Renee Slegers expressed her satisfaction with Arsenal Women's performance following their resounding 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace, marking her first match as the team's permanent manager. The win was significant not only because of the dominant scoreline but also because it saw Arsenal climb to second place in the Women's Super League standings, despite Manchester United's victory over Manchester City. The match also demonstrated Arsenal's improved form after a challenging period.
Arsenal started strongly, with captain Leah Williamson opening the scoring early. In the second half, goals from Alessia Russo, Beth Mead, and Mariona Caldentey sealed the win, demonstrating the team's attacking prowess. The Gunners had 24 shots, achieving an expected goals (xG) total of 3.28, while limiting Crystal Palace to only one shot on target. Slegers was especially pleased with how the team controlled the game, showing significant improvements compared to their last outing against Bayern Munich in the Women's Champions League. "I'm super happy with the result," Slegers commented after the match. "If we could’ve signed for this beforehand, I would."
One of the key areas of progress for Arsenal was their performance on set-pieces. Slegers highlighted that the team had worked on their set-piece delivery, and it was evident in the way they controlled the game, especially in the second half. She said, "We looked more like ourselves, found better connections, positioning and speed in our attacks with better decision-making." The team was able to score four of their five goals after halftime, which underscored the improvement in their attacking play and ability to break down Palace's defense.
The manager also praised the impact of substitutes, particularly Caitlin Foord, who came on and contributed significantly to the play down the left side. Slegers noted that these changes had a positive effect on the overall performance of the team. "The girls made a great impact coming on," she added, acknowledging the depth and quality of her squad.
Despite having not played for a month before this match, Arsenal’s ability to secure a clean sheet and score five different goals was a testament to their professionalism and skill. Slegers reflected on the challenges they had faced, including the struggles in their previous match against Bayern Munich, but expressed satisfaction with the improvement. In that match, the team eventually found success through a set-piece goal, a key aspect they would continue to build on going forward.
Looking ahead, Slegers is aware of the tough schedule Arsenal faces, with three matches in seven days to close out January. Their next challenge is a Women's League Cup semi-final against Brighton, which will test their endurance and ability to maintain the momentum built from this victory. However, the team’s performance against Crystal Palace has certainly provided a positive foundation for the upcoming fixtures, and Slegers will be hoping her side can continue to improve as they push towards the second half of the season.
