Renee Slegers provides double Arsenal injury update after Champions League clash

Arsenal ran out as 2-0 winners against Benfica in the Champions League on Thursday night, but there were some injury concerns that emerged from the game

Arsenal manager Renee Slegers has provided a double injury update on Emily Fox and Manu Zinsberger following the Champions League victory against Benfica. The Gunners came away from Portugal with a 2-0 away win thanks to second-half goals from Beth Mead and Alessia Russo.

The win was their second of the week following last weekend’s 1-0 WSL win over Brighton. The game against Benfica did, however, bring some injury concerns.

Full back Fox was forced off in the latter stages of the match with a shin injury, but Slegers gave an optimistic assessment of the problem. Speaking via Hayters, she said: “Foxy seems alright. She has a knock on the shin. I think she should be alright.”

However, less detail was given about goalkeeper Zinsberger, who didn’t make the journey over to Portugal with the rest of the squad. Slegers said: “Manu sustained the knee injury in training in the week.

The win against Benfica moves Arsenal up to ninth place in the Champions League table, following defeat in their opening game against Lyon. Slegers is now hoping that the last two wins signal a return to form following a run of four games without a win.

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“The game went in spells, but what I’m happy with is that we found a way to win,” she said.

“We didn’t create as many clear-cut chances as we would have liked, so we had to find other ways to get the result, and we really battled for it. I’m very pleased with that, and also with the goal from the set-piece.”

The League Cup means that there are no WSL fixtures this weekend. The international fixtures will extend the break for Arsenal meaning that they are not back in action until early next month.

The Gunners face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Sunday, 2 November (12pm kick-off). The Foxes are in ninth place in the WSL, with Arsenal looking to continue their winning run.

And opening up on the break, Slegers said: “Yeah, it’s always a big reflection moment for us as a staff.

“Especially the first week, we will review both pre-season and the first block of games. And then the second week, we will preview the next block that’s coming up. So it’s always a good moment for us.

“There’s plenty of learnings and plenty of energy is built to start the next block again. And I’m happy there’s a lot of players going to international camps.

“We’ll have a couple of players at home and everyone will do their thing, but I look forward to the start of block two.”

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