Every Word Of Renée’s Pre-London City Presser As Arsenal F.c. Games Resume
After a three-week international break, Arsenal F. c. Games return to WSL action for the first time since 8th February as the team travels to Bromley to face London City Lionesses on Sunday lunchtime. The match follows a postponed fixture against Brighton and comes with a condensed run of domestic matches ahead.
Arsenal F. c. Games Resume Against A Rebuilt London City Side
The extended break means most players will have a one-week run-up to this game, with another six days before Arsenal host West Ham at the Emirates. With the 15th February fixture away at Brighton postponed and another match against Leicester also postponed, Arsenal sit behind rivals in games played but remain positioned so a full run of wins would secure at least a second-place finish.
Sunday’s opponents have used recruitment and a change in management to stabilise their position in the WSL. The Lionesses feature an experienced core, including internationally recognised talent and recent signings who have raised the team’s profile. Arsenal’s previous meeting with them at the Emirates looked different to the side expected on Sunday, as the visitors have adjusted tactically to a more positional and zonal defensive approach while still exploiting fast attacks and dribbling strengths.
Squad, Absences And Returns
Arsenal will be without Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord, who are representing Australia at the Asian Cup. Beth Mead returns to the squad after a shin injury, while Manu Zinsberger, Katie Reid and Michelle Agyemang remain out for the season with ACL injuries. Olivia Smith is back after missing the SheBelieves Cup with Canada due to concussion.
Available squad:
- Goalkeepers: 13. Votikova 14. van Domselaar 28. Borbe 40. Williams
- Defenders: 2. Fox 3. Wubben-Moy 5. L. Codina 6. Williamson 11. McCabe 24. Hinds 31. Holmberg
- Midfielders: 8. Mariona 10. Little(c) 12. L. Maanum 21. Pelova
- Forwards: 9. Mead 15. Smith 18. Kelly 23. Russo 25. Blackstenius
What Renée Slegers And The Boss Said Ahead Of The Trip
Renée Slegers has highlighted a reunion with a familiar opponent, noting, “I have known her for a very long time, ” ahead of the match and looking forward to facing Danielle van de Donk on Sunday. That reunion is one subplot in a fixture that also tests Arsenal’s squad depth while key players are away at the Asian Cup and with Champions League commitments looming for other clubs later in the month.
In broader remarks about the opposition, the boss noted the Lionesses have been very stable in the table since promotion, praising their recruitment of experienced players and tactical shift under new management. The commentary emphasised the visitors’ quality in fast attacks and one-on-one situations, while cautioning that the tactical approach now appears more positional and zonal than earlier in the season.
With fixtures having been postponed earlier in the month, this match offers Arsenal a chance to make up ground in games played and maintain momentum ahead of a busy spell. The club and its supporters will be watching closely to see how the returning and available players step into roles altered by recent absences and tactical adjustments.
