Arsenal thumped Bristol City 5-0 at Meadow Park on Sunday evening, with braces from Beth Mead and Alessia Russo and an own goal. Jonas Eidevall spoke to the press post-match, the first three questions are from Arseblog News.
On pulling the right winger into very central areas tonight…
The thinking was to put five against five against them because they play a back five. We need to create five players, so we had two wide players, two pocket players and one central. The way to do that was to roll inside with a wide forward.
A good run from Foord and Mead is there to tap it home!#BarclaysWSL @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/vG9HVClBbL
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) April 14, 2024
On the importance of Emily Fox in enabling the right winger to roll inside…
With Laura returning as well, we have four full-backs who can play inside and outside, who can play high and play low and that is a real strength for us. It enables us to be quite dynamic and flexible as a team.
No stopping Mead from there!#BarclaysWSL @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/jnWsa4jStk
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) April 14, 2024
On Kyra Cooney-Cross and Laia Codina not being in the squad tonight…
The prognosis is quite positive, they couldn’t make the game today but we are quite hopeful for next weekend.
What a strike from Russo! 🙌#BarclaysWSL @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/Csce6Z9xcQ
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) April 14, 2024
On his feeling about the performance this evening…
I am very happy with the performance. It is very difficult when you come back from international break to get the rhythm going and I feel we looked like the team we want to be. This was another low block for us to play against and we showed variety in the way we attacked. We moved the ball well most of the time, we had patience on the ball, lots of good movement and we probably deserved to score five goals today.
On progress against low defensive blocks…
I know Tim has asked that quite frequently. I think we’ve had a clear change after New Year, seeing how we have been dealing with low blocks since the break, we have been doing that better and better and I am really happy with how we have progressed as a team against low blocks.
On being able to bring Laura Wienroither on for her comeback tonight…
It is really nice, it is an emotional moment because there is so much work going on from her and her teammates and the staff. It is so nice to see when a player is returning play and doing what they love to do most.
Alessia Russo that is beautiful! #BarclaysWSL @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/YdCSsg9ZEp
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) April 14, 2024
14.D’Angelo; 2.Fox (26.Wienroither ‘81), 6.Williamson (62.Reid ‘86), 3.Wubben-Moy, 7.Catley; 21.Pelova, 10.Little(c); 9.Mead (15.McCabe ‘63), 23.Russo, 19.Foord (24.Lacasse ‘63); 25.Blackstenius.
Unused: 1.Zinsberger, 14.D’Angelo, 29.Goldie, 53.Lia.
Nice
Nice and relatively straight forward win against a down and out Bristol City team. Good front press teamed with a nice tempo in passing and movement that was sustained for most of the game, not seen too often this season. Home support were as usual very good throughout. Interesting conundrum is that Jonas is using Russo as 10 behind a striker a bit more, if Stina doesn’t renew, will they need to find another striker for next season or will he hope that a mix of Pelova/Frida/Miedema (if she stays) with Russo upfront will tick the box. Is he more… Read more »
I think he’s doing it a lot now in part to convince Stina to sign a new deal.
Tim, I am watching FAplayer – the commentator name-checked and quoted you extensively about Frida Maanum’s recovery!
I hope she stays, but I’m in doubt, if he keeps this tactic up frequently, she might change her mind, if not… I don’t know
I love Russo as a 10 and not just because it leaves room for Blackstenius. I hope JE persists with it regardless of Stina’s decision, which I hope will be to stay.