Arsenal focus shifts firmly to Brighton test | OneFootball

Renee Slegers has set Arsenal’s focus on Brighton after Chelsea, with the FA Cup quarter-final the next major test.

Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images

Renée Slegers used her pre-Brighton press conference to make one point above all others, Arsenal may have come through a draining and emotionally charged tie against Chelsea, but they have no intention of treating that as an end point.

Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Brighton & Hove Albion offers the chance to reach a second semi-final in the space of a week, and Slegers was clear that Arsenal see it as a major occasion in its own right.

The Chelsea tie took plenty out of them, mentally and physically, but she framed that as part of a broader stretch in which the players have repeatedly found a way to deliver. “It took a lot of energy and investment of course, but I think the players have been delivering this throughout the whole block, so not only on that night, but everything they do,” she said.

“So, of course it took a lot, mental, physical energy, but we’re happy with the result of course, going through to the semi-finals, and now we know we have one more game to play against Brighton this block, which is going to be a huge game for us. It’s 10 years for us (since we won the FA Cup) for Arsenal, so we’re well aware and it’s going to be a very important game for us.”

That same seriousness came through when she was asked how important this quarter-final feels in the context of everything else Arsenal have going on.

Rather than allowing the focus to drift towards Lyon or the wider schedule, Slegers described Brighton as the challenge that now matters most. “Yeah, very important, just mentioned it, we know we’ve done some big things so far this block, which we’re very proud of,” she said.

Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images

“I think I said it post-match after the Chelsea game that this was probably the biggest challenge so far in the season from a scenario perspective, but we did it, now we go and prepare for Brighton off the back of all this, that is, for us, the big challenge of the block, that we have to finish the job and keep on going and never stop. So doing everything to recover mentally and physically from the Chelsea game and being ready for Sunday.”

There was, however, some unwelcome news on availability. Leah Williamson and Steph Catley will both miss the game. “No, both Leah and Steph won’t be available. We were hopeful for Leah, but it’s too soon.

“Steph of course left the pitch with a calf injury, so she won’t be available tomorrow.”

On the Katie McCabe incident from midweek, Slegers did not try to brush it aside, but nor did she want it to define a tie she felt showcased the quality and intensity of women’s football at a high level.

“Yeah, I’ve seen it, I’ve spoken to Katie today as well, she’s very apologetic about the situation and it’s unfortunate that it’s happened,” Slegers said.

Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images

“I think it took quite some attention from the game, because if you look at the game and the quality of football and all the big and small battles on the pitch across these two games, it was, in my opinion, a great product of women’s football.

“So I think we’re really proud of that and it was a great battle against Chelsea and it’s unlucky that this incident in the game has taken so much attention, but I understand.”

Her comments on the goalkeeping decision against Chelsea were also revealing. Daphne van Domselaar was selected ahead of Anneke Borbe, and Slegers presented that as the sort of difficult but healthy decision Arsenal now have the luxury of making.

“I think we pride ourselves on making really good decisions as a staff, again, because we are in this position now where we have so many players performing at such a high level,” she explained. “Going into the season, being in this position where the girls are so close because everyone is performing so well, that’s the dream scenario, so we’re in a really good position.

“But yeah, of course, a lot of back and forth on decisions that we make. Also on the goalkeeper decision. They’re both great goalkeepers and Daph did amazing that night.”

Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images

What emerged more broadly from the press conference was a coach trying to balance realism with ambition. Slegers has no illusions about how difficult these games are becoming, and did not pretend Arsenal can control every minute of every contest. Her point instead was that control can look different in top-level knockout football, and that Arsenal are learning to handle shifts in momentum rather than being derailed by them. “Yes, I think, of course you want to go into a game and you want to play 90 minutes and you’re going to be in control and everything goes as planned and you’ve played the perfect game,” she said. “But I don’t think that will ever happen.

“The further you get into a tournament, the harder it will get. So I think we were prepared, we were accepting of the fact that momentum would shift and we’re playing against a really good team that are going after goals, and of course, we’ve had a look at and reflected on how could we get more pressure on the ball for example, what do we do at the end of the game when they’re going for it and pumping the ball in and getting numbers forward, what could make our decisions in dictating those moments even better?

“But yeah, we spoke about it before the game, the Arsenal ways, and if we can defend really well, if we can do everything to prevent the ball from going in, that’s such a big, big thing that we’ve developed as a team, I think, and we did that against Chelsea. So in a sense, in those moments, if we can still feel control, then that’s a big strength of ours, I think.”

She also spoke warmly about Brighton, describing them as a brave, front-footed side who want the ball and are prepared to rotate and press aggressively. With Rosa Kafaji and Michelle Agyemang both having spent time there on loan, Arsenal know the type of environment they are walking into. “They possess the ball really well, I think they try to do that, they’re brave in their game, they work with rotations, so I think they look to dominate games with the ball, which is important, I think, for our players as well.

“It’s important in our game, they have a high-pressing system where they also want to be front-footed and brave, similar to us. So I think it’s been great, if you look at Rosa, how she’s been performing and how she’s been developing, it’s been a great environment for her.”

She added: “They always do something different, so we know how they play. Like I just said, they want to possess the ball, they want to rotate, want to create overloads, they want to press high. But we’ve also seen that they have specific game plans for specific games, so we’re also expecting something that we might not know about. But, yeah, they like to spend time on the ball and they’re very front-footed, very quick in their counter-press as well.”