Arsenal were beaten 4-1 by Hoffenheim in Germany on Wednesday night but still qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals. Jonas Eidevall spoke to the press post-match, the first two questions are from Arseblog News, the others from other journalists…
On whether the performance was influenced by the fact that Arsenal only needed to avoid a five goal defeat…
It was a weird football game. If I see the first half, it’s quite a good half from our perspective, we moved the ball well, we have a nice structure and we create good opportunities and defended well for the most part. Then we have five minutes where we concede three goals and two of them come from us just giving them the ball in unpressured situations giving goals to them for free. Then the game changed, usually when you’re losing the other team wants to sit off and protect the lead and you are attacking and trying to get it. But you can tell that we are very aware that we have a result we can go through with.
It’s one of those psychological things where it’s the worst thing in the world to feel like you lose something that is 100% secure before the game, you really feel that, I felt that. It’s a terrible feeling to think ‘is this going to slip through our hands?’ I divide the game up into three parts, the first half is good, good structure, we move the ball well and we pressed well. We have this five minute period in the second half that is unacceptable as Arsenal, the mistakes and how easily we give goals to Hoffenheim, of course, we cannot do that. Then it is a positive that we recomposed ourselves, if we look at it objectively, we created more goal scoring opportunities than they did in the last 30 minutes but we don’t convert them but we go through. It is a weird feeling.
On who would have gone in goal had Lydia Williams needed to come off…
It’s one of those things I know but you will never know because it didn’t happen. What would be your guess? I’ll give you three guesses. I promise I will tell you if you get it right. (I guessed Miedema, McCabe and Wubben-Moy).
On why Arsenal couldn’t repeat their performance in the first game against Hoffenheim (which they won 4-0)…
The big difference is that we are giving away easy goals and it has been a common theme since coming back from this international break and we have to put a stop to that. We keep making easy mistakes and we need to stop, we can’t win when we do that. It’s as simple as that.
On whether he is looking forward to the winter break and a chance to regroup…
I am not desperate. We need to use the time well to prepare for Brighton, I’m not the kind of person who wants to escape when things are tough. We stay present, we work with what we have done, we learn, get better. My mind is not on Christmas, it’s on Brighton and everyone’s mind needs to be on Brighton. After we play Brighton, we can think about Santa Claus.
On who he would like in the quarter-final draw…
I don’t even know who we can get to be honest, it’s not been on my mind, I haven’t been reading up on the UEFA rules. Let’s hope it’s only one draw when they do it and we will be happy with whatever team we get.
On the changing centre-half partnerships since Leah Williamson was injured…
It’s fair to say we’ve had tough opposition but we have made too many mistakes. It’s a tight turnaround between games and we don’t have a lot of time to practice and make those partnerships on the field. We are working on those relationships in game situations which is much, much tougher but we know that’s the way it goes and everyone is trying their best. We can make mistakes but it’s also a matter of saying, ‘what do we do when we commit those mistakes?’ And if we are unsure of what to do with the ball in certain situations, we need to lose it in other areas and not in central areas where the player either has one pass or just can run straight to the goal.
Was it Caitlin Foord who was going to be back-up goalkeeper…
No! The list of players you need to guess is getting smaller!
Fair to say that the individual errors leading to that five minute window where Hoffenheim were completely all over us is not something that Jonas could do much about, but I’m still puzzled as to why he keeps choosing that Frida/Lia/Kim midfield.
Absolutely nothing against them individually, but it’s several games now where that midfield combination has looked stifled and ineffective.
Furthermore, today wasn’t one of those games against Chelsea or Barca where he had to prioritise a defensive approach (thus necessitating the physicality of Maanum, for example).
I asked him about that midfield in the embargoed section of the conference, so will have his take on it up in the Brighton preview.
Thanks! Really hope there’s a good reasoning behind that.
The midfield weren’t the reason for the 2nd and 3rd Hoffenheim goals: They were the result of bad decisions, bad passes, bad giveaways by players in the back–both by centerbacks, I believe.
Lia was at fault for the Hoffenheim 1st and 2nd goal. And Frida was not tracking her runner for the 2nd after the giveaway. Steph’s pass to Lia was absolutely fine for that one, Lia just didn’t control it. yes our CB’s are a mess at moment and Jen is absolutely struggling and being targeted and shouldn’t really play at that form, but Lia and Frida didn’t help them out not a bit yesterday. I think this is the worse game I have seen Lia play for Arsenal, which is interesting considering her comments couple of days ago.
My guess for replacement keeper would have been Frida. She has the height an build of a keeper and can read the game well
Arsenal could have had two goals earlyish in the first half–but neither Mead nor Little opted to chip the ball over the Hoff keeper, who came out low to challenge both players preparing to shoot close to goal, leaving a gaping area above and to her left in which to place the ball. A chip was the right shot in each instance–and neither veteran player took it, and so neither one scored. Rather the way it has gone lately. The team is a hot mess at the moment–and that’s putting it politely.
