By Sarah Myles (16/10/26)
Above: Olivia Smith back training with the Gunners following a successful international break. Photo: Arsenal FC
Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers sat down with the media today to discuss her side’s upcoming league fixture against Birmingham City FC, her commitment to Arsenal and squad injury updates.
Speaking about the last few weeks, Slegers said that it “has been good to have quality time with some of the players” who weren’t on international break. Slegers was pleased with the positive performances from Arsenal players whilst with their national teams and noted that goals had been scored, which was “really nice to see. A total of 13 goals were scored by our players over the break, which is really positive.” Slegers is feeling “very driven, and very determined” going back into games and is looking forward to reconnecting with fans on Saturday as she and the team are ready to “play with urgency and play our best football.”
Updating the press on team fitness, Slegers confirmed that Mariona Caldentey has a hamstring injury and will be out for around 8-10 weeks, but she is healing well. Selina Cerci has had knee surgery, so she is also unavailable, which Slegers acknowledged has contributed to Cerci’s limited minutes so far this season.
Asked about how Caldentey’s injury complicates the midfield for Arsenal, Slegers said that “the midfield is an important unit but Kyra (Cooney-Cross) is back, and we now have Georgia (Stanway). We will have to find the right solutions, play to the player’s strengths, find the right balance in the middle of the pitch. We have a lot of quality in our midfield.”
Looking forward to Saturday’s game against Birmingham, Slegers highlighted the strengths Birmingham have shown as a “hard-working team with quality centrally and on the wings,” which Arsenal will look to minimize. Slegers said that while Birmingham haven’t won a game yet, they have been threatening teams, and Arsenal are looking to stop that this weekend.
When asked if external conversation was affecting her, Slegers said that “it doesn’t matter at all,” as she “is very internally focused. The people here, are we connected? Is the energy there? Is the belief there? Are we all aligned? Are we going in the same direction? That’s really important to me because when that’s not there, that would hurt.
But for example, when I see the fans at the (Manchester) City stadium after the game, that’s kind of in between because they’re on the outside, but very close to us. That part hurts, but that won’t affect me because I know what the fans invest, and they spend their time and money and the weekends to come and support us. So that part is important to me. That matters to me.”
Olivia Smith has scored in both international games, prompting comments from Casey Stoney. Slegers said that “Olivia is a player that has a high ceiling; she is amazing, she is the best at what she can do and I haven’t seen it before. I believe in her, and I know the impact she can make. She has been dealing with some issues that have impacted her minutes.” Slegers said that Smith is now pain-free and looked “so good” during her international games and that Smith is back to her best. Slegers is looking forward to this block of games with Smith and the “impact she can make when she is at her very, very best.”
Today’s press conference marks two years since Slegers was appointed interim head coach. Slegers said that if she could give advice to herself two years ago, it would be “that things change. Things are constantly changing. So how do you grow with the change? How do you anticipate the change? How do you make change? So that’s probably a big one for me that I’ve learned, and I’ve taken so much from it, and it’s made me better as a person as well.”
Pressure has been mounting on Slegers this season, and when asked if she was still committed to Arsenal, Slegers said, “100%. I love Arsenal. I love this team. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. And even though it’s been difficult, I see light at the end of the tunnel, and I look forward. I feel that we are strong together, and I look forward to Saturday.” Elaborating on the light at the end of the tunnel, Slegers said that “I acknowledge the results, and we’re not happy with the results. But then there are a lot of positives as well in the way we play, and the commitment and the determination in the background have been inspiring. You can see it. You can feel it. There’s a sense of urgency, and we look forward from here.”
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