Arsenal were 4-0 victors over Reading in the WSL on Sunday thanks to goals from Jen Beattie, Beth Mead and a brace from Vivianne Miedema. Jonas Eidevall spoke to the press post-match, the first three questions are from Arseblog News.
On exploiting the space behind the Reading full-backs…
It comes down to two things, sometimes we just won the ball in positions high up the pitch where we could get behind their full-backs but it was also something we saw in their game against Manchester United- their full-backs were very aggressive. We prepared a little bit for that but to be honest, we didn’t have very much time to practice for this game, it has been more about out way of playing and recovery from the Prague game on Thursday night.
Jen Beattie You Knooowwww pic.twitter.com/axm6G6kpcL
— BelindaEdits (@BelindaaEdits) September 12, 2021
On scoring the opening goal from a corner…
It is extremely important, it is an area where we still need to improve but if we want to be a good team domestically and in European competition, we need to be good on set pieces. We have work to do but this was a step in the right direction.
On Beth Mead, who has four goals and six assists in six games now…
We have a great squad but when you look through this whole period, both in pre-season then the competitive matches, she has had an extremely good period. She has been a really positive surprise to work with and to see her qualities. I hope she can keep her form when she gets the England shirt on and to show that she’s a great player for the national team again.
She's on fire 🔥@bmeado9 gets her third goal of the #BarclaysFAWSL season!@ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/nEUG7I1cSj
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) September 12, 2021
On winning his first six games in charge….
I am very pleased, it comes down to two things that we have been able to do, the quality of the players we have and the quality of the staff that was already here. It has made my job much, much easier. It’s very nice that we have the results we wanted and we couldn’t ask for anything more but we are still a work in progress, we are still developing. We have taken some steps but we have more steps to take.
Cool as you like! 🧊@bmeado9 ➡️ @VivianneMiedema @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/9J2xqjGK7x
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) September 12, 2021
On Jen Beattie scoring…
I am aware of her history at this club but maybe a nice part of me coming in as a new coach is that players don’t have a previous history with me, it’s all a blank paper. What the players show me now, on the pitch and off the pitch, will be important for me. I can take on what others are telling me but I put far more emphasis on what I am seeing. It has been a really, really nice experience to work with Jen and I am really happy for her to get back playing again and to score a goal.
Is it a bird? 🦅
Is it a plane? ✈️No it's @VivianneMiedema! @ArsenalWFC #BarclaysFAWSL pic.twitter.com/cRTi0XaMzQ
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) September 12, 2021
Easy peasy lemon squeaky!!
this might just be one magical season for the girls
It’s kind of funny–Miedema scores two, and it’s not worth talking about. That’s genuinely not a criticism, but a comment on how something that would be extraordinary for almost anyone else is just “normal” for her.
The living, playing, GOAT.
I love a goal fest, think I’ll start watching women’s football
No offense, but it would be nice if the “new fans” wouldn’t compare every freaking thing to the women’s team.
They are their own entity and deserve to be treated as such.
Well Deserved…
Agree with Verstellung.
It’s really disrespectful to the women’s team to use their success as a stick to beat the men’s team with or as some sort of “protest vote”. And many of the AWFC fans aren’t fans of the men’s team anyway, so aren’t bothered about how they are doing. There must be about 20 blog posts on Arseblog on the men’s team for every 1 about Arsenal Women, so you can go and vent on one of those. Let’s please just have this little corner for the women’s team. Ta.
Very funny, both of you.
What you wrote makes sense. But, I’m not the one comparing. You’re doing it.
Read again:
“I love a goal fest, think I’ll start watching women’s football”
If that doesn’t work, try this:
I love a good workout, think I’ll start doing yoga.
Thanks.
Fair enough. Apologies for reading too much into your comment.
There’s been a lot of using the women’s team to beat the men’s team stuff on here – so the sensitivity is understandable. Your posts sound like – they’re winning/scoring lots of goals – therefore I’ll follow them. It sounds like the support is conditional – i.e. based upon goals being scored/success. Completely your prerogative, your choice, no law against it. The sensitivity is heightened because the view of many is that the support that they offer the club is unconditional and based on other motives. To extend the analogy, their position could be likened to: ‘I love the ethos… Read more »
True, your comment was borderline and I jumped the gun, but the comparisons to men’s team have been really bad of late and really annoying at best…apologies.
That said, Arsenal women are a joy to watch. I wake up at 5:30am on Sunday’s to watch them.
Welcome and enjoy.
Did you ask when Heath is expected to join the team?
It was always going to be after this international break.
Tim: Here’s one from the always nervous/never satisfied. Any thoughts about recruits for the midfield in the next window?
You’ve mentioned how this is the area that feels light within the squad – any realistic targets plus any “I’d love to get”?
The look of this squad (including the youngsters) is exciting, but I’m a bit concerned about the number of games and km’s that need to be covered, with a relatively small group in the middle (especially DMs).
idk how realistic it would be but I would love to take Groenen off United. She could really fit into the pressing style of football and her contract is up next summer and it doesn’t look like she’s extending.