If Leah isn’t fit for the tough games in the second part of January, we need to sign a CB or two at this moment. It is quite revealing how much she has been carrying this defense last couple of seasons. If we take her our its an absolute mess. I am not sure that any of Jen, Viki or Simone is actually fit enough to play at this level and what the hell is this saying about Lotte, then she can’t play ahead of CB who is at moment giving away about 2 goals per match. It needs rebuilding… Read more »
I actually this would be the best game for Simone & Vicki. They are intelligent defenders. And Jen works better with a comfortable Partner next to her.
Viki hasn’t played about 2 years, we have no idea what level she is. Simone seems to be almost as slow as Jen and also doubts about fitness. Honestly Lotte should at moment play every game, and go from there. She is the only one here for the long term, lets develop her and find about her more. She hasn’t been good, but if she really doesn’t get her level up during Leah’s absence, we at least know that we need 2 better CB’s than her in the summer. She was absolutely fine last season when she had a run… Read more »
Absolutely agree that Wuben-Moye should be playing. I think she’ll be a very good player–she has all tools.
She’ll be looking to book her place in the England team for the Euros too. Easy to get overlooked warming the bench for your club!
If she’s good enough she should play. I still think she’s not there yet. Of what have I watched of her, I’m not convinced. She’ll be good as a back up not a starter.
The team just seemed tired tonight. Not surprising considering we had international break and then 4 games back to back. Hopefully 3 points against Brighton and then they can take stock and recharge over the break and find the intensity and hunger they started season with. I think if Leah is not ready to return after the break, we desperately need a CB. Hard to see how we win league otherwise.
Does anybody know how many matches a team must play to win the Champions League? I don’t–but it’s too many. Instead of streamlining the Champions League as it desperately should, UEFA, has it not, expanded the tourney by adding more teams in the last couple of years. Why? Where comes this idea that 3rd place teams in certain leagues should get in? It’s stupid–and it just means more games in a tourney that is clearly bloated. There are too many teams and too many games in all these soccer tourneys–CL, FA Cup, WC qualification, maybe even Continental Cup, which could… Read more »
11 Games (6 Group Stage, 2 Quarter, 2 Semi, 1 Final).
$$$ £££
There was a comment in the preview thread to this match that said Arsenal would need a “bad day at the office” for Hoffeneim to overcome them. Well we did our best to make it happen. I understand we have had a gruelling few weeks but our defense is a shambles at the moment. We gave 3 goals away to a team that are nowhere near a top WSL side never mind Chelsea or Barcelona! It doesn’t matter if we have one of the best strikers in the world and wingers that are on good form if you leak goals… Read more »
Being physical is not Walti’s strength. If you notice she panicks when she loses the ball. But is better composed when someone else makes the mistake,she can recover for them.
Agree. Her passing, positioning or maybe pace are her strengths. I think that’s the reason jen who is more physical was there but she is just struggling without leah at this moment. And it’s clearly that our defenders are still not come together or cannot communicate well for the past matches. There isn’t someone who can lead or calm the nerves down in the back when leah’s absent.
what other WSL team beat Arsenal 4-1 (bar Chelsea) this year or in last 2 years? So give me a break with “nowhere near top WSL side”. Hoffenheim is top 3 team in Frauen Bundesliga. and they dominated Arsenal in 2d half of both games (4-0 rather flattered Arsenal as they had just 5-6 shots and score 4 (including penalty and lucky bounce) and most were from counters). Hoffenheim could’ve scored 3-4 in first game and pressured Arsenal very well. They would beat every WSL team (bar Chelsea although wont rule that one out) as they are very well developed… Read more »
If we don’t get a centre back in January, even on loan, we have no chance in the crunch games against City, Chelsea, and perhaps even United. Even if Leah’s back she’ll be half fit. Simone and Lotte have made countless silly mistakes in every game they’ve played and are awful under pressure, Steph, Lia and Jen are horrendously out of form, and we know what Viki is like against a bit of pace and guile. Sometimes you have to throw “squad planning” and budgetary restrictions out the window – we have a shot at a league title so let’s… Read more »
Yep: The back four plus Walti have been very poor, and poor for a while. A lot of it seems to be just insufficient individual talent, plus maybe a loss of confidence. Our defenders have just not been good.
The back four keeps changing tho. They don’t have time to get familiar with each other’s style and passes. But I agree they have been out of form and lack of confidence for a while. Jen is really struggling… I am scared watching her at the back for a while. Catley and wally are so inconsistent in defence but they are usually good at offence. There’s just no leader in the defence line. I am not sure if it’s wally’s role to lead them which is too much of an ask for her as jonas wants her higher up the… Read more »
How about trying for Jule Brand! ?
