Eidevall and Wubben-Moy talk up Kelly Smith coaching appointment

Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall and defender Lotte Wubben-Moy have talked up the influence of Gunners legend Kelly Smith, who has rejoined the coaching staff until the end of the season.

Smith retired in 2016 and her legacy for Arsenal and England is unmatched for any female player. Jonas Eidevall said he first had the idea to invite her back after working with her for the BBC at the European Championships last summer.

“Kelly provides us with the perspective of being a top player,” Eidevall explained. “Not just in general but at this club. She knows what it means to play for Arsenal and what it is to be executing on the pitch. Her coming in to help us to come in with details for our attacking players and to help with the way she was thinking to help the team best just provides us with a really nice perspective.

“I found it straight away when I listened to Kelly and asked her a question. It makes us better and I knew that it was going to be like that because I was lucky enough to spend some time with her as a pundit for last summer’s Euros. So I knew what I was getting! She maybe didn’t realise it then when we were standing there discussing football, but I was listening and was like ‘Yeah, this is definitely good and something that will improve us.”

Wolfsburg preview podcast! Featuring a wee preview from me (suitable for beginners and aficionados alike!) plus some audio from Lia Wälti (if listening with children cover their ears!), Jonas Eidevall and Lotte Wubben-Moy. https://t.co/TPU9xtWKaP

— Tim Stillman (@Stillmanator) April 30, 2023

Meanwhile, Gunners defender Lotte Wubben-Moy grew up watching Smith, then played with her and is now being coached by her. Wubben-Moy reflected on that journey, “I actually remember going to watch Kelly as a young girl and I got her to sign my oyster card holder. Maybe 10 years later, I’m on the pitch training with her as a 16-year-old at Colney. A few years later, she’s my coach.

“As a gooner, or more so as a player, you understand the value something like that can give you. Not only to have the perspective watching a player like that, but also playing with a player like that and now being coached by her.

“There are so many things you can learn. Already her impact, just having her around and being conscious that she’s watching or that she can give you a tidbit of information which changes the way you approach a ball or shot – they’re the fine margins I’m talking about. To have that investment of an ex player coming onto the staff is only good for the women’s game and I hope to see more of it.”