By Chloe Reynolds (11/12/25)
Above: Slegers speaking to the media on Thursday. Photo: Arsenal website.
Arsenal head north this weekend to face a resurgent Everton side who are fresh off the unlikeliest of wins against champions Chelsea, ending the London side’s 34-game unbeaten league streak. Ahead of the duel, head coach Renée Slegers was questioned on the Toffees – and the news that winger Chloe Kelly has been nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Team news
Slegers has said that the only two players in doubt are Jenna Nighswonger and Laia
Codina, confirming that the duo “have been managing minor issues.” However, there was a more positive update as the head coach revealed that “I think Codi is a little bit further ahead, so there’s one more session to go. She might be able to travel, so we’ll see how she goes tomorrow. Jenna, I don’t think will travel.”
Chloe Kelly “brings that edge on the pitch” – Slegers
Earlier today, it was announced that Chloe Kelly has been nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year – a hugely prestigious title in the UK and one won previously by Mary Earps and Beth Mead. Slegers praised Kelly as “a big personality for us,” adding that “she brings that edge on the pitch.”
Her club head coach was also keen to emphasise Kelly’s achievements this year, winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League with Arsenal and scoring the penalty that cemented England as back-to-back European champions.
“Her last season has been very successful, coming to us, coming back to Arsenal and being really important for us, winning the Champions League,” she reflected, adding that “everything she achieved with England and the role she played for England. She’s had a really good season.”
Why Slegers “highly respects” Everton boss Brian Sørensen
Everton, who had only won one game all season produced a shock win against
Chelsea last Sunday, and Slegers believes that the Toffees could be a threat to the
Gunners. “I highly respect Everton and Brian for the team they are, she said.
“They’re a very unpredictable team. They can do different things, so it’s always, at the start of the game, having a good look at what their plan is and what their structure is and what they try to do.
Transitions, they’ve been extremely clinical from their transitions, so we have to manage that really well because we know the strength they have with the quality of players that can set it up and the quality of players that can finish it.”
On the specific dangers Everton pose, Slegers praised their “quality and speed up top, so we’ll have to manage that really well. It’s one of their big weapons.”
Whilst focused on their offensive power, the head coach also highlighted the Toffees’ defense: “If you look at the way they defended their last game when they got the 1-0 win, they defended for their lives in the box. The goalkeeper saves a lot of shots and moments, so we expect the same.”
She also added that she expects Everton to have taken “a lot of belief” out of their win at Kingsmeadow last week, and is readying her team for a tough game.
Hailing Arsenal’s “incredible” fans
Arsenal played their last home game of the year on Tuesday night at Medow Park,
and with three away games left, Slegers was keen to show her appreciation for Arsenal’s fans. “I think I can take a moment to thank the fans so far for 2025. There’s three games left to play for us, no more home games, but if you look at it like you say, travelling early, the early kick-off against Liverpool and the amount of fans we get at the Emirates,” she praised.
“I know everyone has been travelling from, or some have been travelling from far to see us so early in the day. So we appreciate it, we don’t take it for granted, I’m very thankful for the support we get as a team.
That’s the home games for 2025 and we have three away games left, but it’s incredible that there will be so many fans (at) Everton away. I take a moment to say thank you to the fans for 2025, they’ve been incredible.”
This will also be the Dutch coach’s first trip to Goodison park since the Toffees’
move back in September, following the opening of the new Hill Dickinson stadium for Everton’s men.
On Goodison, Slegers said “I know it’s a stadium with a lot of history. I haven’t been there yet so it will be my first time but of course great. I think Everton have been part of the WSL for a long time and pushing.
Brian is doing so much as well, on the pitch on a daily basis but also things in the background. It will be a nice moment to go to Goodison Park and play there.”
Arsenal travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Saturday, kicking off at 12 noon UK time.
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