Jonas Eidevall has resigned as the Head Coach of Arsenal Women after a poor start to the season which has seen them win only one of their opening four WSL games and saw them crash to a 5-2 defeat to Bayern Munich on matchday one in the UWCL.
Our understanding is that it was made clear to Eidevall over the summer that there had to be an improvement on consecutive third place finishes in 2022-23 and 2023-24, with the Gunners winning Conti Cups in both seasons. It was always our understanding that the club made it clear that Arsenal would have to challenge seriously for the league title and / or the UWCL this season.
There have been caveats over Arsenal’s underperformance in the league in the last two seasons with injuries taking their toll in the 2022-23 season with four senior players suffering ACL injuries. In 2023-24, Arsenal had a high player turnover and struggled to look like a unit, especially when it came to playing against deep block defences.
The Gunners performed well in their 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Sunday but Eidevall cut a forlorn figure in his post-match press conference. Our understanding is that he met with the club on Monday and offered his resignation.
Assistant coach Renee Slegers, who actually took over from Eidevall at Rosengard, will take the team until further notice as a permanent replacement is sought. Arsenal play Valerenga at home in the UWCL tomorrow night and then take on West Ham away on Sunday afternoon before the international break.
Edu, Arsenal’s Sporting Director, said, “We thank Jonas for his commitment to the club and achievements here since joining us in 2021.
“We have great respect for the dedication and commitment he showed to our women’s first team and recognise the role he has played in the growth and development of Arsenal Women. We all wish him the very best for the future.
“Our focus will now turn to the process of appointing a new Head Coach, and in the meantime, supporting Renée, as she takes interim charge of the team starting with two important fixtures this week.”
Bring in a female head coach
Name one
*Who would you suggest?
Unfortunately, there’s not a great deal available at the moment. There was literally an article on the BBC website this morning about the lack of female (particularly English) coaches.
Someone mentioned Eva Olid as a potential option, although untested at the top level – a bit like a female Mikel Arteta
Jane Ludlow, Casey Stoney to name but two.
Jayne Ludlow, OMG, that would be fab. But she is totally embedded in the Welsh national team setup. She’s got kids, I believe, so the hours probably suit her better.
Everyone has a price but I suspect she will not need much coaxing to manage the team she played for and the most successful in English Football. She is the ex Wales boss!!
I’ve said for a couple of years we should get Jayne. A proven player with a huge goal tally from midfield, a proven manager that gets her team to overachieve and she tells it how it is. Will she want to come back to the hassle and the limelight though as she has a quiet little number and the occasion TV appearance as a pundit at the moment?
Sarina Wiegman, Casey Stoney.
Stoney got fired in the US for playing negative football. Not sure she’s the right person for it. Wiegman lives in the Netherlands and has two teenage daughters no way she’d do club management in the UK
Nuance trolling like this helps no one.
renée slegers
Agreed if there is a great one available. If not, Wenger in…
I am sorry but Wenger deserves a top top top national team if he decides to enjoy coaching again.
The man deserves the worlds longest holiday, still.
Pat Rice?
I would love us to have a female head coach, but most important is for the coach to be experienced, successful, and in view a recent times, a good manager of people. No one’s name is springing to mind..
I’ve been doing some research on anyone who is available and is not mark parsons. (😁) What about that Portuguese woman. She left her club (the one that isn’t benfica) 2 weeks ago.
Let’s get behind Slegers. The search could take a long time to conclude and it’s not inconceivable that Slegers could be the one.
I agree.
Why
I would love to have a good coach, male or female. Let’s not be sexists.
It’s not sexism. I can’t find the link now, but statistically women teams do better with women coaches compared to men coaches – if other factors are roughly equal.
Women aren’t little men. We have different biology and psycholgy to men. That’s why it’s important that we have someone who is a good manager of *women* not just a good tactician.
Miedema. See out the season then bring her in as coach.
I know nothing, obviously. But comes over well in interview, trusted by teammates – already very respected by city players. And clearly confident in her opinions about the game, to have creative differences with JE and to back herself in it.
The funny thing is, I can see Miedema coaching Arsenal – but in 15 years’ time! The woman’s in her peak footballing years.
I don’t know if she wants to be a coach after retirement–as she said?–but if so I too can see this as a possibility in the next decade.
For some reason I thought she was a bit older.. and player manager territory
She’s been brill since she was 18, so totally understandable 😃
Yes in the long interview on YouTube with *something Joe.
JE himself said she was the most likely to go into coaching. And Jen Bestie said that her tactical understanding is levels above her teammates’.
I’m gonna go with 10 years😁
👍
I do not follow women game as much as some of you other but it seemed looking in Chelsea and city making bigger signings in moves in last two seasons..and had youth like James come through so finishing third seemed reasonable..
