Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall has urged patience with the progress of teenage forward Gio. The Brazilian was signed from Barcelona in the summer and immediately loaned to WSL rivals Everton.
However, with injuries to Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema, Gio was recalled from loan in January and will form part of the Gunners squad for the second half of the season.
Eidevall suggested patience would be required as Gio develops at Arsenal and admits her loan spell at Everton, which was hampered by a hip problem, didn’t work out as planned.
“Gio is a really, really talented player. She is very explosive and good on the ball. I think she can hurt any defence that she can play against.
“What she needs to start games for us is to get consistency in training and to build game minutes. That is what we tried to achieve by loaning her to Everton.
“To be completely honest, I hoped that was going to be the case that when she returned to Arsenal she would be ready to practice fully and to be a 90 minute player with that experience.
“But because our situation changed and maybe how things were at Everton, that is not the case here now. I see all the potential in Gio but maybe we need to be patient and take good decisions.
“I think that will require a little bit of time and big commitment from the staff and the player to get that right.”
Arseblog News also asked Eidevall about the signing of 29-year-old Canadian goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo, who spent the last four seasons in Sweden with Vittsjö.
Manu Zinsberger has been a firm first choice in the Arsenal goal since Eidevall arrived but her contract expires in the summer. When Arseblog News spoke to Swedish journalist Amanda Zaza last week, Amanda highlighted the quality of D’Angelo’s long distribution.
New: Arsenal Women Arsecast Episode 56: SabrinaCast https://t.co/gECORbRQGQ #arsenal #afc pic.twitter.com/wEVn57kGxj
— arseblognews (@arseblognews) January 13, 2023
While Zinsberger is considered to be one of the best short passing goalkeepers in the game, Arseblog News asked Eidevall whether D’Angelo’s long distribution was a part of what inspired him to sign her.
“I have seen Sabrina for a long time since she was in Sweden. She is a quality goalkeeper in every respect. But I think you make a very fair point.
“Those qualities she has in her distribution add something else to the team that we didn’t have as strongly before in the team. That is always very pleasant for a coach because that gives you an opportunity to select players on what kind of fit we have for the match ahead.”
“
Does it mean that Joe Montemurro’s goalkeeper rotation policy is returning to the club at least until the summer?
Jonas wasn’t too keen on that strategy when Williams was our backup. I guess he might think d’Angelo is a much better fit (better player?),then if he’s going that route.
I did joke about that with him after my question!
Good to see Lyds is coming back to WSL!