“We are looking to do things better” – Slegers focused on improvement ahead of United showdown
After Sunday’s frustrating 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, Arsenal won’t have to wait long for a chance to put things right.
A showdown with a Manchester United side still finding its feet under new management awaits on Saturday, when Renee Slegers’ team can also equal a club-record unbeaten run set between 2011 and 2012.
The Gunners have now gone 19 WSL matches without defeat. While that is an achievement to be proud of, Slegers admits it brings mixed emotions given the number of points dropped along the way.
“It’s of course mixed emotions when I hear that stat,” she said at Thursday’s press conference.
“It’s very positive that we’re hard to beat and that’s what we feel about ourselves. But then also, with with some recency bias as well from the last game against Crystal Palace where we weren’t able to score that goal, and didn’t get the win. It’s double [emotions], of course we’re proud, but at the same time there are some draws in there like the last one against Palace.
“When I compare that draw with some of the draws we had last year, it’s different for me, if I look at the dominance in the game and expected chances and goals, amount of shots, it’s much higher than what we had last year and how we’re on top of things. So it is different, but it’s a draw again.”
Dominance was certainly not the problem against Palace. Arsenal had 79 per cent possession, registered 30 shots, including nine on target, and enjoyed 70 touches in the opposition box. It was about as dominant a performance as you can muster without actually winning.
The challenge now is to create clearer opportunities when faced with a crowded penalty area and ensure those fine margins go their way next time.
“The best thing is always to get back onto the grass and execute,” explained Slegers.
“I think psychologically that’s good as well for everyone to be able to action things. So we’ve looked at some things. Of course, we were happy with our dominance in the game and our entries in the final third, entries in the box, amount of shots, but we’ve also been looking at how we can create even bigger opportunities for ourselves when the spaces are really tight and there’s a lot of bodies in the box.
“So what are the moments in the game and how do we create spaces? We’ve applied some ideas, we’ve reviewed together with the players, we’ve been on the training page and the players’ reaction has been really, really good. They’ve been working hard in training.”
Predicting how Manchester United will approach Saturday’s game is complicated by the recent arrival of Eva Olid. Appointed in August, the Spanish coach has had little time to implement her ideas and has endured a difficult start, losing to London City Lionesses before a 5-0 defeat against Chelsea.
It is a situation Slegers sympathises with.
“She [Eva Olid]’s obviously coming late in pre-season. If I look at the pre-season that we’ve had, we’ve had a lot of change in the squad. But how long it takes to make everyone aware of the game model, and how you connect with your teammates and how you really deeply understand each other almost without looking, that takes time.
“I understand the challenge that she has. As a coach, it’s a decision to make. Are you going to go and change things straight away or are you going to have another approach where you progressively, over time, look to change things? That’s probably the balance for her. I don’t know what her philosophy is. I can imagine it’s a challenge. Let’s see what they do on Saturday against us.”
She added: “I can imagine they’re not happy with the start of their season. They’re going to come to the Emirates. Let’s see what their plan is, how they’re going to attack this game.
“I think what’s important for us is that we have the focus on ourselves because we come away from Brighton, which was a good win in an away game at Crawley, but then of course we weren’t satisfied and we were frustrated with the game against Palace at Emirates. So we are looking to do things better for ourselves. So there’s a big focus on ourselves, but of course always respecting the opposition.”
Slegers could have fresh options available as she considers how to sharpen Arsenal’s attack. Neither Geraldine Reuteler nor Selina Cerci was included in the matchday squad against Brighton or Palace, but both are in contention to face United.
“They could. We have one more session left and then we’re going to go through player readiness, different scenarios in the game, different qualities that we anticipate we need. Of course there’s always a medical handover as well.
“They’ve come in and they’re great players, both of them. They both have had disrupted pre-seasons, have been away from the team a couple of weeks and we just felt like it needed a little bit more time to get settled. But it’s looking really good so far this week, they’ve been training really well.”
Asked how the pair have reacted to being left out so early in their Arsenal careers, Slegers explained that both understand opportunities will come their way over the course of a long season.
“They understand the context,” she said. “Of course they want to represent Arsenal, pull on the shirt and connect with supporters in competitive games, and they will. What we’ve been talking about is the patience and importance of everyone in the squad.
“It’s a marathon, a long season, and we’re going to need everyone. They’ve been amazing in their response, they are team players, focused on the team, and they’ve been there for the team in the dressing room, around us. So they’ve been real team players, putting themselves aside and being there for the team, which I have so much respect for.”
Those potential additions are tempered by another confirmed absence. In addition to long-term casualties Katie Reid, Michelle Agyemang and Daphne van Domselaar, Elisa de Almeida will miss this weekend’s game.
Asked when Van Domselaar, who is recovering from a knee procedure during the off-season, could return, Slegers said: “At the moment, it’s hard to tell. October is in our minds somewhere, but we still have to look at how the new response is.
“Day by day, there is a plan in place, but that plan has been changed several times now. October will be great, but let’s see where it goes. Daphne is working really hard in the background with the medical team.”
Matching a 14-year-old unbeaten record would be a notable achievement, even if Slegers is not inclined to dwell on it. After drawing a blank against Palace, the more immediate objective is to ensure Arsenal’s dominance comes with a goal or two attached.
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