Renée Slegers spoke to the media after her Arsenal side beat Crystal Palace 2-0 in the Subway Cup to go through to January’s semi-finals. 

Despite moments of lacklustre play throughout the game, the Gunners got the job done in South London, with goals from Laia Codina and Stina Blackstenius making the difference. 

Slegers praised her side’s ability to adapt after Arsenal secured their fifth victory in a row, ending the block on a high. 

Comparing the game to previous cup ties where the margins have been small, Slegers felt conditions shaped the game. 

She said: “The circumstances were very similar [to last season’s London City Lionesses and Liverpool ties] with the pitch being hard to play on and an opposition that tries to manipulate the game to their advantage.” 

Arsenal were unable to play their usual free-flowing possession-heavy style but managed to find a way to win anyway.

Slegers said: “Our football is a lot about having the ball on the grass and manipulating with the ball, and we couldn’t do that as well as we normally can today. 

“You have to play the game in front of you, and we did that.” 

The Gunners scored a set-piece goal in the 19th minute when Codina headed home Kyra Cooney-Cross’s corner ball but then struggled to create much else. 

Meanwhile, the home side played with aggression and conviction and were denied by the woodwork on several occasions. However, Arsenal managed to neutralise their threats in the second half. 

Slegers said: “We made some adjustments in how we defended.

“The positioning behind the ball and the areas we were going to attack in, and we then had good positions around the ball to be able to counterpress.” 

Today’s game saw some rotation within the squad, with Leah Williamson fit enough to start for the first time this season, and Codina partnering her at the back. Victoria Pelova and Blackstenius also got the nod. 

Slegers enjoyed the lessons she learnt from the rotation. 

She said: “Seeing players together in new partnerships, seeing players on that haven’t played as many minutes so far this season.” 

She also commented on Williamson’s return to the starting lineup.

“She’s had 30 minutes, 50 minutes, 60 minutes, and so she’s back now. She looks really comfortable.”

Reflecting on the performance as a whole, Slegers kept things simple. 

She said: “A clean sheet and a win. Pragmatic, professional. We did it. Christmas is coming!”