Arsenal were defeated 2-1 by Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Gunners got off to a poor start, conceding to Ramirez and Baltimore in the opening 15 minutes before Caitlin Foord pulled one back just before half-time. Jonas Eidevall spoke to the press post-match, the first two questions are from Arseblog News.
On conceding very similar goals to the ones conceded against Bayern on Wednesday…
It is extremely disappointing, we got off to a really poor start. We have conceded four goals from corners in two games, that is not sustainable if you want to be a top team. The way we defend the cross on their second goal is not good enough either. It’s particularly frustrating because it is not how the pattern looks in the game, it is a one-off situation in the game. But of course, when you are playing against a top team that is enough to make that mistake for them to punish it.
Then the players show incredible character, incredible heart in getting back from such a difficult start, imposing our way of playing, finding our way back into the game again together with amazing support from the stands. We deservedly score a goal, we certainly had chances to score the second goal and the players work extremely hard to get those inches right. Unfortunately, we get the inches on the wrong side today.
On whether players lacked confidence in the final action in front of goal…
I think they work extremely hard to get the inches on the right side and we don’t get it, it’s the inches on the final pass and the inches on the finishing. The effort, I cannot fault and I think we create chances to score the second goal but unfortunately we don’t.
On how damaging the defeat is for Arsenal’s title ambitions…
It certainly doesn’t help with league winning ambitions. But it doesn’t change the perspective that you need to go game by game and do your best in every single game. There is no point in hiding from reality, it is a bad start to the season.
On whether he has been given assurances over his job…
I give absolutely everything today and in preparation for this game, I think you can see that the players give absolutely everything on the pitch. That is the part you can control as a coach, that is the part I can ask for from the players as well. I need to focus on the next match and the things that I can control.
On the steps he will take to win the next game…
To make sure we recover, to make sure we prepare and to make sure we give absolutely everything on Wednesday night.
On Mariona playing on the left, the right and the centre in the last three games and whether that is based on the opposition or finding partnerships in the team…
It is a combination of all those things, it is a mixture. I felt this would be the best way to start the game today and we had a different idea on how to finish the game.
On supporters who are frustrated…
I think we should see how much character and heart the players have for the club and that, I hope, gives supporters belief. And then I fully understand that people are disappointed when we don’t win football matches. We are also really disappointed when we don’t win, I am really hurting, the players are really hurting. We want to do better, I fully understand. Just as you are allowed to show emotion when you win, you are allowed to show emotion when you lose because they invest everything, they travel, they support us, they give us absolutely everything so I totally understand their frustration that we don’t win football matches.
On the psychological damage of the last week…
It’s an extremely tough week, playing away in Europe and playing teams like Bayern Munich and Chelsea with such a short turnaround against teams that, on both occasions, gets better prep time. Of course, that is very difficult. But, again, I have to look and see how the players respond today and how they work. When you see how much football we have been playing in the last week, it shows even more what phenomenal character these players have and how they keep on going in such an adverse situation and having this never give up mentality. It speaks even more volume of their character when you consider the context.
14.van Domselaar; 2.Fox, 6.Williamson, 3.Wubben-Moy, 11.McCabe; 10.Little(c) (32.Cooney-Cross ‘76), 13.Walti; 9.Mead (12.L.Maanum ‘66), 8.Mariona (25.Blackstenius ‘76), 19.Foord; 23.Russo
Unused: 1.Zinsberger, 5.L.Codina, 7.Catley, 16.Kafaji, 22.Kuhl, 62.Reid
Anyone else missing Viv?
Never should have brought Russo in. Yes Viv had an ACL injury but Jonas seemed to decide she wasn’t needed. We miss her creativity and her goals.
Or renew the Contract of Stina
I don’t think it was wrong to get Russo in but she’s been misused along with most of the other attacking talent we have
YES. must do better with what we have up front.Should never have let her go to one our biggest rivals.
Really poor start. The players picked themselves up and gave it a good go. But, the lack of creativity up front is really obvious. Jonas has turned us into such a workman like team. Letting Viv leave for free is inexcusable when them team is misfiring this badly. I think a change of coach is needed.
Workmanlike and slow. So slow. Whenever we break out and play quickly we immediately create chances.
Not that we can put them away, sadly.
So he noticed how bayern scored 2 goals earlier in the week and then did nothing in training? Or have the team given up on him? Regardless, a change is needed.
Seriously?! After a Wednesday night away game. Given they were flying back / warming down on Thursday, he had, at most, one training session to work on it as well as sort out the team tactics / structure.