Looks like a quality player if she would want to join us rather than the many other offers that she will no doubt get but she will not transform our defensive issues which are what need immediate attention.
It was a horrible defensive performance, and others here have pointed out the weaknesses. I’d still give some credit to Hoffenheim who reacted with speed to our mistakes. I think Jule Brand has a great future and will be picked up by a big club before too long.
Jule Brand is aged 19 and apparently already a starter for Germany. What a talent and joy she was to watch tonight!
I first spotted her in a warm-up match before the Olympics when Germany beat Australia 5-2. It was her international debut and within minutes of coming on, she had scored and provided an assist.
I had a feeling that Arsenal were going to make that too close for comfort! So glad that they held on in the end though. I also thought that the team looked tired and I guess a lot of the players must be running on fumes given how much football they’ve played since the start of the Olympics. I think one final push is needed against Brighton this weekend and then hopefully the team’s sharpness and cohesion will return after a few weeks off, especially if Leah and Tobin are back. It was interesting to read some of the opinions… Read more »
Yes you can see how tired they are. Especially those coming back from olympics like viv. The excitement on their face and sharpness in the beginning of the season have gone. They are still trying their best, chasing balls and tackling but their minds and bodies can’t catch up. They seemed numbed and lost during the match sometime. Hope they can get back into the rhythm again after the break.
What a weird game. How often do teams register 10 shots on target with a 59% shooting accuracy and lose 4-1. Not a great defensive effort but even on another day, this scoreline shouldn’t have happened.
and how Hoffenheim lost 4-0 by creating 3-5 very good chances forcing 2-3 saves from Zinsberger? while Arsenal had 5 really dangerous shots overall and scored 4 from it (including pen and lucky bounce)? that 4-0 really flattered Arsenal. so 2d game’s result wasnt surprising as Hoffenheim converted their chances this time. fair to say even dominated Arsenal.
Yeah it’s rather hilarious when you think about it.
I would like to see the xG for both games to see how a computer would have simulated it.
When a player like Lia says she is struggling to understand her role in the team then maybe Jonas needs to remove himself from the drawing board for a bit. Her entire career is build upon her game intelligence. Jen/lotte/simone may struggle against Chelski and Barcelona but they are more than capable against teams like Leicester, Hoffenheim and Brighton. If pace is an issue you make use of the players around them. The only thing we have achieved so far by shuffling players around is shooting down the confidence of three decent CB and spread the doubt to the whole… Read more »
On point. Keep shuffling players do more harm than good at this point. Rotation and trying different combinations are good but not when the players haven’t familiar with each other’s style of playing in a game. They need time to bond and work things out.
The defence was so so so bad. Jen and catley are having too many miscommunication and errors on defence. And it also seems the four are lacking confidence in defending or passing at the back. Those defenders couldn’t do their job right so everyone including viv needed to go back and help constantly which leave no one in the front to play link up and offence. Everyone was already occupied and tired for defending. I really have got panic attacks when I watched them passing at the back recently… And Yes we have high expectations for viv to score every… Read more »
Yes the Viv that we know and love would have buried that one on one against the keeper but by her standards it was a tame effort. That would have made it 4-2 to restore a bit of comfort. I think she needs a holiday and not just a week of light training while everyone else is playing internationals! Trouble is the way the authorities are trying to “build” women’s football it ain’t going to happen. Out of the Olympics into this manic season with stupidly compact fixture list and then straight into the Euros, back into WSL 22-23 then… Read more »
Yes…The fixtures are terrible. The players need to constantly shift between different philosophies and style of play in the national team and club and playing with different players… What Jonas said about the advantage of barca is right. Most of them are from spanish team which means they have less issues with switching stuffs and have way more time and practice to bond with the same teammates. It really makes a difference esp when the schedule for national team is hectic these two or three years.
It was a poor outing in all aspects of our game management, from the GK onwards, I don’t think anyone shone bright with their performance yesterday but I think that players are beginning to tire due to us playing every 3 or 4 days. I had grumbles with the team selection, I didn’t want Beattie starting considering her last 2 performances proved costly with her individual errors and that was the case yesterday too. I thought Wubben-Moy would of been the better option considering she played well on Sun. Catley played well on Sun. too got herself an assist and… Read more »
This current squad are not good enough for CL. I don’t expect to win anything in Europe with this team. I want Arsenal to be ranked at least top 5-6 in Europe. Currently, I can say we are just around top 10-12. If I am the head coach, I will keep the outfield players Leah, Kim, Maanum, Viv and Mead as the first eleven and McCabe, Catley, Maritz, Mana, Moy, Parris, Anna and Heath as back up players on the bench. The rest like Lia Walti, Nobbs, Sorensen, Schnaderbeck, and Beattie need to be sold next season and get a… Read more »