Arsenal Women exited the Champions League at the first qualifying stage after a breathless 3-3 draw with Paris FC. Paris scored twice in a minute in the second half to put Arsenal on the back foot. Goals from Alessia Russo and a stoppage time header from Jen Beattie forced extra time. Paris re-took the lead in extra time before Alessia Russo again equalised. Paris FC were victors on penalties. Jonas Eidevall spoke to the press after the game, the first four questions are from Arseblog News.
On the disappointment of not playing Champions League football this season…
Of course it hurts because we had such a good experience in Europe last season and we wanted to build on that. We knew from the beginning this mini tournament was going to be really tough, for a number of reasons. One is that Paris is a really good team, another part is the really limited preparation time and playing on a 3G pitch that we are not really used to. So we knew there were external factors that were going to make this complicated and you only get one shot.
When I look at the performance, I think there are good things and bad things. In general, we created enough chances to win the game if we look at it objectively, but we put ourselves in a really difficult situation conceding a goal and directly after that, being wasteful in our possession and giving them their second goal. From there the players showed great determination, great heart and great belief. We changed the formation and got the output we wanted from that.
I am really proud of the players that we could come back twice in the game. Then it comes to the penalty shootout and it’s small margins and it hurts a lot when you’re on the wrong side of it. My feeling there is to take care of the players who are working so hard for us and putting themselves in brave positions taking penalties for us but of course we were not successful there today.
On whether Arsenal had a plan to try to target Paris FC’s left side…
No but Paris made it a part of our game plan with the way they pressed. They really upset us to our right side. This is where when we talk about tactical maturity, when you are prepping for games and you have limited time, when we come into new situations that takes a little bit of time for the players to adapt because they haven’t experienced it before. This was something new from Paris, they haven’t really pressed this way before, they usually press with two forwards so this was something new from them. Then we need to repair and build the aircraft while we are flying, which is not always easy. That made us play a little bit slow in the first half, once we figured that out it started to get better.
On whether Arsenal struggled to manage the emotion of extra time…
That is the thing we talked about most when we got to extra time, that we needed to change mentality because we were chasing at the end of the game and playing a desperate type of football. Then you get thirty more minutes and you have to play with a different mentality again. I think in the first half of extra time we do that quite well, we put our foot on the ball and sustained attacks quite well. Then we have a lapse in concentration and don’t look great in our defensive organisation and we concede a third goal and then we have to chase again. But we played quite well, we were in control and we were creating chances.
On what the next couple of weeks look like before the WSL season starts…
We don’t change anything, we fly to Germany tonight for a training camp and that is going to be a really important four day period for us to work on things that are not directly linked to the next game. We have a new group of players and it’s going to be really important to work on things and make sure we are on the same page. After that, we play Chelsea in a friendly game before the international break and, of course, I will use that time for individual decisions about resting some players, especially where they have national team commitments.
On the importance of boosting morale while away in Germany…
The thing we have to be wary about is that when you get the wrong result it can create a lot of noise. The reality is we are neither a better or worse team than we were last night. We always knew this was going to be a tough game and there was a risk of losing a game like this. I think most likely we should win it and I feel like the game was like that too. It is natural when everyone is at different stages of pre-season that not everything is going to work seamlessly from the beginning. The unnatural thing is to play such competitive games so early, that is what we are not used to. But we need to use that and be sensible about where we can see development for this team and not to create problems for ourselves that are not there.
On whether playing competitive games so early can be a good thing for the team in the long run…
I think most managers prefer to play one or two friendly games before you play competitive matches, I think that is normal. There is a reason it looks like that everywhere around the world and I am not different from those other managers.
1.Zinsberger; 16.Maritz (15.McCabe ‘59), 28.Ilestedt (5.Beattie 90+2), 3.Wubben-Moy, 7.Catley (22.Kuhl ‘111); 10.Little(c), 13.Walti (21.Pelova ‘59); 24.Lacasse, 12.Maanum, 19.Foord (17.Hurtig ‘59); 25.Blackstenius (23.Russo ‘59).
Unused: 9.Mead, 14.D’Angelo, 20.Gio, 53.Lia.
