Renée Slegers reacts after Arsenal Women held at Emirates 

Arsenal boss Slegers refuses to be downbeat ahead of next weekend’s crucial trip to Manchester City following the Gunners 1-1 draw with Villa 

Renée Slegers was disappointed to concede a 95th minute  equaliser during Arsenal Women's WSL draw at home to Aston Villa.

Lucy Parker's stoppage-time equaliser secured a point after an underwhelming display from the Gunners in front of 24,712 fans at the Emirates on Saturday lunchtime. 

Earlier, Frida Maanum's 10th minute opener had put the Gunners ahead, following Mariona Caldentey's assist which came after England midfielder Missy Bo Kearns's careless ball across her own 18 yard box.

While draw denied Arsenal the chance to move to the top of the WSL table, Slegers refused to be downbeat ahead of next weekend’s crucial trip to Manchester City.

“It's tough, it's frustrating,” Slegers' said. “I think we scored an early goal from a pressing moment. So we had an early 1-0 lead and that's what we wanted and what we needed.

“There was the energy at the Emirates with the fans behind it, so that was everything we wanted. I think there's some good moments in the game where we did things very well. I think we had 19 shots this game and that's close to where we want to be or that's on average. So that was positive.

“I think when it's only 1-0 and you don't kill the game with another goal then the opposition is always going to stay in the game and have some form of belief.

"So every time they were in our half from a counter-attack or creating a set piece which they scored from, they came up with a lot of motivation and belief. And that's what we have to know. So the big learning for us is to kill the game earlier.”