As for the second one about team giving up on him. Having been to the game and the effort etc they put in I have to say your comment is ridiculous.
There’s fair criticism and then there’s what you’ve just said.
It’s been an unfair situation where arsenal played last Sunday, went to Germany played Wednesday night and played Chelsea on the Saturday, 3 games in 6 days. Chelsea had their game on Sunday postponed, played on the Tuesday at home and then travelled across London for todays game. It does not seem like an even contest. It does feel this have fallen more kindly for Chelsea. I’m not say a 2-1 lose is great but it could of been a lot worse considering all the factors been the two teams.
I’m seething about how the fixtures worked out as well but we have to be able to win when everything is against us. Or at least draw, especially at home. If only we could finish…
Disappointing result today following the previous week but we have to accept that Chelsea are good and sometimes we will lose to them. At least we gave it a go especially in the second half and probably deserved an equaliser although by then Chelsea were coasting. What is not acceptable is the pathetic performance against Everton with another bogey team West Ham round the corner and they are the results that will cost us the title.
We were much better than against Everton, thank God! But the way this game went, it really should have been a 3-2. As well as beating “lesser” teams, you have to beat or draw with your direct rivals at home. Not doing that also costs the title – like it did under JM.
Incidentally, I noticed in preseason that Chelsea have really bulked up, especially in the lower body.
Angeball, mate? No set piece training.
Lmao. I know we are all calling for Jonas’ head but I really think Clare Wheatley should follow him out the door. Probably the worst executive in the WSL. First time in 10 years we’ve failed to win 3 consecutive home games, conceded 9 goals in 3 games vs City, Bayern, and Chelsea. About to be 5 behind City and we still have to go away to Chelsea and City in the league. League over before MD 6 is hilarious. Where exactly is the hope to cling on to? It’s all fallen apart and the players obviously need something new.… Read more »
Went to the game. Thought we deserved a point today for the second half performance, but you just can’t give as good a team as Chelsea a two goal start. Based on that performance really don’t think any of the “Eidevall has lost the team” guff that will no doubt be said by a few people holds any water. More looks like a team short of confidence. A few of our forwards need goals by any means necessary, off any parts of their bodies. So it’s one point from six against our two biggest rivals, when we probably should have… Read more »
Was at the game too. Agree we deserved at least a point, we were the better team from the moment Caitlin scored & the only team who came out to play football in the 2nd half. Some of the on field decision making was terrible, passing instead of shooting, over hitting the final ball & getting to the bye line only to pull it back to a blue shirt. Felt Caitlin, Mariona & Fox were our best players in the 2nd half & if anything was gonna happen, it was gonna come through one of them
We can’t be a better team if we didn’t win. If we say our players were unlucky, so what? No one hands out silverware to unlucky teams. The whole about professional sports is winning. Getting rid of Viv was mad, we don’t have a real striker like Rameriez, who is more or less unstoppable.We don’t have talent like Caroline Graham Hanson. We got rid of Gio, who run forwards, we don’t play Kafaji, but we have a coach who’s ran out of ideas and no manager on top to step on his neck hard.
Taken in isolation, this is a respectable performance, and we should probably feel a bit hard done by not to at least secure a draw (has any team been more severely punished for momentary lapses in focus/intensity?). However, Chelsea never really got out of second gear and seemed happy enough to soak up pressure confident that we couldn’t score. Sadly, it is hard to envisage us reaching / returning-to title-winning, CL-competing levels under this regime.
I was pretty sure they wouldn’t sack him before the end of the season but the way he answered these questions makes me think it’s actually possible
Have to be and must be possible as Arsenal women is now 6th in the placing after 4 matches.
He doesn’t seem interested in addressing any of the flaws in his training, preparation, or playing style regardless of the opponent or of recent results. Very angeball
Time to go. We need a reset.
I am watching Bayern vs Wolfsburg right now. Even after Wednesday, they are on fire …what speed that ball has to take!
I mentioned I leave abroad but my heart is at Arsenal, how more quality that comes in how slower it goes. I loved Arsenal playing with all the injuries, few seasons back, they were still so dangerous.
But it was Wolfsburg who won! I’ve only seen highlights so I can’t judge how well Bayern played. But it was a great goal by Vivien Endemann, one of my favourites.
Yes, is was Wolfsburg but what a fight Bayern gave. I won’t mind seeing Arsenal loose after a real battle from minut one. I could live with that and be proud.
