Arseblog News

Arsenal were 3-0 winners away at Spurs in the North London derby on Saturday lunchtime thanks to goals from Alessia Russo, Frida Maanum and Stina Blackstenius. Renee Slegers spoke to the press post-match, the first two questions are from Arseblog News.

On Catley at centre-half allowing McCabe to become another attacker…

Good spot! I don’t want to talk too much about what we want to try to create but we want to try to create numbers in different areas of the pitch. Steph did really well today recognising that but all our centre-backs would be good at that, we would ask the same thing of another centre-back but Steph is doing that really well at the moment.

On whether Tottenham playing a back five was a surprise today…

We saw their line-up against City where Bartip was in midfield and we saw their line-up this afternoon and we expected them to stay in the four and do the same thing as they did against City but they decided to play in a five. We have played against a lot of fives this year, so our players are very adaptable, so we adapted quickly. It says something about how hard it is to stop things we are doing so that is very positive.

On whether the players are thinking less and playing more one touch football…

You will have to ask the players but I think so. The quickest football is played instinctively but there still needs to be a foundation the hardest part in coaching is finding the balance between foundations and structure and letting the players freedom and creativity go. At the moment it seems to be right for the players but you’ll have to ask the players.

On the players taking more ownership…

We try to facilitate as much as we can to set them up in a good way, for example how much we ask them to be involved in meetings. Instead of us presenting we ask them to activate their brains and see wha they think, they often have really good ideas as well. That is one example.

On the players and the fans being happy and what it means to her…

Very positive, it means a lot for the players, the staff, the club and the fans. It’s the chicken or egg question, where does the smiles comes from? Behaviours are contagious as well, when one person starts smiling others smile too. Where it started is hard to grasp, there are so many factors to it but I am happy it seems to be happening.

On whether the players wanted to put last year’s defeat here right…

It was for them I think, I know the players have been talking about it. We just try to stay in the moment and keep our positive momentum but, yes, definitely, for a couple of players it meant a bit of extra fire.

On whether she wants the job permanently…

The block has gone really well so far and we have one more game ahead of us and we’re going to do everything to get a good result and performance in that last game. After that, we start breathing but at the moment we stay in this focus because we have a lot of hard work to do.

On the importance of an early goal…

Big events always give the game a direction. It is not necessarily it has to go in that direction, everything can change still but Alessia scoring that early goal and Daphne making that save early in the game, it helps us big time. I am very happy with the start of the game.

On two goals conceded in the last six games…

In the structure we are not doing much different but we focus on areas we want to focus on and how we act in both boxes, that is where games are won and lost and the players have taken it on brilliantly, that has been one of our focus areas. I am very happy with that.

On how the mindset of the players has changed…

One of the words we use a lot in this block is ‘ruthlesslness’, we want to be ruthless in both boxes. It is easy to say it but turning it into action is much harder. The players are trying to turn it into action, we try to facilitate for them and put emphasis on a couple of things but they are actually doing it and I am very happy they are getting success out of what they are doing at the moment. We need to maintain that and develop it further because new challenges are coming.

On how subs are impacting games recently…

We have such a great squad it is hard to make decisions, how to start and how to finish the games but the luxury we have is that we have scenario planning for that. Players are starting the game really but also players are finishing the games really well. Our last couple of games we have been really decisive in the last 15-20 minutes and that is when our game changers are on the pitch, I am very happy with how the group is working at the moment.

On Kim Little coming off at half-time…

It was not pre-planned but we always go through scenarios. We were 2-0 up at half-time, we have played a lot of games, we have one more game ahead of us and we have midfielders who deserve to play so that was an in-game decision to change the six at half-time. Kyra is a really good footballer, she is a great player, I am happy she got to contribute and I am happy with the other players coming on as well. I want to highlight all the players in the squad, it is not only about the players starting.

On having greater centrality in the goals today…

We want to find variety in how we attack and recognising better when we are wide, how many do they invest? Where are the spaces? Where are the new spaces for us? We try to play around with that and the players recognise that really well today.

