Slegers urges Arsenal to ‘neutralise’ ahead of Brighton test

Arsenal boss Renee Slegers has urged her team to ‘neutralise’ ahead of Monday’s trip to Brighton in the WSL. A win keeps Arsenal in the driving seat for 2nd place ahead of a final day clash at home to 3rd placed Manchester United. The Gunners qualified for the Champions League Final with an outstanding 4-1 win in Lyon last weekend.

The physical and emotional toll of that victory was laid bare on Wednesday night when a heavily rotated team lost 5-2 away at Aston Villa. Leah Williamson said after the Villa game that the emotional and physical energy of beating Lyon drew energy from the team at Villa Park. Slegers has urged her team to ‘neutralise’ at Brighton and secure 2nd place in the WSL.

Speaking to Arseblog News at Villa Park on Wednesday, Slegers said, ‘We have done that before, coming back from the Liverpool loss in the cup and the Man City loss in the cup as well. That is what we are going to have to do now. But what is important for us now as well is to neutralise because emotions take their toll and they take energy. They will be there and we have to accept it and not neglect it but let them be there and try to neutralise and get back into our rhythm for Brighton.’

Arsenal will not have to face Michelle Agyemang on Monday, who is on loan at Brighton from Arsenal. Agyemang scored on her England debut in March and has scored in Brighton’s last two games. Arseblog News asked Slegers whether she has been in contact with Agyemang during her loan spell.

‘We’ve texted a little bit and I congratulated her with her England debut but I am not in a lot of contact personally with Mich. It’s other staff in the club working with the loan players but I am really happy to see how she is doing and how she is making progress.

‘She is really contributing to Brighton and developing, that is really good to see. We know she is an Arsenal player with an Arsenal contract and we are really happy with that because we believe in Mich and want to find the right way forward with her.’

Arsenal play away at Brighton at 4pm on Monday and the game will be live on Sky Sports in the UK.

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