Rollercoaster of a game, absolutely gutted with the result though.
Jonas out.
Why not? If we can’t beat Paris FC in the most important game of the season, then what’s the point of the manager?
You guys keep backing him and enjoy scrapping it out for the CL place in the league, cuz you know we’re not winning it.
The most important game of the season…which in any other world would be a preseason training/warmup fixture.
Context, people. Please.
Spot on 👍 just like all those that were screaming for Arsene’s head, ridiculous. I’ll like to see them do better
In what context is this game equivalent to “a preseason training/warmup fixture” in importance? Do enlighten me please.
If you’re happy just watching us show up and kick a ball, and okay with us throwing away champions league in a completely winnable game, then good for you. I could never be this chill. I’m sure i could learn a lot of life lessons from you.
so when do we find out our conti cup group stage draw? 🙃
Conti Cup nights at the Emirates…can’t wait!
Highly discouraging result. Having said that – winning two matches in five days away from home right after a WC break was always going to bring potential pitfalls. Tough pill to swallow however
Pretty grumpy about this one. I know I’m probably being over-emotional right now, but I’m in a “Jonas now needs to win the league to keep his job” kind of mood.
I kinda think he does need to win the league if I’m honest, but not in a ‘he fucked it up today’ kind of way. Today for me was all on UEFA. Farcical scheduling of matches, with a massive disadvantage immediately handed to the club with loads of players at the world cup. I think he needs to win the league now cos he has been backed to the point of having a great squad, and actually in terms of a challenge for the league title, today’s loss will be a huge help. (though I swop the result of course… Read more »
Yup. And the only way to get over this disappointment is to use it as an incentive, take advantage of the fact that we won’t have the extra games and throw everything at the league title.
Agree 100% Mr Fun Gunner 🙂
It’s Ms Fun Gunner, actually. 😉
Actually thats what l thought. You don’t sound like a man at all 😕😊
Phew! (wipes brow)
Absolutely! Totally down to UEFA and FIFA. Don’t give a toss about the players they are just money making machines to them!
The girls were brilliant to get the score back to 3-3 and anyone can win or lose a penalty shoot out!
We have a squad that can win all of the domestic competitions and without the hinderance of UEFA’s crappy offering we could just well bring some of those trophies home this season!
Oh and watch out for the 2024/2025 season as we’ll have Mary Earps in goal as well!
That’s the other down side of this result, she definitely won’t sign for us this season now 😐
She couldn’t anyway without United letting her go but her contract runs out at the end of the season!
Perfectly put👍
eidevall has won nothing with Arsenal and I doubt he will win anything….
Eh? Perhaps you should check the history books. He has already achieved more than a majority of his predecessors apart from Vic Akers!
No he hasn’t, Jo won the Conti Cup and the League
A majority of predecessors is more than just Joe! Shelly Kerr and Pedro Losa for example!
A very professional interview under hugely disappointing circumstances. Agree with Jonas that the game could have gone either way, although 1 or 2 of our players clearly were not at their best. I felt he did well to make 4 substitutions immediately after the 2 goals but had he brought on KK then, we would have won the game in normal time. The French team were very physical and pushed the boundaries of sportsmanship, to put it politely. Their player should have been immediately sent off for her “assault” upon our Steph. Once again, the officiating looked poor throughout, even… Read more »
There seems to be a disinclination to call even quite serious or obvious fouls in the women’s game, perhaps to show that it’s not “soft”. I mean, who cares??! In the World Cup you could at least say that the refs were consistent. But the first duty of match officials is not “letting the game flow” – it’s the safety and welfare of the players. Whoever is training the refs should remember that.
Officiating standards are pathetic even at the highest levels of the women’s game. The question is what do we do about it? Should we take some of the referees from the men’s game until such time as there are competent women officials? But are they not busy already? Is there a difference between the training manuals for the men’s and women’s game? After all, they play to the same rules so why are women refs waving play on for a clear take out when in a men’s game that would be a free kick and most likely a booking? Just… Read more »
Yes and l seem to remember in the WC final the ref was about to book a spanish player, realised she’d already booked her and put the card back in her pocket ! How different that game might have been with a decent ref ?! 😡
Really gutted about the result, I don’t think we played well enough to win for stretches in the game but also think we were slightly unfortunate. We conceded a freak goal from a cross and then an uncharacteristic lapse in concentration from one of our calmer players on the ball led to the second goal. I would guess the big lesson is trying to avoid having to play games of this magnitude in preseason because they can end up being banana slips especially when you don’t have preseason and new signings. Players didn’t look like they were ready to play… Read more »
I am not going to get over losing Rafa! We miss her.
