Renée Slegers says that Caitlin Foord ‘has been massive’ for Arsenal in her side’s recent upturn in fortunes following a second win in five days.

Slegers was speaking to the media after Arsenal recorded their biggest victory of the season, a 3-0 win at home to Benfica in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. At Meadow Park, The Halfway Line was present to hear from her.

Renée Slegers delights in debutants that ‘did really well’ against Benfica

It seemed for all the world once the line up was announce and Géraldine Reuteler’s name included, that the Swiss international would play in the 10 tonight for Arsenal. However that was not the case, with Reuteler out on the right and Alessia Russo remaining in the 10, Slegers explained her decision making,

“So there’s different things playing into it” the Arsenal head coach explained. “Threat on the back line with Liv [Olivia Smith]. Liv is really dangerous in and around the box. She was disappointed she didn’t score today, but she was creating a lot of space behind or in front of the backline as well.

“Géraldine [Reuteler] has been training really well, and we said some things take time, but they they can be really good. And we needed that presence in that position, so in the right pocket, she’s really good in that position. She does that for Switzerland. She did it for Frankfurt as well, and her partnership with Ona was really good on the right side.

“You could see in the in the first half we got stuck a little bit on the ball in our own half, and we just had to get used to each other and and build on it. But the second half was really really good. So I think both players that made their debuts today for us, Élisa [De Almeida] and Géraldine, did really well for us, so [we’re] happy.”

Slegers explained her rationale behind how she utilised her full backs against Benfica, and how that in turn related to Reuteler,

“Ona [Batlle] started on the right side today, she did really well” Slegers explained. “Taylor Hinds, we wanted to keep the left side intact, Tay did really well against Spurs, so Ona came in on the right side. Obviously, she’s played the last couple of years on the right side [she] does that for Spain.

“Her partnership with Géraldine was building throughout the game, which was really positive. Ona’s crossing is really good from the right, so we wanted to keep her on the right. And when we took Taylor off with the amount of minutes she played in a short time, and then we didn’t want to swap sides, so we put Foxy [Emily Fox] on the left.

“Foxy has qualities on the dribble, on the combination, and she did that on the left side today. So we just like I just mentioned, we have so many different options now. We can choose whatever is best in the game in the moment, and I think both Ona, Taylor, and Fox [all] had a good game today.”

Alessia Russo leads ‘her way’ says Slegers

Alongside the debutants another player who impressed was hat-trick hero, Alessia Russo who became the all time top English goal-scorer in the competition over-taking Fran Kirby. Slegers was invited to speak on Russo,

“Yeah, no, she was so good” lauded Slegers. “She’s one of the leaders of our team, and she does it her way. She cares for everyone around her, and she connects really well with all her teammates. She leads the way in role modeling, doing the right things consistently [and] always brings positive energy.

“[She] is always constructive in everything she does, [she] is really good at collaborating with staff, with players, and she deserved to be the captain for us today and we had a chat yesterday, [we] had a chat today about her role and it not being more pressure.

“But she was happy and was good to wear the armband for us today. But the captains’ group, the five of them, they’re really good. They support each other. They play each other to their strengths. And Less [Russo] wore the armband today, she did it with so much grace and scored three goals: a hat trick.”

Slegers says Arsenal took North London derby ‘energy’ into Benfica clash

It has been a difficult start to the season for Arsenal, fans won’t need reminding of their recent run in the WSL, their worst ever five game spell of results. Slegers was asked about whether the team had been carrying a weight after those results and if, finally, that was beginning to lift,

“Yeah, I think, of course we have been carrying something with performances and results” Slegers admitted. “That’s been hard for the team. You could see the pure joy and the relief after the North London Derby in that moment with the fans on the pitch, and we’ve taken that energy into this game as well.

“And it really looks like there’s something off the shoulders, and I think we are playing like us tonight. And I’m so happy the players enjoy themselves, they connect, they express themselves, play with intensity. So yeah, I’m really happy that we’re back but then again, we backed the last performance up with today. We need to do it again at the weekend against Aston Villa.”

‘Caitlin Foord has been massive for us’ says Slegers

One of Arsenal’s stand out performers in their recent upturn in form has been Caitlin Foord. The winger started against both Spurs and Benfica, two vital victories for Arsenal. The Halfway Line asked Slegers about Foord’s impact,

“In a way she’s a leader because she injects energy, intensity into the team and a fight, and that spreads and that’s contagious” Slegers said. “So she’s been massive for us the last two games and she’s done that so well. The goal was not a goal for her today, she played her 50th appearance for Arsenal in the Champions League.

“I so much wanted that goal for her to happen, but they think Stina [Blackstenius] was offside in the phase before. Not sure, but anyway, Caitlin Foord has been massive for us.”