How Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers is feeling ahead of Chelsea clash | OneFootball

Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers says she is looking forward to facing Chelsea on Saturday – and there is no fear in her squad.

Chelsea have not lost yet this season, and have a fine head-to-head record against the Gunners in recent seasons.

The Blues have won 13 of their 28 Women’s Super League matches against Arsenal.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have won 10 of the head-to-head.

In her notes from the matchday programme, Slegers says: “I’m really looking forward to this one. We always stick to our approach of looking at one game at a time but, at the same time, there’s no way to deny the weight of this fixture. We all understand what facing Chelsea means, not only for our fate this season but historically. It’s for the squad, the badge and you, the fanbase.

“I remember how we felt the last time we played against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and we never want to feel that way again.

“The team doesn’t need extra motivation, especially when it comes to playing a rival, but it’s important to remind ourselves. What makes our squad so resilient is the internal drive that they can tap into when they need to most.

“We look at Chelsea’s unbeaten record in the league and respect it, but we do not fear it. As a team, we’ve spoken about how good we are when we’re at our best and we have the proof to back it up. But there is time, energy and focus that we need to invest this week in order to be at our very best this afternoon.

“The margin for error in this league is minuscule. Our football needs to be rock solid in all areas for the full 90 minutes. Our team needs to stand up for each other.”

Renee Slegers: We have to be ruthless

She adds: “If there are solutions we need to find, let’s uncover them together. We need to play with communication and connection, and when the momentum swings in our favour we have to capitalise. There might not be a second chance against a team like Chelsea. We have to be ruthless.

“This is just the beginning of a very important month for us. Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Spurs. That’s quite a run of fixtures in the space of a week and a half. UEFA Champions League quarter-final rematches, London derbies and an opportunity to reach our standards.

“We want to find the right balance between using that run to motivate us – because there’s so much we can achieve here – and making sure we stay in the moment. It doesn’t need any extra pressure.”