Rafa made mistakes as well. This isn’t about one player.
The defense was a lot better with her here, especially when we didn’t have Leah. Plus her ability on the ball was only bettered by Leah! The passing from the back today was very average.
Good defending is about organisation and teamwork. Paris FC defended better than we did today, does that mean all their defenders are better than all of ours?
I know everyone misses Rafa but what happened today was not to do with personnel. Both Rafa and Leah are world class defenders and they both have made awful mistakes which led to us conceding goals.
I guess a positive from the situation is that a loss this early in the season alerts us to tactical weaknesses we might have. We looked subpar in buildup and I didn’t like how much we used the wings to progress the ball considering how much space there was between the defensive and midfield lines of their block. I think better teams would have turned the ball over more considering how many times we were glued to the touchline. I wonder if until relationships are built in the team we revert to a back three for ease in buildup and… Read more »
I honestly don’t think it’s worth that much analysing. We had to rush and adapt all our normal pre-season preparations with players at wildly different physical stages and mental states and degrees of familiarity in order to get ready for this mini-tournament. We fell short. I don’t think this tells us much about how the season is going to go.
We’re off to Germany next week. That is our real pre-season.
You make a good point, I acknowledge the extenuating circumstances that led to the loss but I guess my brain needs to believe that something has to be wrong and needs to be fixed.
Sensible comments amongst all the (understandably) emotional reactions – 3 hours was a long watch!
Pre-season in Germany ahead!
Agreed! Losing a penalty shoot out with a team that’s had about a week together tells you nothing apart from you are not ready for a European competition but we knew that would be the case before the World Cup. Sure Rafa was a great player but she didn’t want to be at Arsenal anymore so what can we do about it? Is there another Rafa out there? If so I’m sure Jonas would love you to give him her name. This squad is capable of winning the WSL and without trapsing all over Europe with UEFA’s idiotic scheduling that… Read more »
Absolutely gutted with the result today. Part of me is proud of the way we came back in the game but part of me is also mad we put ourselves in that position unnecessarily. A lot of poor performances out there today. But I’d like to address a few things. Bear with me: 1. Lotte Wubben Moy will never be what we expect her to be. I know the fans adore her for her wonderful personality and leadership skills but on the pitch, just not good enough. Killed us one too many times and she can’t quite seem to get… Read more »
Disagree about your opinion of Jonas, who I still feel is a very intelligent coach & doing a great job; 1 or 2 of his players let him down today.
Agree upon your comments on Frida – who had a stellar 2022/23 season, but wasn’t fully at the races today. I would play KK ahead of her going forward.
I don’t think KK is quite ready for that advanced midfield role quite yet but in defence of maanum her physicality and her technical really helped us hold up the ball when we were hoofing it up the pitch. She’s also very useful in the press and counter-press and I don’t see anyone on the bench who brings those specific qualities as much as her. I admit that she she left a lot to be desired at times in individual moments but early season rustiness and a bit of a loss of confidence are probably significant factors in that.
Eidevall has won nothing and will win nothing, IMO.
Fact check….. You are wrong!
Conti Cup winners 2023 I think you’ll find.
Points 1 & 2, I have some sympathy with. I think the issue for me with Lotte (my favourite player), is that she is trying to emulate the wrong sort of defender. She said once she was behind the England captain and the Brazil captain. She’s a different type of player and should model herself on the England vice-captain, Millie Bright, rather than Leah Williamson. It’s Bright who is keeping her out of the England squad, not Leah. (Leah is keeping Alex Greenwood out.) The errors LWM makes are when she is trying to impress with her footwork, or be… Read more »
I liked the OP because it was provocative but well argued – although I didn’t agree with most of it. Love this post by Fun Gunner for the same reasons, especially the LWM and Millie Bright comparison. I’m not convinced by Manu at bossing her box, I think Sabrina would be an upgrade (as would Mary Earps).
