Arsenal Women announced on Thursday that Jonas Eidevall has extended his Arsenal contract until 2026. It comes at a time when results have been tough, with the Champions League qualifying round exit at the hands of Paris FC and a shock home defeat to Liverpool in their WSL opener last weekend.
It calls to mind the announcement of men’s team manager Mikel Arteta’s most recent contract, which was announced on the back of three consecutive league defeats in April 2022. Arseblog News asked Jonas Eidevall whether he felt that same sense of security Arteta felt to get the club’s backing so publicly during a difficult time.
“We would prefer to win the game and then announce the contract, of course,” Eidevall said. “But it is very much the long-term vision is shared and that is the important thing. Each one of us want to push to get the short-term results right.
“But I have always felt supported by the club I think and hope the same for me, that they feel the trust in me being the right person to drive this forward.”
Arseblog News also asked Eidevall for his reflections on Sunday’s disappointing home defeat to Liverpool and why the team were unable to sustain a promising opening 20 minutes in the match.
“I didn’t like our energy in the game, that is one thing this team is usually really good at and it hasn’t happened to us for a long time that I felt the energy wasn’t right,” he explained.
“I think we stood still too much on the ball and our movement was much better in the first 20 minutes, there were some runs in the first 20 minutes that are really important for us off the ball which we didn’t do enough.
“We didn’t disorganise Liverpool enough. When we conceded a goal, we force a lot of things forward instead of playing away from their first pressure, we get sucked into that pressure and take decisions under pressure instead.
“It was really subtle things and it is not things that are completely bad but it’s not the best version of us. We didn’t create the energy or the quality for us to be happy with the performance.
“Sometimes I do think it can be difficult when you start in a good way and we did that against Liverpool and you can fall into a false sense of security, you think, ‘oh, this might be taking care of itself.’
“Once it doesn’t do that, it is so hard to get that switch back on again and you get a bit paralysed as a team. I think that happened to us on Sunday and we need to learn from that.
“We are all really gutted about that and we are all really disappointed with our performance. It was a wasted opportunity with 55,000 people in the stands to not put on a better display and not to be able to energise them better.
“My hope and wish is that each one of them returns for the Aston Villa game (on October 15) so we can show them something completely different because they deserve that.”
Should have waited until the new year or even until the end of the season whether it was signed behind the scenes at the club. He’s won a single Tyre trophy and we’ve lost the last 3 WSL game and are out of the CL before it’s even started. Yet he’s rewarded with a pay rise and he becomes untouchable no matter the results. Why? Given not earned.
He timing is odd, it’s not we’re protecting his sale value like he we’re a player- this feels more like distraction pr.
You are absolutely right. Very poor decision from the club to award a mediocre coach a contract renewal for one of the best jobs in the women’s game.
Don’t agree he’s untouchable. Managers get sacked before the end of their contracts all the time. If this season is rubbish they’ll get rid, just like Losa, Kerr and Montemurro.
At Least Joe Montemurro won more with less than Jonas, and before anyone says it we were down to academy players on match days at the end of 18/19 season when he got us the league title before anyone starts mentioning last season’s injury list. The only difference now to then is players are now making a lot more money and so the complaints about results are quieter if there are any spoken about in the squad. I’d just like to see him change tactics during a game when the result isn’t going our way. Just looks like a one… Read more »
Agree with previous comments and will add that he is not capable of getting the best of of the talent he has at his disposal. Strange decision indeed
A bold and brilliant decision to renew his contract at this time.
Commentators suggesting it’s the wrong move seem to have very quickly forgotten the sensational 5-1 away win at Lyon, plus reaching the Semi-Final of the Champions League only 6 months ago, achieved with a significantly depleted squad via injuries to Kim Little, Beth Mead, Leah Williamson, Viv Miediema & Laura Weinroither.
Jonas is a thoroughly modern manager who has also recruited wisely on a consistent basis, and has proved able to attract first class players to the club.
Oh dear.
I was at the game at the weekend and nothing I saw said a new contract should be forthcoming.
So what is this shared vision? Permanently finishing behind Chelsea or just underachieving in general?