On being ahead at half-time a lot recently…

I don’t know what the players say in the huddle but we talked the last couple of games at half-time about how this is good for us we are leading, but we can expect the opposition to come out and do something different because they are not happy with how the game is going. So we try to prepare them for the scenarios and I think the start of the second half we struggled a bit, that was probably our weakest phase of the game so that is something we will look at. Otherwise that is something we are doing really well.

On the pass from Mariona for Blackstenius’ goal…

She is fantastic constantly, the way she trains the way she plays, she is a super intelligent footballer. She has technical ability and on top of that she works really hard, she is a great player to have in the squad. The pass was fantastic, I agree with you.

Unused: 1.Zinsberger, 5.L.Codina, 17.Hurtig, 26.Wienroither.

Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Wälti; Foord, Maanum, Mariona; Russo

Substitutes: Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Mead, Kafaji, Hurtig, Blackstenius, Wienroither, Cooney-Cross

Arsenal have won back to back games in the WSL for the first time this season, beating Tottenham 3-0 at the Toilet Bowl (because Tottenham get battered everywhere they go, even when they’re home).

Renée Slegers made one change to the team that beat Juventus midweek, with Mariona returning to the starting lineup. Beth Mead dropped to the bench.

First Half

Arsenal got off to the perfect start, with Alessia Russo giving the Gunners the lead after 65 seconds. Russo knocked back a long ball to Maanum, who passed back to Mariona. Mariona’s pass deflected kindly into Russo’s path, and her first time left footed shot flew into the net. 0-1.

Arsenal were monopolising the ball, and could’ve added a second before fifteen minutes. Russo took McCabe’s throw on the byline, turned away from Buhler, and cutback into the middle for Foord, whose shot was blocked by Nilden.

Arsenal’s dominance would pay off on 22 minutes. After a period of passive possession, Williamson sharply passed Maanum, who flicked the ball back to Little. She continued her run, and Little slipped the pass to her, and from the top of penalty area, Maanum passed her shot beyond Spencer into the bottom corner. 0-2.

McCabe won the ball back after Mariona got nutmegged, getting first to the pass and continuing on to win a corner. From the corner, Maanum’s delivery was headed across goal by Russo and Foord’s shot was blocked by her compatriot Clare Hunt.

Arsenal almost got into a spot of bother when Raso pressed Van Domselaar, but the keeper was able to get rid of the ball in time, and Wälti cleaned up after Tottenham won possession.

Tottenham, though, would have a chance. Little lost the ball, and Spence played into England as Tottenham countered. England shot from the edge of the box, and Van Domselaar made an impressive one-handed save.

Tottenham won a free kick on the stroke of half time, and the delivery looked for Beth England, but Leah Williamson headed behind for a corner. From the corner, Nilden shot well over the bar.

Second Half

Renée Slegers made a substitution at half time, with Kyra Cooney-Cross replacing Kim Little.

With the next goal crucial, the half started off quite bitty. Tottenham upped their own intensity level, and resorted to stopping Arsenal by fouls. Clare Hunt was booked in the 51st minute after pulling back Caitlin Foord. From the free kick, the ball was rolled to McCabe, who shot straight at Spencer.

Arsenal had a long spell of possession on the hour mark, working the ball back to front before Mariona set Russo away down the left of the penalty box. Russo crossed, and Foord, under pressure from Nilden, shot wide.

Arsenal made a double substitution on 64 minutes as Beth Mead and Stina Blackstenius replaced Caitlin Foord and Alessia Russo.

Blackstenius’ first touch was a shot. McCabe won the ball back from Spence on the byline, and cutback for Blackstenius, whose shot went over the bar.

A minute later, Blackstenius’ second touch would seal the points. Fox played into Maanum. With acres of space, Maanum was able to play to Mariona, whose clever and soft pass sent Blackstenius through on goal, and she made no mistake. 0-3.

On 79 minutes, Rosa Kafaji replaced Mariona.

On 85 minutes, Lotte Wubben-Moy replaced Katie McCabe, with Steph Catley going to left back.

Nonsensical PGMOL refereeing meant Steph Catley was booked for taking too long on a throw-in in the 90th minute.

In the final minute, Maanum drove inside, as Arsenal looked for a fourth goal, but her shot went well over the bar.