Jonas has built this squad and sidelined players who didn’t match his style which is his prerogative of course, but it does mean he’s got no excuses now.
Excellent Summary Ms(!) Fun Gunner – especially agree with your comments about our first class Coach and the improvements made under his tenure.
Winning the WSL must now obviously be our primary aim for 2023/24!
Totally agree with all you’ve said 👍
100 % agree, especially about Lotte. Amount of errors she makes is crazy. Shouldn’t be in starting eleven at all.
And hope Frida is not one season wonder. She struggled in the world cup and now here too.
I thought in Wednesday’s game Lotte was beginning to look like the weakest link. I get the Millie Bright thing but Lotte has an ideal role model in the squad. She should become the new Jen Beattie! Play to your strengths! When Jonas first arrived he didn’t know how to get the best from Jen and we were susceptable to simple balls over the top. At the end of last season she was a stalwart! This is where Lotte needs to be. Forget the playmaking and fancy footwork, boot the ball into row ‘z’ if necessary and don’t allow anyone… Read more »
A ‘legend?”
Who knows he might surprise you. It tooks Mr Wenger a couple of years to win anything then look what happened!
Won the title in his first full season.
Excellent, Peter – agree with every word!
Absolutely loved reading your reply to my comment, mate! Might not agree with all but succinctly said!
Love the point about Jen
Jen Beattie is a great role model for LWM but let’s remember that JB started out as more of a ball player than LWM anyway. I think at Lotte’s age Jen was a DLP. I spoke about Bright because my mind was on the England context. That’s what I think is niggling at and frustrating Lotte – that she never seems to get a game for England. She got plenty of games and minutes for Arsenal even when Rafa and Leah were fit.
I think LWM does not get a lot minutes with England because she is less reliable- as compared with Millie Bright. She is not reliable at Arsenal either.
Spot on.
Best comment(s) on here by far.
He’s been getting somewhat of an easy ride since taking up the role. I think Arsenal Women have declined under him. He has some top top players in that squad and he doesn’t get the best out of them in my view. It’s all very scandanavian pragmatic and boring in style. He is a poor coach. One league cup in 2.5 seasons is unacceptable for one of the top 5 women’s club sides in the world.
Very disappointing, but in many ways only moderately surprising with so little preparation time, so many new players and also still so many world class players out injured. It shows again not only the silliness of the women’s football calendar but yet again that the WCL group stage should move to 32 teams. There are too many good teams not competing in the competition. Last year it was teams like Man City and Ajax. This year Arsenal and probably others yet to come. Are there any plans to expand the WCL soon? In any case it’s now a case of… Read more »
A sensible analysis amongst all the (understandably) emotional comments – 3 hours was a long watch!
Disappointed for the team but in the first hour there were so many poor and misplaced, one of which gave them the second, especially out of defence and too much playing across the park. Russo clearly did what she was signed for and it is to her and the other new players I feel sorry there will be no UWCL.
If we don’t win the league, Jonas should be sacked. I guess we recruited so heavily this summer because we had plans to go far in the CL. Now that we’re out, we focus on the league and it’s good that we have a great squad to win the league (not challenge, but win!). We’ll also have more days to recuperate between 2 games, so Jonas no excuses!
I am pleased that the discussion here is very largely well thought through and sensibly argued, despite the massive disappointment. With so many new on-field relationships to cement, playing in the Conti Cup group stage is probably no bad thing. And I really look forward to seeing Viv back in the number 10 role; I think we really miss someone who can make that telling defence-splitting pass.
Great dialogue and analysis folks. Thanks!
I think Pelova would make a better number 10, but Viv’s danger factor should create more space for the main striker and wingers making out to in runs. Overall, it seems to me like the only two players in the squad technically gifted enough to play in midfield and consistently dribble and carry and beat the press are Little and Pelova, maybe Maanum. Until we address that, we’re never going to compete against a side like Barcelona unless we just go all out to nullify them and play anti-football. I really hope the next generation of youngsters coming through the… Read more »
Agree with most of your comments, but did you notice that KK made an impact when she came on late in proceedings, including a superb link up with Kim? (which other midfielders weren’t doing enough of throughout)
Wtf there is international break again right before the WSL starts??? Farcical.
