‘We are very hungry and I expect Hacken to be’ Eidevall relishing massive week for Arsenal

Arsenal Women enter a massive week as they play a two legged qualifier against Swedish side Hacken to try to qualify for the Champions League group stages. Either side of that two legged affair, which kicks off in Gothenburg on Wednesday evening, the Gunners start their WSL campaign at home to Manchester City.

Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall insists his team, who have already played competitive UWCL qualifiers against Rangers and Rosenborg, as well as friendlies against Washington Spirit, Chelsea, Southampton and West Ham (BCD), are ready for the challenge.

‘We are prepped for this period because we knew it was going to be busy if we were successful with the mini-tournament,’ Eidevall said in the pre-Hacken press conference. ‘So everything we have done in pre-season has been leading to this point to be able to deal with this period.

‘We are experienced and we are a skilled organisation with travelling and the logistics, so this is business time for us when we put everyone’s competence into the hot seat.

‘We look forward to weeks like this, they are exciting weeks, it is exciting to be here and to be close to go into the Champions League group stage, it is exciting to play Manchester City at the Emirates.

‘But we need to keep our focus on the day by day activity, today it is to prepare really well and have a good training session. Tomorrow is to play against Hacken and after that, we can look forward.’

Eidevall insists this is all part of the pressure that athletes not only live with, but actively relish. ‘If you don’t like this, you probably shouldn’t be in professional football because this is what it comes down to. These are the margins.

‘I had a question in Swedish about whether we feel pressure and, yeah, of course, we feel a bit of pressure, everyone does. That is not a negative thing, it is a positive thing, it is a necessity for high performance. We really look forward to playing in these exciting games.’

Whereas previous qualifiers against Rangers and Rosenborg were played as one off games, Eidevall says the Hacken tie will have a different feel with a home and away leg.

‘It is really two games over 180 minutes, potentially extra time too. That is what is important, it is important to have a result after the two games and you go through, that is the important part. Nobody gets three points for winning tomorrow.

‘We see this as a two-legged affair over 180 minutes and after the game tomorrow, it is just half-time.’ Jonas, who previously managed Rosengard, says that Hacken will come into the game with extra motivation on Wednesday. They trail Rosengard by 11 points at the top of the league after 20 games played.

‘We are very hungry but I expect Hacken to be. They can’t win the league, they didn’t win the cup, this is the big chance for them to really do something with their season they are going to be really motivated as well.’

For Eidevall the game marks a return to his homeland, while the Gunners will boast former Hacken players Stina Blackstenius and Rosa Kafaji in their squad on Wednesday.

‘We live game to game to game, of course there is always some emotion. All of us from Sweden think it is nice to be able to come here and show everyone our country and of course, it is a bit more special for Stina and Rosa because they have played for Hacken.’

Also in the Gunners ranks on Wednesday will be three-time Champions League winner and World Cup winner Mariona Caldentey, signed from Barcelona over the summer. Eidevall values the experience and the demanding nature she brings to the group.

‘Mariona has been a great addition to our group, she is coming from a culture with Barcelona and Spain that have won so much lately. The demands she puts on herself and the players around her, it is a real joy to work with.

‘I think it is a real privilege to get a player like Mariona into the squad because she shows me in some situations what can be possible. The way she passes the ball and moves, it is a real privilege to work with.’