By Hope Robinson (13/2/26)
Above: Renee Slegers at the Emirates ahead of her team’s fixture. Photo: arsenal.com
Hope Robinson attended Arsenal’s press conference this week ahead of their Women’s Super League clash with Brighton at Broadfield Stadium on Sunday, with Arsenal aiming to extend their five-game winning streak.
Fixture Overview
Brighton and Hove Albion host Arsenal at Broadfield Stadium on Sunday 15 February at 14:30 in the Women’s Super League, with Arsenal seeking another victory to maintain their momentum in the title race.
Arsenal travel to the South East after statement wins against their two closest rivals in their previous two league fixtures. January signing Smilla Holmberg has already enhanced the squad, adding further quality and depth at a crucial stage of the campaign.
Brighton and Hove Albion will aim to maximise home advantage and claim valuable points from the contest. They will look to remain disciplined and compact across the full 90 minutes, determined to avoid a late setback similar to their recent league defeat against West Ham United.
Speaking ahead of the game, Renee Slegers stressed the need for respect and focus. “They’ve had a challenging run. I think they are a good team.” Slegers said. “We have to be really humble for the task, with the weather, the conditions and the way that Brighton play.”
Slegers also highlighted the unpredictability of Sunday’s opponents. “The unknown will be there because I think Brighton are a good team with lots of rotation and ideas in possession and an aggressive press, but last time we played them they did something completely different,” she said. “We have to focus on ourselves, and guarantee things from that.”
Form Guide
Since the turn of the second half of the season, Arsenal have come through a defining run of fixtures, rising to each challenge at a crucial stage of the campaign.
They secured a 2-0 win away to Chelsea before edging Manchester City 1-0 at home, keeping clean sheets in both matches, and taking maximum points from two of the league’s strongest sides. Arsenal also lifted the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup and reinforced their European ambitions with a 4-0 victory over OH Leuven in the Champions League, as they push to retain their status as champions of Europe.
Slegers believes recent performances have been built on character as much as quality. “I think the team has been really brave with the way they go about things, dealing with moments and adversity,” she said. “They’ve been putting themselves out there. They have the courage to do things, they’ve stepped forward. They’ve been taking risks. It’s not easy and they’ve been brave in those moments.”
Brighton, meanwhile, have endured frustration in recent weeks. They have lost their last two league games despite taking the lead in both. Against West Ham United, Brighton were 2-0 ahead before conceding three times in the final seven minutes, a collapse they will be determined not to repeat.
Arsenal sit fourth in the table on 29 points, just two behind second place, with eight wins, five draws and one defeat. Brighton are seventh with 17 points from five wins, two draws and eight losses.
Previous Meetings
The sides have met 17 times in all competitions, with Arsenal winning 16 of those encounters and Brighton claiming one victory, meaning the fixture has never ended in a draw.
In the reverse meeting earlier this season, Arsenal secured a 1-0 win courtesy of an Olislagers own goal. That result came during a difficult spell for Arsenal, who had lost two consecutive league matches beforehand.
Slegers acknowledged the lessons from previous visits. “Last year away we had a bad performance and lost that game,” reinforcing the need for improvement and control this time around.
Team news
Anneke Borbe remains under assessment but is progressing well, with Slegers confirming the goalkeeper will be monitored closely. “Anneke Borbe is still on assessment, progressing well. We will see how she responds today,” she said.
Beth Mead will be unavailable. “Beth will be out for the block. She has a hairline fracture in her shin,” Slegers confirmed.
On Rosa Kafaji, currently on loan at Brighton from Arsenal, Slegers added: “She’s found her feet at Brighton. She can’t compete against us but it’s good to see her play.”
Tactical Battle
Much of Arsenal’s recent success has come from improved defensive organisation and collective commitment.
Reflecting on the contrast with last season, Slegers said: “A lot of hard work. We have great analysts. We have specialists in our staff. Erin has been really good in working with the defensive players. There’s such a high level of commitment in everything we do at the minute. We are in a better place than we were a year ago.”
She added: “I think the humility in the team is on another level at the moment. So many clean sheets lately. We get the rewards. We see all those actions we do on the pitch, keeping positions away from our goal, keeping them from shooting at our goal.”
Slegers also underlined the clarity within her side’s structure. “We have really good foundations in our game at the moment. It’s the Arsenal way,” she said. “Lots of clarity in the way we play. They need to feel free in their decisions. That’s what they feel right now and it’s part of the reason they are performing so well.”
Players to Watch
Olivia Smith has operated in the central number nine role in the absence of Stina Blackstenius through injury, yet she has retained the creativity and freedom that define her game.
Slegers has been particularly impressed with Smith’s adaptation. “There are certain strengths we saw in Liv, her speed and she’s very clinical in front of goal,” she said. “She’s obviously a very good dribbler. In those centre spaces she’s good at combining with Alessia and Frida. Anything that drops in the box she’s so quick to react. We see things that are new to us, it’s beautiful.”
She added: “The way she’s taken on the role out of possession I’m really impressed with. It gives us versatility. We can choose different things and different moments. It’s a strong part of our squad. There’s so much strength in this squad. It’s what we look at as staff, what can we do to get the most out of players. It’s good to have in our locker knowing Liv can play that nine role really well.”
Lotte Wubben-Moy has also been central to Arsenal’s recent defensive stability, combining decisive interventions with composed distribution from the back.
For Brighton, Kiko Seike has emerged as a significant attacking threat with six goals this season, while Madison Haley continues to provide energy and directness when leading the line.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Arsenal’s recent run has been underpinned by discipline, structure and belief.
“Its for us creating our own guarantees and our own knows. Stacking good humble actions on the pitch,” Slegers said. “We have to focus on ourselves.”
Brighton’s pace in transition and willingness to rotate in possession present clear challenges, but Arsenal’s defensive solidity and growing confidence suggest they travel with control and clarity.
Manager’s View
Slegers’ message was consistent throughout her press conference. Respect the opponent, remain humble, and trust the foundations that have been built.
Key Matchday Battles
Central spaces could prove decisive, particularly with Smith’s movement between the lines and Brighton’s aggressive press.
Arsenal’s defensive structure against Brighton’s counter-attacking threats will also be critical, especially given the home side’s ability to strike quickly through Seike and Haley.
Arsenal head to Broadfield Stadium with momentum, defensive solidity and renewed belief, but Renee Slegers has made clear that nothing will be taken for granted. Brighton’s unpredictability, home advantage and intensity demand discipline and clarity from the visitors. With Olivia Smith thriving in her adapted role and clean sheets reinforcing confidence, Arsenal look more assured than in previous meetings. Yet as Slegers stressed, “We have to be really humble for the task,” a message that highlights the focus required to secure another pivotal three points in the title race.
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