Arsenal Women Prepare to Take on Lyon in Champions League Semi-Final
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The Women’s Champions League semi-finals are set to resume, with Arsenal Women facing off against French giants Lyon in a thrilling encounter. The Gunners, under the leadership of interim manager Renee Slegers, have shown significant improvement in recent months and will be looking to cause an upset against their opponents.
A sense of calm has descended upon the team since Slegers took charge in October, and her approach has clearly had an impact on the players. As Sky Sports reported, Slegers prides herself on being “virtually unflappable” and wants to be a calm presence for her team. This approach has allowed Arsenal’s flair players to rediscover their instinct and play with a natural flow.
The team’s quarter-final win against Real Madrid was a testament to their newfound confidence, with Slegers’ leadership proving to be a key factor. As she told Sky Sports, “If we don’t stay calm, we’re not going to find the solutions. We stay very calm and focus on the task in the present. Emotions aren’t going to help us.”
Slegers’ approach differs significantly from that of her predecessor, Jonas Eidevall. While Eidevall often overthought decisions in tough circumstances, Slegers has taken a more balanced approach, emphasising purposeful play while appreciating variety. This has allowed individual players to stamp their personality on games, take risks, and make mistakes.
As a result, Arsenal have become a fearless team, with Slegers’ win ratio of 86.6 per cent being the highest of any Arsenal head coach to have taken charge of 10-plus WSL games. This confidence will be put to the test against Lyon, who have won each of their last eight games in all competitions by an aggregate score of 31-2 at their Emirates home.
Lyon boss Joe Montemurro, who managed Arsenal between 2017 and 2021, will be aware of the threats posed by his former side. He’ll know that players like Caitlin Foord, Chloe Kelly, Mariona Caldentey, and Frida Maanum are capable of causing problems for his team. Additionally, Alessia Russo has been scoring for fun, operating closer to goal, taking more shots per 90, and averaging more goals under Slegers.
Devise a plan to stop all these threats is less straightforward, as Arsenal have shown real maturity under Slegers, able to switch between positional dominance and a high-pressing style to a more measured, systematic manner when under pressure. The team’s tactical nuance has increased significantly, making it harder for opponents to predict what they will do.
Kelly was the provider of the first two goals in their three-goal flurry against Real Madrid, while Katie McCabe forced the third from a set-piece. Moments were knitted together with perfect precision, showcasing the team’s trust and understanding.
Slegers wants to empower her players, making them believe in their strengths and what they can do. As she told Sky Sports, “I want to empower the players, make them believe in their strengths and what they can do. We talk about details, the role I want them to play, but the biggest input is themselves. I want us to play with belief and be brave. The key for us is to be good with the ball on Saturday.”
A run at a European final is feasible for Arsenal, and they could not have hoped for finer form entering the biggest tie of Slegers’ reign, and career, to date. It’s time to prove that avant-garde Arsenal are here to stay.
The Gunners will need to be at their best to overcome Lyon, but their recent form and Slegers’ leadership make them a team to watch in the Women’s Champions League. With their talent unlocked and possibilities widened, Arsenal are ready to take on the challenge and make a deep run in the competition.
As the team prepares to face Lyon, they will be looking to make a statement and prove that they are a force to be reckoned with in European football. The semi-final encounter promises to be an exciting one, and Sky Sports will be providing comprehensive coverage of the match.
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