Thanks for the Conti Cup’s, but it was time to go
Player mood and reactions following the loss on Saturday made it look like they had lost faith in him
All the best Jonas
No way he was going to stay long after Miedema. I think that was bad business.
I totally agree, I feel the whole club messed up there. One thing I would say is the club stayed quiet and did not get behind him when it was announced that Viv was not offered a new contact. Personally I think Clair needs to take responsibility instead of staying quiet, not putting out a statement and let the head coach take all the heat. It does not seem like a supportive manager.
True
She left apparently because the relationship had broken down, “creative differences” is what you would call it if they were band members. And now, a few months later, he’s gone too. I could weep. We lost Viv for nothing, in both senses of the word.
Her relationship in the team had broken down?
how do you know this?
Relationship with Jonas.
Best decision he has made for a quite some time…
Not 100% sure it was his decision. Probably given the opportunity to step down to protect his reputation.
Is Arsene Wenger free…?
No thanks
What about Vic Akers?
Let the man enjoy his retirement – he gave us everything. His input into the search for a new coach would be good, though.
Owf, didn’t see that one coming! Might be in the minority here: but I didn’t think he is the sole problem. I liked him, especially how he made us competitive in the big games. I just wish he could have found a way to make the team less pedestrian and ponderous in attack against teams that play a low block. Well, now he is gone, we have to get in someone who will get the best out of the young talents at the club, play some of the older players less, and get the best out of Alessia (create multiple… Read more »
It isn’t just him that we need to change, but *he* is responsible for making us pedestrian and functional.
Although in a sense I think it was unfortunate timing. A few years ago the WSL was weaker and arguably only the “big games” really mattered, and that was where Arsenal struggled. Under Jonas Arsenal have had good performances and (bar this season) good results in those games. But the games against the mid table, especially, are now more of a challenge and was ultimately the biggest issue.
I think it was inevitable but it came sooner than I expected. Jonas always had the best interests of Arsenal at heart, worked hard and leaves some good memories. I do wish him all the best for the future.
Yes, I thought he’d see out the season. Getting hammered by Bayern pushed him closer to the precipice, and then the Chelsea loss put management’s hands on his back as he stood on the edge.
Probably a decent enough chap and obviously comes across as knowledgeable and intelligent whilst doing punditry. However, that’s often not enough and he was clearly not up to the Arsenal level and the expectations of the club. The right decision. Good luck for the future Jonas and let’s go and appoint a top (ideally female) coach.
Makes sense. I wanted it to work but honestly it felt like there was a distance between him and the players. Like I don’t think they gave up on him or anything but it seemed like something wasn’t quite right in the camp
Can’t even celebrate this because the bigger problem for me, which is Clare Wheatley, remains at the club. She should have resigned with him.
As long as she’s in charge, I don’t trust the quality of work that’ll go into appointing the next coach. But still, this was very much needed. It was clear the team needed something new.
Was never a fan of his but I thank him and wish him all the best going forward.
Edu has final say on all footballing matters now, including the women’s team.
Edu is not really the greatest at filling me with confidence as well but a bit reassured at least.
We really let Miedema go on Eidevall’s say so only to be without both of them before December. I’d cry if it wasn’t so funny.
Edu doesn’t fill you with confidence? Really! Is that because he has done such an appalling job with the men’s team. Jeez
Like Tim said in the arsecast, no one exactly knows what her job is. We need an immediate leak of her job description, so we can decide if she is at fault too!
https://arseblog.news/2024/10/arsenal-women-arsecast-93-arsenal-1-2-chelsea/
I hope everyone will remember what he DID do for us, l know its not enough but those 2 cup victories against our most disliked opponents were so sweet
Certainly beat Emma more than anyone else.
That incredible run in the Champions League in 2022-23.
Think maybe time for a woman manager.
He’s an honourable man
Good decision from JE. I wish him all the best because he has many great qualities, I just don’t see him as a top coach, unfortunately. Thank goodness we have Renee Slegers in place who has head coach experience.
Good luck to Slegers. One thing I will say before seeing how she gets on is that she seems to fit in with the players. I don’t know how to explain what I mean by that except to say that when she is with them, I do a double-take, thinking she is one of the squad.
I think she “fits” because she was a high standard player herself and indeed was even on the Arsenal books in the mid-2000’s. No matter how tactically aware, a man cannot understand what it is like to play women’s football because they have not done it! A female boss also probably has more empathy with female players. Venus and Mars!
I read that when RS was here, Kelly Smith was assistant coach and Alex Scott was on sports psychology detail!
But yes, this is also the reason that women coaches can get a bit more out of women players. The bond can be closer – the coach has had the same experiences, fought the same battles just to play – and also because the players have nowhere to hide, if you see what I mean. When she says, this isn’t good enough, nobody will be muttering to herself, it’s all very well for you, or anything like that.