The best team won today. That being said, I completely disagree with all the “JoNaS sHOuLd bE sAcKeD” numpties. Have you any idea how much progress the team made last year!? We finally banished the big game hoodoo and went on a terrific champions league run and won the first trophy since 2018/2019. I highly doubt those calling for eidevall to be fired have been long running fans of the team. Arsenal were poor on Wednesday and again today. Certain normally top performers were downright awful (looking at you Wally, LaCasse and McCabbe). Overall the squad hasn’t had much time… Read more »
The club has spent a boatload more money on acquisitions and talent since Eidevall took over–far more than when Monte was running the show. And what has Eidevall got to show for it? Very little. Almost nothing.
Boatload of money maybe but nothing like what Chelsea and Man City spent to buy their success!
At least we are making progress if you now admit Jonas has “almost nothing” to show for it. You normally just say he has “nothing”!
Exactly. Too much too soon. Judge the team on a season’s performance not one game which was only lost on penalties anyway!
I’ve never been in the JE bandwagon despite last season’s run in the CL. He doesn’t portray enough positive aura and – at the risk of sounding archaic – women football require personality.
Maybe it’s just me but he needs to go.
Sorry, but with this squad you should be doing better if you’re a great coach and not be making excuses after nearly/close calls over these years. I think you’re out of your dept and that we need to upgrade our coaching department. My sincere opinion.
So the way I figure it, we now CRUSH the league as this team gels and stars return from injury. Then next year, when everyone knows each other well, we CRUSH the league AND the champions league, whilst all tremble before our might. And while I won’t jinx things by saying the “I” word, I will say it rhymes with schminschmincible.
Arsenal have an abundance of riches in attack compared with the defence. Its about time that issues with Lotte W and Manuela Z are addressed. Both are inconsistent and have made a significant number of mistakes over a period of time. Both could do with being replaced.. we need surety at the back and we havent got it
Well Manu is aware Jonas wants to replace her, first bringing in D’Angelo who shouldn’t be a number 2 to begin with and now with bids for Earps. What do you think that does to Manu’s confidence when her future at the club is always in doubt?
I thought a lack of time together showed. I am sorry to say WE NEED TO LET Zinnesburg Go. Play the other goalkeeper please. Plastic pitch or no plastic pitch we looked slow and had a lack of ideas going forward with tippy tappy football. Thank god for RUSSO.
Through the disappointment I’m beginning to think about next season. I think so much will depend on the two WSL fixtures against Chelsea, not only for the points but also for their emotional impact. I do worry whether our defence is Kerr-proof.
We’ve lost to Villa and United as well as City last season. The Chelsea games are important but we can’t ignore that other teams are getting just as strong. And look what finishing 3rd last season has resulted in, so we need to fight every game, dropping points this season could mean not even making the qualifiers next year. And are the WSL losing a slot because of the coefficient? This is the biggest most talented squad we’ve ever had, but the pressure is huge now. Last year losing a game was eased by the fact we were making the… Read more »
He’s a good manager and we’re a good team. I want to win the league too. But I am confused about the idea Jonas has to win the league to keep his job. Have all of you saying that noticed Chelsea are a very good team, and it is only possible for a single team to win the league each year? I just find it a bit weird how little some fans seem able to accept the realities of sporting competition. We could change manager again, and there is a small chance they’d get better results. It also is a… Read more »
“Jonas has to win the league” is just another way of saying “Arsenal has to win the league”. We need to re-establish ourselves as England’s top club for so many reasons – player recruitment, player retention, growing the fan base, attracting more sponsorship funding, etc. The plan to gradually turn the Emirates into our home stadium depends on all of that. Plus it would be good to have automatic qualification into the CL. Given recent events.
Sent too soon!
Meant to add – there’s also a general feeling that we now have the squad, except for backup at number 6, so our manager has to make it happen somehow.