
Arsenal head coach RenĂ©e Slegers acknowledges the strength of OL Lyonnes ahead of their UEFA Womenâs Champions League semi-final. The match is set for Sunday, with Arsenal preparing for Lyonnes' attacking prowess.
âWe know the extreme power that they possessâ â Arsenal boss Slegers previews OL Lyonnes tie
The Gunners play host to the French side in the first leg of their UEFA Womenâs Champions League semi-final on Sunday.
OL Lyonnes are no strangers to Arsenal and Slegers says that the North Londoners are preparing for their opponentsâ power and attacking speed ahead of the game.
âWe played them twice last year, so exactly one year ago and we played them earlier stages in the Champions League [last October],â Slegers said when speaking in the pre-match press conference. âWe know the extreme power that they possess. Theyâre very explosive, theyâre very front-footed, so theyâll come at you quickly. I think weâre aware of that. Weâve faced that three times now in a year, but we have to do it all over again.
âI think absolutely thereâs been learnings from those three games. If I look at the team back then, the team in October when we played Lyonnes and the team where we are now, I think we have so many tools that weâre possessing at the moment.
âI think itâs just two very different styles going against each other and I have belief in the players finding solutions on the pitch against that. Of course, itâs two very strong teams going against each other with two different styles.â
Arsenal defeated OL Lyonnes 5-3 on aggregate in last seasonâs semi-finals but Slegers says that itâs about the present and not the past.
She said âLast year was last year, this year is this year. The set-up of the competition has changed and a lot of things have changed since then. I think we still have the same identity, I think they have their style of play, we have our style of play.
âYeah, [by] coincidence or by chance, weâre in the exact same position again in the semi-final playing against each other; first at home at the Emirates and the second one away but with that being said, that was last year, everything is different this year.â
Renée Slegers highlighted the power and pace of OL Lyonnes, emphasizing their attacking strength.
The match is scheduled for Sunday, marking the first leg of the semi-final.
Arsenal is preparing to counter OL Lyonnes' power and attacking speed as they face them in the semi-final.
This match is crucial as it is the first leg of the UEFA Womenâs Champions League semi-final, impacting both teams' chances of advancing.


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OL Lyonnes will be wanting revenge on Arsenal for last seasonâs semi-final defeat but Slegers says that the North Londoners have full focus on themselves.
She said âI think they are in their camp and theyâre trying to find the right way to attack this game. Itâs going to be a high level game with two teams finding their way and thatâs what weâre going to do. I think what we are good at is just one moment at a time and this moment is right now. Weâre going to try to impact that as well as we can and prepare really well for this moment. We go into the game with a lot of belief and a lot of tools and thatâs what weâre focusing on.
âI donât know whatâs going through their heads but Iâm sure that both teams are going to be very much up for it and wanting a spot in the final, of course.â
Arsenalâs UEFA Womenâs Champions League semi-final, first leg tie against OL Lyonnes kicks-off at 3.30pm on Sunday afternoon. Tickets remain on general sale and can be purchased by clicking here.