It was definitely time. I was at the game on Saturday and the body language of the players was telling. Conversations between Mead and Jonas and also Katie and Jonas, looked like they had completely lost faith in what he was telling them. The team played okay until the final 3rd and then there was no pattern or any creativity. Why we sanctioned letting Viv leave for free is beyond me. With the talent in this team, Jonas’ inability to create a real style of play or cohesion proved telling. I think the league and the team has moved past… Read more »
For me, the volume of poor & boring performances last season meant this should have happened before the summer, but better late than never I guess. Unfortunately, in a league season as short as 22 games, we are already out of the title race which is a real shame.
Hopefully the new coach will be able to regenerate the enthusiasm around the team.
He always seemed a decent bloke, so good luck to him wherever he goes next. Arsenal was probably just too big a job for him.
I think he lost the dressing room when he “paved” the way to move Miedema out of the team.
Sit on. I remember the touch line spat he had with her and thought then there was something malignant in the camp
I want Tim to find out (*a propos* of the podcast) what exactly a Director of Football does. As all I know of her is her cut-and-paste quote when someone arrives or leaves. If she has a say in the next manager, I’m slightly disturbed…
This is the news i was waiting for for a while now. It was time.
He talks a great game, and that’s probably how he got a job he really wasn’t prepared for in the first place.
hey look, I actually clicked on an article relating to women’s football for the first time in my life and the only time i did is when it’s about a dude!
Despite the writing on the wall it’s still a sad situation to see someone get sacked/resign. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in that meeting, who sat in with Jonas, Wheatley, Garlick, Edu, was Win there for emotional support? Seems unusual these days for a coach to resign, normally you see the words left by mutual agreement, was there any agreement in place for him to be allowed to resign and still be rewarded what’s left on his contract. He’ll no doubt find another position, he is not the first manager whose ideas, style… Read more »
Great comments, but I have to take issue with this bit: “He’ll no doubt find another position, he is not the first manager whose ideas, style and game plan go stale after 3/4 years in the job, maybe he’ll be back in the WSL by the end of the season.” He will find another job, but I see his tenure at Arsenal as a period of false dawns. We never got going. We gained in one area, lost in another. Made improvements and then reverted back to our old flaws. Like a newish car that kept breaking down. That was… Read more »
That’s fair, the ACL season really didn’t help with the start stop and false dawns. I guess I refer to his inability to reinvent himself tactically, find new answers in the 3rd and 4th year to overcome the flaws found in his game by the opposition.
Care mentioning those names??
I wish Jonas well but I don’t believe his future is in the WSL as a coach. He has just demonstrated that he cannot hack it given a full squad of international players so a mid-order team will not get anywhere under him. I see him going back to Scandanavia or giving up the coaching and becoming an analyst because that is one area where he does excel to give credit where it is due.
He shouldn’t have had that chance
A shame, he had a number of qualities, especially explaining tactics etc and did a fine job winding up Emma Hayes., but he just could not sort it out against defensive teams so it was inevitable and at least he had the decency to resign
Everything that has a beginning has an end. The board will have a long way to go to find a coach who is truly up to Arsenal’s standards. I think asking Arteta for advice might help. The women’s team’s style of play has to be compatible with the men’s. Now with Renee Slegers, I hope the girls have creative freedom that transcends their football and shines again. Everything will be fine. We lost the league, but third place is still being decided. It’s the right time for a change.
Best to have that out of the way. I prefer a female Head Coach and maybe Renee will fit the bill, otherwise Casey Stoney’s appearance at the Emirates is less of a coincidence now. Good luck tomorrrow night ladies.
Its womens football, so unpopular as an opinion as it is, I really couldn’t care less. For giggles, how about Eni Aluko as the new ‘coach’.
Fan expectations at the big clubs, and the big-nation national teams, are always through the roof—and often unrealistic. Eidevall wasn’t a bad coach, by any means, but couldn’t manage to get the Gunners to the top despite signing many if not most of the players he wanted and building something close to a team of all-stars, which you certainly have to have to compete with Chelsea, ManCity and a handful of the other big clubs these days. We’ll see who arrives next.
He did the right thing. A lot of managers don’t, so fair play to him. He saw where things were going. I just hope the club is prepared to find a suitable replacement who can still make something of this season.
Best of luck to Jonas in his future career, hope he finds a good club and is very successful in the coming years, but obviously not against us, should he face Arsenal. We will already see later today, if it was really only him, or if the players also have a part in this. Tonight we should not only win (a must), but also show the good football that can be expected from this bunch of players. Everybody agrees (me included) that this is a very talented group of individuals and a very strong team. Now, freed from the shackles… Read more »