Arsenal begin their Champions League group phase at Meadow Park on Tuesday evening, hosting HB Køge at 8pm in a match that arrives at an important moment for Renee Slegers' side.
The Gunners head into the opener after a narrow win at Brighton and draws against Crystal Palace and Manchester United in the WSL, so the European campaign offers a chance to reset the mood quickly. Arsenal still have Lyon at home and Barcelona away to come in the group, which gives this first fixture extra weight.
What Slegers expects from HB Køge
Slegers said she knows the Danish side well enough to respect the challenge. She explained that she played against Koge when she was at Rosengard, where the clubs were close enough to meet regularly in training games, giving her a clear picture of what to expect.
Her main takeaway was that HB Køge bring real attacking danger on the break. Slegers said they are top of the league in Denmark and have “really good counter attacking threats” with their two players up top. She added that Arsenal expect to see fast attacks and counter attacks, while also preparing for a low block.
She also noted that the exact defensive shape could vary, saying it could be a back four or a back five, but the overall approach should be clear: close down space, stay compact and try to punish mistakes when the ball turns over.
A familiar opponent for Arsenal
This is not the first time these teams have met in Europe. Arsenal beat HB Køge 3-0 in November 2021 at Boreham Wood in the 2021-22 Champions League group stage, so there is recent history for both clubs to reference.
Arsenal's task now is different, though. A win would give them a strong start in the Champions League group phase and help build momentum before the more demanding league schedule resumes. With two difficult away matches against Chelsea in the WSL coming later, the response on Tuesday could matter well beyond the standings.
For Slegers, the message is straightforward. Arsenal know the opponent, understand the threat and enter the game with a clear picture of what is likely to unfold. The challenge is turning that preparation into a sharp opening performance.
