By BBC (Sports) | Created at 2024-11-07 17:31:36 | Updated at 2024-11-15 11:41:55
1 week ago
Interim boss Renee Slegers said it is a "bump in the road" that Arsenal have been forced to move their Women's Champions League game against Bayern Munich from Emirates Stadium because of a scheduling clash with the men's team.
The match, Arsenal's last group-stage game, is on Wednesday, 18 December, with the club selling tickets since September.
However, it now clashes with the Carabao Cup quarter-final between the men's side and Crystal Palace.
"I think it's been a very hard dilemma for the club - two great teams competing in competitions," Slegers said.
"I think what ourselves have been doing really well is pushing the growth of women's football for a very long time.
"So I think this is a bump in the road - but what Arsenal has done for women's football over time is very strong."
The only midweek day available to Crystal Palace, if they are to get two rest days between fixtures, is the Wednesday as they have televised Premier League matches on the previous Sunday and the following Saturday.
There is an added problem around EFL Cup scheduling as Tottenham have been drawn at home to Manchester United, who also play in the league on the previous Sunday. London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal are not allowed to play major games at home on the same evening for policing reasons.
Arsenal are now exploring alternatives with European governing body Uefa for the Bayern tie, which includes moving the fixture to Meadow Park in Borehamwood.
The women's side have previously played the majority of their Women's Super League (WSL) matches at Meadow Park, but the facilities there do not meet Uefa regulations.
"We look forward to playing against Bayern Munich and having a Champions League night either way," Slegers added.
Slegers has said she wants to remain part of Arsenal's coaching set-up, regardless of who they appoint as their next permanent manager.
The former Netherlands midfielder has led the Gunners since Jonas Eidevall resigned in October, but has not been vocal about her chances of being given the job permanently.
New York City head coach Nick Cushing has emerged as an early candidate for the job, but the former Manchester City women's manager is overseeing play-off matches in the United States in November.
Asked whether she wants to stay at Arsenal, Slegers said: "That's my thinking at the moment.
"I enjoy being part of a club, I enjoy working with the players, I enjoyed the role that I had before I had to step in and take this role temporarily - so I hope so."
Speaking in a pre-match news conference on Thursday, Slegers also said Edu's departure as Arsenal's sporting director had not impacted the recruitment process for the club's next permanent head coach of the women's side.
Edu resigned on Monday after two years in the role, having initially rejoined the Gunners as technical director in the summer of 2019.
"There is a technical committee working in this process, and it's not affected by this. So there's a good process," said Slegers.
"I think he's meant a lot for the women's team at Arsenal. He's meant a lot for the whole club."