Mariona returns to the starting line-up for Arsenal in their WSL match away at Spurs this lunchtime in the only change to the line-up from Tuesday’s 4-0 win over Juventus. Beth Mead drops to the bench.

So Daphne van Domselaar starts in goal with Emily Fox, Leah Williamson, Steph Catley and Katie McCabe at the back and the Little Walti double pivot ahead of them. Caitlin Foord and Mariona will play on the flanks with Frida Maanum behind Alessia Russo upfront. Leah Williamson and Kim Little make their 150th WSL appearances. There is no room in the squad for Kathrine Kuhl.

Subs: 1.Zinsberger, 3.Wubben-Moy, 5.L.Codina, 9.Mead, 16.Kafaji, 17.Hurtig, 25.Blackstenius, 26.Wienroither, 32.Cooney-Cross.

THE LOWDOWN

Arsenal travel to Spurs for the North London derby on Saturday lunchtime looking to build on their recent good form with four wins from their last five under interim manager Renee Slegers. The Gunners have rediscovered their scoring touch with nine goals in their last two games, including an outstanding 4-0 away win at Juventus on Tuesday evening.

This fixture marked the nadir of Arsenal’s campaign last season where they entered it off the back of a fulminating 4-1 win over Chelsea, while Spurs entered it in meagre form. It was a week that summarised the Gunners’ WSL season as they fell to a profligate 1-0 defeat where the XG score was 2.5 to 0.4 in their favour.

Being an interim coach is a niche role. Renee Slegers needed to stabilise the squad and reconnect players with their confidence. She has clearly leant on her skills from her previous role as a one-to-one player coach to do that. She has been logical about the very requirements of an Interim👇🔴⚪️

— Tim Stillman (@tim-stillman.bsky.social) 14 November 2024 at 15:21

So Arsenal will not take their current form for granted going into this one. They lost last season at West Ham and Slegers steered the team to victory in that fixture this season. Now they will look to banish this particular ghost of 2023-24. The game again takes place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on a weekend where all WSL and Championship fixtures will take place in club’s main stadiums, the first time this has ever happened in women’s football in England.

Slegers side will negotiate the game ahead of a crunch Champions League tie at home to Juventus on Thursday night but full focus will be afforded to tackling Robert Vilahamn’s team on Saturday. It remains to be seen whether we see more of a measure of rotation for this game, Slegers has preferred a pretty steady approach to team selection so far but while wholesale changes will not happen, it remains to be seen whether she chooses to shuffle the pack a little in respect of back-to-back Champions League ties against Juventus.

TEAM NEWS

There is no new team news from the trip to Italy on Tuesday night, with Laura Wienroither back in the squad after a small meniscus injury. Victoria Pelova (knee) and Amanda Ilestedt (maternity leave) are the only absentees.

Available squad

Goalkeepers: 1.Zinsberger 14.van Domselaar 40.Williams

Defenders: 2.Fox 3.Wubben-Moy 5.L.Codina 6.Williamson 7.Catley 11.McCabe 26.Wienroither 62.Reid

Midfielders: 10.Little(c) 12.L.Maanum 13.Walti 16.Kafaji 22.Kuhl 32.Cooney-Cross

Forwards: 9.Mead 17.Hurtig, 19.Foord 23.Russo 25.Blackstenius 53.Lia 56.Godfrey

A WORD FROM THE BOSS

‘It was the last game before the Christmas break last year so one big thing for us is that we are in the moment and we don’t think about what happens after the game and just be in the moment. What Tottenham did really well last year was closing down spaces and they worked really hard for 90 plus minutes. That was a big learning on how we break things down but we don’t know exactly what Tottenham are going to do tomorrow.

‘Where are they are at as a team, how will they attack? What will they give us? We will have to be on our toes tomorrow. The way Spurs have been playing they are versatile in their midfield, they will ask us some questions so we will need to solve those questions. They might rotate in positions and we need players who can read that and communicate that really, really well.

‘Tottenham are a strong team, they have been playing top four opposition a lot already and they are tough games and I think they might be stronger than the results they have had so far so we respect them as an opponent. They have some individual qualities, they have great mentality and do things together, they are going to be hard but if we keep bringing what we are bringing, we are a top team.

