Europe’s biggest club clash in women’s football set for record Emirates Crowd | OneFootball

Saturday’s meeting between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates is being billed as the biggest club fixture in European women’s football and with more than 57,000 tickets already sold.

And manager Renee Slegers says her side are ready to rise to the occasion.

“It’s going to be a beautiful moment,” Slegers said ahead of the lunchtime kick-off. “The players work so hard for this, this is what they live for, to play these kinds of games where there’s so much at stake, in a fantastic stadium, for a beautiful club.”

The Gunners head into the clash buoyed by three straight wins, and Slegers confirmed a major fitness boost: “The four players that weren’t in the squad against Leicester — Lotte, Cara, Liv and Frida they’re all available for tomorrow. That’s positive.” Captain Kim Little, however, is expected to miss out.

Slegers emphasised the collective effort driving Arsenal’s recent form. “You see good energy in the squad, in the building, around everything,” she said. “We ask a lot from them, on and off the pitch, and they’re delivering. The recent performance against Leicester was the reward for the work they’ve been putting in.”

Saturday’s showdown is not just about points but prestige. “Maybe this is one of the biggest fixtures in Europe in women’s football,” Slegers admitted. “There will be fine margins on the pitch. We know where our strengths are, and we know Chelsea’s. It’s about execution.”

The manager also hailed the connection between her team and the supporters, who have made Arsenal the standard-bearers for the women’s game in England. “If you add up all the things that can give you energy and positivity, the fans are a part of it,” she said. “You feel it when you step out into the stadium. It’s that synergy that is so special; we’re all going for the same thing.”

Slegers, who took charge after defeat in last season’s corresponding fixture resulted in the departure of Jonas Eidevall, believes her squad’s depth and adaptability will be crucial. “We’re in a luxury position,” she said. “We have an enormous squad with so much quality. We can make good decisions depending on what the game needs.”

As anticipation builds for what could be a record-breaking afternoon, Slegers summed up the mood: “We love playing the big games. The group walks around with belief and energy. Now it’s about being ready from the get-go and delivering when the moment comes.”