‘We need to try to neutralise’ – Slegers calls for Arsenal to steady emotions ahead of trip to Brighton | OneFootball

Arsenal head coach Renée Slegers says that her side need to neutralise their emotions ahead of this afternoon’s Barclays Women’s Super League fixture at Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Gunners travel to Broadfield Stadium in Crawley to contest their final away game of the season.

Arsenal have juggled a rollercoaster of emotions over the last week. The North Londoners celebrated the high of reaching a UEFA Women’s Champions League final last weekend before slumping to a 5-2 loss to Aston Villa in midweek. When speaking to the media ahead of this afternoon’s fixture at Brighton & Hove Albion, Arsenal boss Slegers said that her side must now steady their emotions.

“I think what’s important for us now is to neutralise, because emotions take their toll and they take energy,” Slegers said. “They will be there and we have to accept it and not neglect it, but we need to try to neutralise and get back into our rhythm and prepare for Brighton.”

Brighton & Hove Albion are a good opponent for Arsenal to face as they look to bounce back. The Gunners beat the Sussex club 5-0 in the reverse fixture back in November while they also defeated them 4-0 in the Subway Women’s League Cup quarter-finals a little over three months’ ago. Slegers was pleased with the previous performances against The Seagulls although she doesn’t want to put too much focus upon them.

She said “We played well in those games with different teams; one was at the Emirates in the WSL and the other one was in the Cup. I think we have had a lot of players playing against Brighton across those two games, which is very positive.

“I’m happy with those performances but this is going to be a whole new game.”

Arsenal forward Michelle Agyemang is currently reaping the rewards of a loan spell at Brighton & Hove Albion. She will be ineligible to face her parent club this afternoon but Slegers is pleased with the player’s progression.

She said “I’m really happy to see how she’s doing, that she’s making progress and that she’s contributing to Brighton and developing, so that’s really good to see. We know she’s an Arsenal player, she’s within an Arsenal contract and we’re really happy with that because we believe in Mich and we want to find the right way forward for her.”

Arsenal’s Barclays Women’s Super League fixture at Brighton & Hove Albion kicks-off at 4pm this afternoon.