Slegers full of praise for Arsenal star signing Smith | OneFootball

Arsenal Women’s boss Renee Slegers is predicting more great things from new signing Olivia Smith after a stunning goal on her Women’s Super League debut last weekend.

The Canadian became the first £1 million women’s footballer when she moved from Liverpool to north London and she certainly lived up to the price tag last week. With Arsenal 1-0 down to London City Lionesses the striker’s shot from 25 yards out hit the back of the net propelling her side to a 4-1 victory.

Next in Smith’s sights are London rivals West Ham, as Arsenal go into the second weekend of the new WSL season.

During the 21-year-old’s career to date, she has already played in Canada, for the North Toronto Nitros, Portugal, for Sporting CP, and now in England with Liverpool and Arsenal.

“I was already impressed before we signed her,” Slegers added. “She’s been having a rocket career coming from Canada, the US and Portugal and then one season in the WSL making such an impact for Liverpool.

“I am really impressed with her. She adds new things to our game with the type of player that she is. We’re really happy with what she’s bringing to us and she’s also very young still having just turned 21.

“What’s important for us is that we support her really well because she’s still very young. We see so much potential and she’s already contributing a lot and I think you saw that last Saturday.”

Last season Arsenal, despite winning the Champions League, finished 12 points behind Chelsea in the WSL and also lost out on both the FA Cup and the League Cup to the same side. Slegers believes her side are very close to closing the gap on the Blues now.

“We’re just looking at ourselves and what we think we need in our team and I think what we want to do is build so many layers in our game that we can bring to a game.

“We need to be able to do whatever is asked from us and whatever is needed; I think we’re really close to that now.”

The Dutch coach also gave an injury update on Arsenal defender and Lionesses captain Leah Williamson, who has been out since England’s Euros final triumph with a knee injury.

“She’s ok, she’s doing well. Especially when you’re rehabilitating, you have to do what you can every single day and get one step closer to the pitch, and that’s what she’s doing.

“She’s positive, she’s working hard, so she’s doing well.”