I think its fair to say we where the better team over 90 minutes. Still Chelsea had more shots on target and I think they created better chances then we did. You never see our players link up like Kaneryd, James and Baltimore did for their second goal. Our players doesnt have that chemistry and understanding of each other and that is a big concern. You win matches by winning duels and being strong in both penalty-areas, today Chelsea where far better then us when it comes to those things. We are very good between the penalty-areas but very poor… Read more »
Wtf are you talking about with did Mariona play? I was at the game & she was one of our better players in the 2nd half
Let’s be positive in adversity, everything will be fine
So if Jonas gets sacked, who comes in?
Careful what you wish for!!!
My problem is that JE is not using all his players and not to the best effect.
I am less concerned with the name of the new coach than I am a consistent & reliable style of play. For example few would regard Gareth Taylor as a big name. Yet he has his team consistently playing in a style similar to Pep’s. That is because, according to Izzy Christenson, they work to a template that provides a basic structure each of their teams can default to. We have the infrastructure in place to create something similar. Besides, I think all our Juniors are coached to play the same way as our Men’s first team. Regarding the coach,… Read more »
I reckon he’ll stay the season. It’s one thing to call for the manager to get the boot; it’s another to bring someone else in who can turn it round.
On TV they were implying that Casey Stoney being there might mean something. If so, I hope only caretaker manager…Maybe she would sort our defence out.
Was she present? I think she was just watching the game, don’t get your hopes up, the board has to make a very careful selection for the position.
I thought they gave it a decent go today. No lack of effort. I’m not a fan of Foord but she was good today and that was a great goal. We created enough chances to win against a strong defensive team. I think our attackers lack a connection. Need to choreograph more late runs etc that wide players can pick out rather than everyone hanging around in the box. I’m never confident Russo will deliver on anything I’m afraid. But that’s the league almost out of sight already. Need to improve and have a lot of luck for a tilt… Read more »
Jonas lost his mojo
Good players need encouragement
Encouragement to STOP making poor decisions during games and making loads of sloppy passes e.g. Leah?? I’m aware that JE has got to bear the brunt but the players didn’t cover themselves in glory at all!
Where not good at the back,struggled in the midfield, the early goal set the presidence.
Just read some of the comments, leah was not the only one.We can’t defend a ball into the box.
Heart and character is the minimum players should have and what loyal supporters expect every game.
Your job is to build on that heart and character with tactics and motivation.
You have failed.
Please do the right thing and leave.
He’s got a nerve moaning about our defence, he was the one who set us up.guys a tool.
From what I saw Chelsea were better prepared at the start and came racing out of the blocks, something that Arsenal were unable to cope with. Too many passes were intercepted and I was shocked to see Leah get a yellow card. This is leading to the interpretation that not is well in the club. We can and must do better.
One positive point is that I didn’t notice any fatigue in the Arsenal players, which is a good sign, considering the number of games played, unlike Chelsea, and I ask that Jonas trust our young players more.
Sorry but it’s time to go
Bompastor exuded confidence and authority unlike the unconvincing Eidevall. Leah Williamson, class player that she is, is struggling – as is Beth Mead. They’ve done well to fight back, but are they the same? I hope so. Defensively, the team couldn’t deal with the Colombian. Where was Fox when Chelsea scored the second goal? I like Wubben-Moy but she keeps making reckless passes in the defence. I feel sorry for Russo. I think having Blackstenius playing together would really help her – and the team. Eidevall isn’t up to the job. The good second half performance doesn’t change that –… Read more »
I don’t understand why Codina didn’t play? Lotte is a lovely person but imho, she’s not a top class CB and Leah is still post ACL recovery. I also am not as convinced by Fox as others are. Beth Mead needs to be dropped and have some time rebuilding her strength and confidence. I never felt it was wise to look at replacing the manager but, I do now. Watch the players while they are talking in a huddle … they don’t rate him and seem confused and miserable. new manager, get Chloe Kelly in (city not renewing), blood Katie… Read more »
To be fair when we let Chloe Kelly go she looked a bit of a weakling that wouldn’t add up to much. Just shows we all get things wrong from time to time! Cannot understand why City would not renew her contract since with Hemp and Shaw they were pretty formidable. I know they now have Viv but she is no more a wide player than Shaw and she was the reason that we pushed the most prolific goalscorer from the Championship out wide when we brought her from Sunderland and we have decided to leave her out there despite… Read more »