Arsenal Women head coach Renée Slegers spoke to the Gooner Fanzine after her side were thrashed 5-2 by Aston Villa for just their second Women’s Super League defeat under the Dutch manager.

Gunners legend Jordan Nobbs opened the scoring after half an hour before Kirsty Hanson struck on the stroke of half time. Chastity Grant hit a brace in the second half, with Rachel Daly also on target to leave Stina Blackstenius and Alessia Russo’s strikes as mere consolations.

Leah Williamson told Sky Sports that Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final win over Lyon had “maybe drained us a little bit too much physically and emotionally,” and the Gooner asked Slegers about how the Gunners can avoid a repeat of this result in future coming off the back of a game of Sunday’s nature.

“Yeah, of course my mind is already spinning and thinking about it,” Slegers said. “Is there something we could have done differently the next time? It was a huge achievement to go to the final and I think we were very happy about that in a good way. 

“I don't think in that sense it's cost us too much energy but I think the preparation for the game, the game itself, the travelling and everything we've invested into that, it was so much. 

“But I think afterwards we stayed very calm and we've done everything to recover mentally and physically to get ready again. It's of course only two days in between and travelling. We've done everything but of course we wanted to take all the details and see if we can expect a result."

The Arsenal boss has overseen an increased impetus on player responsibility during her tenure, and believes that the input of her side will be crucial after a difficult evening in the West Midlands.

“Yeah, definitely, so I'm going to get my thoughts, the staff is going to do that and the players are doing it already as well because they understand so well and they don’t want to lose, they're very disappointed too,” said Slegers. 

“Everyone's doing that and then we'll come together and align what we're thinking.”