who we who we are as persons, that they can relate to that, and that brings them something in life and that that can be inspiring, because the other way around, they’re inspiring for us as well.”
Slegers delighted with ‘real big step’ on the road to recovery for Pelova
On Wednesday afternoon Victoria Pelova took a huge step towards returning to the first team picture, playing and scoring in a 3-1 win over the Manchester United under 21s, a match that team mate Amanda Ilestedt also scored in. Slegers was asked to comment on availability of her players and if anyone might be returning on Sunday, Slegers replied:
“From [the] last game, [the] same players are available. We might have some players coming back, depending on the session tomorrow.”
As for Victoria Pelova, Slegers beamed:
“So Vic’s made really good progress. She’s been working really hard coming back, and she made her first minutes in the under 21s game against Manchester United last Wednesday. So that’s that’s very positive. That’s a real big step for her.”
‘Raising awareness’ for Cervical Cancer prevention options ‘important’ affirms Slegers
Arsenal women have come out in strong support for the campaign ‘Defend your Tomorrow’ which aims to support the NHS in its goal to eliminate Cervical Cancer by 2040. The campaign, launched by MSD UK and The Eve Appeal will be highlighted at the North London derby on Sunday.
‘Defend your Tomorrow’ aims to increase awareness for the availability of Cervical Cancer screenings and vaccinations. Slegers was asked for her thoughts on the vitally important campaign, she responded:
“It’s very important, and I’m proud to represent Arsenal, who takes responsibility for questions in society, and I think take up rates are low in North London, so I think it’s important that we raise the awareness around it. And I’m happy Arsenal is taking responsibility.”
‘The girls have been supportive of each other for a long time’ states Slegers
The road has been a long one for both Victoria Pelova and Amanda Ilestedt to return to fitness and to the first team. And when both started Wednesday afternoon’s match against Manchester United in the under 21s much of the Arsenal squad came down to watch the match and support their team mates.
The Halfway Line put this to Slegers, asking how important that culture is and how she’s been able to help build it, she responded:
“I’m very happy. I think most of staff and most of the squad were outside watching. It was kick off, quarter past one, so was straight after our training session. So everyone had lunch, and then we went back out to watch the game” Slegers recalled before humbly continuing:
“I think this is not necessarily part of what I’m building. I think the girls have been supportive of each other for a long time already, before I came into the role, and they understand what it means for the girls and how much investment and effort it’s taken Vic and Amanda to come back, so they were just out there to support them, and I’m very happy with that.”