‘I have coached against Robert Vilahamn before in Sweden and he’s a really good coach, he reads the game very well. He might make in-game changes we might make in-game changes so it is going to be an interesting game. But it is going to be about what the players bring on the pitch and we have very intelligent football players and they are going to manage themselves too.’

LAST TIME OUT

When the teams met at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season, Spurs shocked the visitors, winning 1-0 thanks to a second half Martha Thomas goal. It was Tottenham’s first ever win over Arsenal. In the reverse fixture in March, an Alessia Russo goal gave the Gunners a 1-0 victory at Emirates Stadium.

THE OPPOSITION

Spurs enjoyed a solid season, the first under Swedish coach Robert Vilahamn, in 2023-24, finishing sixth in the table with a more progressive brand of football than they had played previously. They also reached their first major domestic cup final but were easily beaten by Manchester United at Wembley in May.

They are currently 7th in the table but do not look nearly as defensively solid this season, their XG conceded is the second highest in the WSL with only Crystal Palace conceding more presentable chances. They have conceded 12 goals to Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea already this season and are holding on until January when they can acquire their preferred goalkeeper target Jennifer Falke from Hacken.

Tottenham have also been hit creatively by Grace Clinton’s return to Manchester United after an outstanding loan spell in North London last season, while Celine Bizet also transferred to United late in the summer. It has meant Spurs have lost some ball carrying qualities even if they did sign Hayley Raso from Real Madrid to help amend for that. For a more in-depth look at Spurs’ issues this season, we recommend this piece from the Spurs Women Blog on The Cutback Substack.

PLAYER TO WATCH

While it is true that Arsenal fans have widely discussed the succession plan in central midfield away from Lia Walti and Kim Little, on Tuesday evening in Biella the pair illustrated why they are still so trusted by Renee Slegers. Little and Walti was the midfield double pivot when Arsenal beat Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in November 2019.

In Italy, Little and Walti made three tackles a piece, the joint highest in the team, Little made two interceptions while Walti made one, Little completed 94.4% of her passes, the highest of all the starters (Walti was at 90.7%). Kim also made five progressive passes (second most in the team) and seven ball recoveries, by far the most on the night.

Tottenham have lost some ball carrying ability in the middle of the park and have relied a little more on passing vertically this season and how Arsenal cut those passing lanes off will be key to neutering Tottenham’s threat. It also remains to be seen whether Little and Walti will start or whether Cooney-Cross rotates into the team.

Victoria Pelova feels like the more natural long-term heir to Kim Little but she is injured. While Little continues to start most games, she is certainly being substituted more often this season. Last season her 17 WSL appearances averaged out at 75 minutes per game (three of them were sub appearances after coming back from injury). This season that is down to 65 minutes per WSL appearance. The succession is happening in increments, how we see that model take shape in this game, with another UWCL game on Thursday, will be interesting to see.

PREDICTED LINE-UPS

Subs: 1.Zinsberger 3.Wubben-Moy 5.L.Codina 16.Kafaji 17.Hurtig 19.Foord 22.Kuhl 25.Blackstenius 26.Wienroither

HOW TO CATCH THE GAME

The match takes place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at 1.45pm on Saturday afternoon and will be screened live on BBC One in the UK.

North London is red. It’s happened again. A sellout crowd. It’s happened again. Emirates Stadium saw Arsenal keep pace in the title race thanks to Alessia Russo’s second half goal. Join Tim Stillman in the press box for all the derby day drama.

Zinsberger; McCabe, Codina, Wubben-Moy, Catley; Pelova, Wälti; Mead, Little, Foord; Russo Substitutes: Williams (GK), Bouhaddi (GK), Williamson, Reid, Cooney-Cross, Earl, Maanum, Lia, Blackstenius – Arsenal have won 7 straight home WSL matches, keeping their faint hopes of a WSL title alive with a 1-0 win against Tottenham in front of 60,050 at the Emirates Stadium. […]

THE LOWDOWN Arsenal play Tottenham in front of what is likely to be a sold out Emirates Stadium on Sunday lunchtime with a little revenge in order. Spurs produced a shock victory over the Gunners in the game before the Christmas break, a defeat that damaged Arsenal’s title hopes. Victory over Manchester United last time […]