Arsenal eye more silverware in cross-continental finale
Arsenal will attempt to add another trophy to their cabinet on Sunday when they host Brazilian champions Corinthians in the Women’s Champions Cup final in London.
The WSL side booked their spot in the showpiece by overcoming Moroccan outfit AS Far, but head coach Renée Slegers has urged her players not to assume Sunday will be a routine finish to the week. Arsenal, she insists, are preparing for a demanding opponent with a distinct style and a fierce competitive edge.
“We know Corinthians are a very good team,” Slegers said, describing the Brazilians as an “intense” side and stressing that finals can turn on fine details if focus drops even briefly.
A different kind of opposition
Corinthians arrive with a reputation forged through domestic dominance and continental pedigree, and Arsenal are treating the fixture as a genuine clash of football cultures. While Arsenal are used to the physical and tactical rhythm of the Women’s Super League, Corinthians bring a tempo and aggression that can disrupt patterns and punish complacency.
For Slegers, the key message has been about matching that energy from the first minute, rather than relying on control and possession alone. Arsenal want to play their game, but the coaching staff are clear that discipline without the ball and sharp decision-making in transitions will be vital.
Slegers hails Nouhaila Benzina’s impact on and off the pitch
Beyond the on-field storyline, Slegers also highlighted the significance of Moroccan defender Nouhaila Benzina, whose participation in the tournament has resonated widely.
Benzina, who wears a hijab, featured for AS Far in the competition, and Slegers praised the wider value of visible representation in elite football — especially with no hijab-wearing players currently competing in the Women’s Super League.
“The strength of football in society is that football is for everyone,” Slegers said, adding that it is important to have role models “in all possible ways” to reinforce that message.
A final with meaning and momentum
The Champions Cup’s cross-continental format has provided a platform for matchups rarely seen in the women’s game, and Sunday’s final continues that theme: a major English club against one of South America’s most decorated teams.
For Arsenal, the objective is clear — end the week with silverware — but Slegers’ comments suggest the team is approaching the occasion with both ambition and caution. Corinthians, in her view, are not visitors simply making up the numbers; they are a serious opponent capable of turning the final into a physical, high-pressure contest.
Kick-off on Sunday will determine whether Arsenal’s journey through this new competition ends with another celebration, or whether Corinthians’ intensity proves the decisive factor on English soil.
