Renee on Kelly, Nighswonger and City test

Renee Slegers was speaking to the media at Sobha Realty Training Centre on Friday afternoon ahead of the weekend’s trip to Manchester City.

She was asked about the arrivals of Chloe Kelly, Jenna Nighswonger, and Sunday’s game at the Joie Stadium, where 390 Arsenal supporters will be in attendance for a sold out away allocation.

Here’s what our head coach had to say on the following subjects:

on the transfer window:
I play a role in it of course, but there’s a lot of people working in the background. We’re happy with the squad that we have and we’re happy with the two additions in this window.

on how she spent the day:
We had a day off from training, so I was at home on the phone.

on when it seemed Chloe Kelly would sign:
The details, there’s long processes in the background, I’m not part of all those processes but she’s been on our list, and we’re happy she’s here.

on speaking to Chloe before the move:
I did have a conversation with her yesterday, yes.

on if we had to persuade her:
It was a conversation with thoughts, feelings and questions from both ends, and it was very good. I think we both opened up – I tried to open up about what Arsenal is and what she could mean for us, and she opened up about what she can bring to us and what her ambitions are, so it was a very good conversation.

on how Chloe is:
I think those questions, you’re better off asking her because I haven’t spoken to her much yet about the situation, but we are convinced that she will come to us, to Arsenal, to contribute and show her qualities and ambitions, so we’re very excited.

on if she’s raring to go:
I think so.

on Jenna Nighswonger:
Same processes there in the background, she’s a left-footed player, we needed one more left-footed defender so we’re happy she’s with us. She hasn’t played as a left-back for so long, so she’s been in midfield before, so we’re very excited to see that. She’s at a very high level and we’re also very excited to see how we can grow her and where her potential brings her.

on Keira Walsh to Chelsea:
It’s hard for me to comment on that, it’s some other club’s business at the moment and I just want to re-focus on where we’re at and our squad, and what’s coming up.

on if we tried to persuade her coming to the club:
It’s hard for me to comment on because I’ve just stepped in the role, I wasn’t part of the process before and it’s her decision again, and we’re very happy with where we’re at.

on the standard of signings in the WSL:
I think every club is trying to push the women’s game and trying to develop, every club does that in the way they believe is best for them and the women’s game in general. We have our plans, we have our way of doing things, we believe in a certain way, everyone’s talking about the Arsenal way. That’s also about processes in the background, what we believe is right for us and we believe in those processes.

on having new faces around the club:
Absolutely, I think it’s good for the group. We want to stretch the group, we want to go to the next level so from a quality perspective, we needed some new additions to the squad, new qualities. So, that’s very important for us and when new players come in, they have a motivation to show something, so hopefully it pushes the group to go forward.

on Manchester City:
We believe in what we’re doing, we trust the players, we have a great squad, we do things together, we’re competing on four fronts. Obviously, we were gutted with the loss last Sunday but that’s the reality now and we’re going to push forward.

on preparing to face the same opponent in a short space of time:
I think so, we’re preparing for this game now and it’s the only game that counts. Sunday’s the only game, but it’s going to be interesting to view that game and see how we prep for the second game.

on our travelling support for Sunday:
They mean a lot for us, it’s quite special what we have at Arsenal and how we’re together now as a club, as a staff, as players and not least the fans who mean a lot to us.