Chelsea’s Guro Reiten: ‘We’re not happy with where we are right now’
Chelsea’s Guro Reiten: ‘We’re not happy with where we are right now’
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In an exclusive interview the Chelsea winger says they can still improve despite not losing under Sonia Bompastor as the reigning champions prepare to face Arsenal on Sunday. Guro Reiten pulls a face when asked about Chelsea’s developing rivalry with Arsenal that looks like a mixture of distaste and wryness. The clubs meet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with the opportunity to make statements.
![[Suzanne Wrack]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/07/13/Suzanne_Wrack_2.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
For Arsenal, there is a chance to extend their unbeaten run under new manager Renée Slegers, close the gap on the rampant league leaders from seven points to four and ensure there is a title race. For Chelsea, their invincibility under Sonia Bompastor is on the line. They could go 10 points clear of the Gunners.
![[Guro Reiten of Chelsea (right) tussles with Leah Williamson of Arsenal during their Women’s Super League match at Emirates Stadium in October 2024.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/586d4538e9b03ef8a36835c3a783dd79f403b523/0_0_3873_2870/master/3873.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
“Arsenal is special for everyone, both us and for them,” says Reiten. “It’s a derby, it’s for London. They’re the games you love to win and hate to lose.”. Chelsea painted London blue in October, two goals inside 16 minutes giving Bompastor’s side a 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium that would contribute to Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall’s resignation three days later. They welcome a very different Arsenal this time, an Arsenal who have their mojo back, but are yet to be tested in a game like this at a hostile ground. At the time of writing, 33,000 tickets had been sold. “We love playing at Stamford Bridge,” says the 30-year-old. “The atmosphere is amazing.”.
![[Reiten says: “We give a lot of ourselves to the fans because they mean so much to us and we try our best to give back in any way possible.”]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/99feb5d0d7fdd5c39ebe91ad6af4178a51e4a70b/129_188_5595_3356/master/5595.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Playing more regularly at the main stadium is something the players enjoy, but it does create a change in the relationship with fans. “I think people understand that we cannot be walking around the pitch and signing 25,000 shirts, but we try,” says the Norwegian forward. “We give a lot of ourselves to the fans because they mean so much to us and we try our best to give back in any way possible. Playing in a big stadium with a lot of fans you have to look at different possibilities of how you build that relationship.”.