And she apparently knows a good bit of Judo. Would be helpful playing the thugs…
You know who they are LOL
Is the transfer window closed already? That would be a statement of intent too. And i agree that her energy would be a great addition. I was already thinking about her when we got Frida.
Miedema and Martens are the sizzle for the Dutch national team, but Groenen and Van de Donk are the steak.
Spitse is the fulcrum- they suffered in the olympics without her.
Thanks, Tim. Great win for the girls. Great first half, with so many beautiful passages of play which deserved to be finished with goals. We took our foot off the pedal in the second half and Reading gave it more of a go. It was a little chaotic at times but I am heartened that we are playing this well and getting these results while it is still clear that there are areas we can improve in. Also Kim worked her socks again right through to the final whistle. Captain’s performance yet again. Big shout-out to Manu Zinsberger – I… Read more »
Those two sweeper-keeper saves outside of the box kept the clean sheet!
Completely understandable with the game in the bag, long season ahead, disruption of the substitutions and mid-week travel but I wondered how Jonas would respond to the easing off during the middle of the second half? His style and demeanour made me think he could be asking for total focus for 90, so hopefully some pragmatism as well. —– Saw Steph and Noelle inspecting the bruise on Lia’s head just before the restart, hope she’s ok, as well as Faye Bryson. I didn’t quite see what happened, did Katie catch her when making the header? She looked really out of… Read more »
A good end to an intense week for the team. First half was excellent but big drop off in 2nd, unsure if a little complacency set in or fatigue from quick turnaround from Prague trip. A solid win but a little sense of missing good opportunity to boost goal difference.
Good luck to all on the international break.
I think Jonas really is a great new fresh wind. It’s easy to say we still have work to do when we win. But I think he is genuine in his answers. He doesn’t hide behind stuff. He is extremely aware he has a great set of players, but also critical and will treat them as equals, no matter your history. This might be too far of a wander, but it probably works well for Viv. She wants the recognition she deserves but doesn’t need her feet kissed every time she touches a ball. I hope the vibe I’m getting… Read more »
Also, the fact that this guy is judging you new seems to have given Beth and Manu especially good form.
Hilariously, City have just lost to Sp*rs due to a shocking refereeing error (and some appalling finishing). Boost to us even at this stage of the season.
Honestly probably the funniest goal I have ever seen. Absolute performance art.
No idea how the ref allowed that goal to stand but I am happy that it did!
Well Houghton handled it too… the only person not to use her hands was the City keeper!
We’re still in the honeymoon period, obviously, but I think the thing I most like from Jonas so far is that he doesn’t turn his nose up at certain avenues for goal. He wants the goals we scored under Joe from nicely choreographed moves, he wants patterns of play, he wants players to improvise, he wants pressing, crosses, setpiece goals. I really like that he has a philosophy but that he is prepared to cause danger to opponents by any number of means.
Awesome!! Tim, I know it’s been asked before and I can’t quite remember the answer, but is there any chance of match reports from the women’s games? It always is a bit weird to be reading the managers comments without having read what happened in the game/having a sense of who contributed what etc.
Huge thanks for all the content you put out, and I know I could go and find a report somewhere else, just I like coming here for all things arsenal.
You’re probably already aware but the BBC are pretty with WSL coverage.
Today’s game is here:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58451983
Liked that they referred to Madejski and not Serious Car Leasing or whatever it is.
Yes, I was mildly amused to see “Madejski” stadium signs on the way to the stadium and thinking about the annoyance of the brand/sponsorship team at the car leasing thingy (but I probably need to get out more).
‘pretty *quick’.
Honestly it’s just quite difficult to do both and most WSL clubs don’t have press facilities or allow you to stay much beyond the final whistle so I usually have to write the quotes up on the train home but we do have a little something up our sleeves for the coverage that should complement this nicely.
Exciting! Hopefully they’ll be at the Emirates a lot more soon. Madness that it’s not their ‘home’ ground.
*our
I’d like to see attendances increase considerably before the Emirates becomes a regular venue. Even against nemesis Chelsea there were less than 10,000 in attendance which in a 60,000 seat stadium looks a little lost. Are we really going to see many more for a visit from Barcelona, for example? Hate to say it but it only seems to be games against Spuds that generate a crowd suitable for playing at the Emirates. Meadow Park is great at the moment because the crowd is right at pitch side and for the bigger WSL games it can almost be sold out… Read more »
I don’t agree. I think you’ve got to be on the big stage and grow into it. Parity between the teams, at the ground the club is famous for. The comments from the team after the Chelsea game show where they think they need to be playing, Miedema didn’t mince her words! I wasn’t there but I didn’t think it looks bad it being only 7000 or so there on TV, and the sense of occasion was palpable. Whereas at Meadow Park it feels kind of budget. If AC and Inter can do it…
You could always just watch the game! If not live then FA Player is very good. The full match from yesterday is on there already to view at your leisure!
Yeah I do when I can, same as with the other arsenal team.