Slegers: Arsenal preparing for intense Manchester United encounter | OneFootball

Renée Slegers knows precisely what awaits her side at Leigh Sports Village this weekend.

Last season, Arsenal came away from the same ground with a 1-1 draw, and while both clubs have begun this campaign with maximum points, the Arsenal head coach believes the level of intensity has already moved up a gear.

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“We know they’re going to play with a lot of intensity, Manchester United, and that’s what we need to prepare for,” Slegers said.

“But at the same time, I think our first two games in the WSL were very high intensity. I think the league is developing so fast. So, from that sense, it’s been two really good games for us. Now going into United, that game will ask a lot from us and we’re trying to prepare accordingly.”

United arrive after overturning a deficit against Brann in Europe, which came on the back of victory over London City Lionesses. Slegers was careful not to overstate their position. “They of course had to come back from 1-0 down against Brann and then they came back to England, won against London City Lionesses and they turned it around yesterday,” she said.

“So I guess they are positive, there’s positive vibes. But that’s them, that’s their camp, so I don’t know exactly what’s going on there. For us, it’s focusing on ourselves and trying to prepare as well as possible with all the detail and all the things we think we can expect on Sunday, so we control as many things as possible on Sunday.”

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The Arsenal coach believes United still carry many of the same threats they showed last season, even as they work on new elements under Marc Skinner. “I think they’ve been looking good in what I’ve seen. I still think they have a similar identity to last year, but of course every team is trying to work on the details and add to their squad.

“I think that’s probably what they have been doing, but I agree with you that there’s a lot of identity in their game connected to their game out of possession and they have a lot of quality both as a team and as individuals in possession.”

Slegers also stressed the importance of past experience, recalling the draw last season and the lessons it provided. “It will be a new game, but of course we carry the experience of having played there. There are players in our squad who have played there many more times than me. But I’m happy I’ve been there because it’s a setting with a big crowd, they will be loud. But we know that we have our fans travelling as well, I think we have 1,000 fans travelling. We will feed off of them as well and they will bring our energy.”

Arsenal travel north with nine goals in two league matches and the status of European champions, underpinned by a depth of attacking options.

United are without several key players, including Millie Turner and Leah Galton, and arrive off the back of demanding Champions League qualifiers. All of which gives Arsenal cause for confidence, though Slegers remains grounded in her preparation: focus on detail, control the controllables, and measure themselves against a rival who will demand the highest level.