Before every home game, Renée Slegers gives her thoughts around the team and our upcoming game in her manager’s notes published in the matchday programme.
Ahead of our return to Emirates Stadium against West Ham United in the WSL, the head coach looks back on last Sunday’s gritty performance and ahead to an exciting run of massive games.
Last weekend against London City Lionesses we secured our eighth win in a row, and we’ve yet to concede a league goal in 2026. These are numbers to be proud of. I love every time we get a clean sheet because we pride ourselves on our defending. We do it together. Of course, it always feels good to find our rhythm as a team, but especially now, as we approach the final two months of the season. This is when trophies are decided.
Coming back after an international break, it’s always a challenge to reconnect quickly. We have to see where everyone in the team is at individually and then get the connections and partnerships back. I was really happy with our performance because, in tricky circumstances, we found a way to win. The weather conditions meant that we had to find alternatives to our usual free-flowing, technical football, and I loved the problem-solving on show.
We have so many players ready to perform. They’re physically ready, they’re mentally ready, they’re tactically prepared and they all reflect and analyse. So much of that is down to how well everyone takes responsibility. When we lose our three Aussies to the Asian Cup and there are a lot of tight turnarounds in a packed schedule, it’s really important that readiness in the squad is at a high level.
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Renée: “Really happy we found a way to win”
Now, we’re looking forward to an exciting run of games before the April break. Following West Ham today, we go into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals against Chelsea. Then we face another rival in the north London derby, and I don’t have to tell you all what that game means. On a personal level, we have something we want to rectify after dropping points away against Spurs. It will be a challenge, especially in the middle of two massive quarter-finals, but we know what we’re capable of. As we do for every single game, we’ll approach this block with respect and humility, without compromising on our belief and drive to win.
Off the pitch, it was fantastic to come together as a club a few weeks ago for A Night To Belong, The Arsenal Foundation’s charity ball. Arsenal has strong foundations in the community and that is something to be incredibly proud of. That’s what Arsenal is. For me, it’s a privilege to be a part of this club, which shares my values and stands for so many wonderful things beyond football. That evening at the stadium was a moment for me and a few of the players to get some real perspective. It’s so easy to get preoccupied with the daily work and everything we need to perform in football, but there are so many other important things in life and so many other good things that the club does. To have the opportunity to celebrate the work of The Arsenal Foundation, including amazing initiatives such as Coaching for Life, was incredibly important.
Looking beyond this afternoon, we’re also wishing all the best to our men’s team as they head to Wembley to compete for silverware tomorrow. The whole club is behind you – COYG!
Read more about the game, as well as a host of other fantastic content, by buying the Arsenal v West Ham programme either around the stadium or online.
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