Renee Slegers sticks up for Arsenal after fixture clash ‘dilemma’ forces women’s match move from Emirates
RENEE SLEGERS has defended Arsenal after the club was forced to shift a Women’s Champions League match from the Emirates.
Some Gunners fans were left angered by the December duel with Bayern Munich being moved from the stadium due to a fixture clash.
Yesterday the EFL confirmed a Carabao Cup quarter-final game involving Arsenal’s men’s team would be rescheduled for December 18.
However the timing of the midweek game coincides with the club’s WSL stars hosting Bayern in the Champions League.
Gunners officials have opted to change the venue for the women’s match with the team forced to make way for their men’s side hosting Crystal Palace.
This is despite the club committing to hosting all their women’s side’s home games in Europe at the Emirates.
The Arsenal Supporters Club expressed their disappointment in what they described as a “change in priorities” for the fixture with the date and venue for having been known for weeks.
However, Slegers feels Gunners officials are dealing with “a hard dilemma”.
The WSL team other home ground Meadow Park is being considered as a possible alternative venue for match.
Interim Arsenal boss Slegers whose team hosts Brighton tomorrow night, said: “It has been a very hard dilemma for the club with two great teams competing in competitions.
“What Arsenal have been doing really well is pushing the growth of women’s football for a very long time.
“This is a bump in the road but what Arsenal has been doing is very strong.”
The Gunners’ battle with Bayern being shunted from the Emirates comes three weeks after the departure of former Arsenal Women’s gaffer Jonas Eidevall.
The Sweden-born head coach resigned from his role on October 15 after the team won just one of their opening four WSL games this term.
Since Slegers took charge the Gunners have gone unbeaten in three games across all competitions with two wins and a draw.
And she insists hers and the team’s focus is on their football.
She added: “With what we are doing, you could say we live in a little box with the team and the staff.
“For us, obviously Jonas leaving was a change.
“But all the other things of what we are doing are not impacted by those external things.
“What we need to do is work on our football and group dynamics.
“That’s what we do day-in, day-out and that’s where focus is.”
Tomorrow night’s WSL duel between the Gunners and Brighton will be the first between the sides this term.
The Seagulls have had an impressive start under head coach Dario Vidosic and are four points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal.
The team, who have Gunners striker Michelle Agyemang on loan for one season, have lost just one of their first six opening games this term.
Brighton, who are third, currently occupy one of the WSL’s top three spots for qualification to compete in the Champions League.
Of if their duel could be a big one in terms of the battle to reach next term’s tournament, Slegers adds: “It’s still early in the season, but I think all games are important.
“This is going to be an important game for us.”