Arsenal were 3-0 winners over Spurs in the WSL at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night thanks to a goal from Beth Mead and a brace from Caitlin Foord. Jonas Eidevall spoke to the press post-match. Arseblog News was busy talking to Leah Williamson during the conference so none of the questions are from us on this occasion. The Leah quotes will go out on Thursday morning…
On the overall performance…
Happy with the performance. I think it was a strong performance for us. I think we played the way that we want to express ourselves. I think we were very good in possession. We played a strong defensive side like Spurs apart at times and I thought that was joyful to watch.
On Tottenham’s physical approach…
Yeah I knew it. When we played them the other time, I think they had 22 fouls. We never see teams going over 10 fouls in the WSL. I think there were over 10 fouls today as well. It’s their way of trying to get into our heads. That’s what you need to manage.
She LOVES a goal at the Emirates! 🙌
Enjoy that, @bmeado9? 😍#BarclaysFAWSL @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/dek0Jj56yN
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) May 4, 2022
On whether this is becoming a proper rivalry now…
It’s very different styles. It’s both an ideological battle and a battle between the clubs. It’s two very different styles that battle each other. Today I’m happy today that football won.
On the title race going to the final day…
Also excited. That’s what we want. We want to play games that matter the most. If we don’t bring it to that point we won’t win any trophies so that’s always the starting point. Play in decisive games, get to those moments and believe that everything is possible.
Sound ON for the noise at the Emirates! 🔊@CaitlinFoord makes it two for @ArsenalWFC in the #NLD! 💥 pic.twitter.com/kA5B0yweQE
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) May 4, 2022
On Caitlin Foord’s performance…
Like I said before I really want Caitlin to stay. I think she has been excellent for us especially since coming back from the Asia cup in all the games since then basically. Both in possession and out of possession. She has been a huge part of the success we’ve had in the spring.
On Rehanne Skinner saying she’d have preferred the game to have been played on its original date in March…
I don’t understand. Why would she rather have played it then?
Sound ON for the noise at the Emirates! 🔊@CaitlinFoord makes it two for @ArsenalWFC in the #NLD! 💥 pic.twitter.com/kA5B0yweQE
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) May 4, 2022
Because this means they played five games in 14 days…
Yeah but they cancelled the game. We didn’t cancel the game. We always wanted to play. That’s what I said from the beginning. We want to play football matches. Sometimes that suits you sometimes that doesn’t suit you. No one has played tougher game schedule than Arsenal so I’m not going to sit there and feel sorry for another team. We always wanted to play the games that we had in front of us. We won’t look for any excuses for that so I don’t understand the comment to be honest.
On the limitations of a one-ball system in the WSL…
You can see the limitations of the one-ball system. Especially for a team like us that likes to keep the ball in play and have quick set-ups. So I really hope it’s a thing that can change in the future – now we just need to deal with it the way it is.
1.Zinsberger; 16.Maritz (26.Wienroither ‘84), 6.Williamson (5.Beattie ‘84), 3.Wubben-Moy, 7.Catley; 13.Walti, 10.Little(c), 11.Miedema; 9.Mead (14.Parris ‘84), 19.Foord (12.Maanum 81), 25.Blackstenius (15.McCabe ‘67).
Dealt with the game very well. Physicality doesn’t rattle the Arsenal like it used to! Shame there was not a few more goals but 3-0 is better than 1-1. That was possibly the last we shall see of Beats in a Gunners shirt so I thought given her service to the club over the years she might of got more of a farewell than the 84th minute onwards but then Jonas does not seem to big on celebrations like 250th appearances or 50th goals etc. I hope Caitlin stays too! She has quietly put in a shift this season and… Read more »
I very much echo your thoughts about Caitlin, she works her socks off and is always a goal threat. The attack seems to be developing very nicely so it’ll be a real shame if we can’t keep hold of her and Miedema.
Think Foord gels better in the buildup play vs Stina, esp if we are against a team that is sitting deep. Foord is also very robust despite her relative short stature (had the impression she was much taller!)
I thought that was a good game and a very solid performance from Arsenal. You can see the benefit of having a fairly settled starting 11, the cohesion that has been missing at times this season is very much there now. Now let’s beat West Ham and cross our fingers for a favour from Man U!
Rehanne Skinner has some brass neck, doesn’t she? Lol. Anyway, great display from us. We are standing up to physical pressure better but it did help that the ref made it clear she wasn’t going to stand for any nonsense. All the cards were deserved, including Katie’s, but the ref also let the game flow as much as possible. Really good calls on offside as well. Credit where it’s due and all that. So happy for Caitlin, so well deserved. And my player of the match was Kim – once again a captain’s performance from the most complete midfielder in… Read more »
Agree regarding the officials. I think that was the best performance I have seen from a referee and assistants all season. Considering we had the benefit of replays, I don’t think there was a single decision that they got wrong after making an instantaneous decision and seeing the play once in real time. More of that next season please!
Green got away with just a yellow, surely?
What was Skinner smoking?
Actually, yes, that incident was leniently dealt with by the ref.
That and the penalty were the only stand-out wrong calls, but on the latter, it’s a little surprising to see the old DIY trip (clip your own calf with the other foot and drop to the ground) can still catch refs out.
I’ve seen refs wave play on in incidents like that when Beth has hobbled off the pitch like a cripple. At least last night yellow cards were used.
That’s the essence of it, isn’t it? She did at least penalise it in some way. Refs are human being and will get things wrong with only a split second to see it, we get that, but egregious errors shouldn’t happen if you have the right attitude – ie prioritising player safety, which she did.
It may have been late in the game, but it was nice to see Jen playing at the Emirates. I imagine this will be her last appearance for us. I thought we stood up well to Spurs’ physical approach and Kim made several important defensive interventions. Amazing that she can keep performing at this level given that she’s not really had a break since last July
If United can hold Chelsea to a draw, then we need to win. If they can win at Kingsmeadow, then we just need a draw to top the league on goal difference.
“Today I’m happy today that football won.” Lol
Second time he’s had a pop at his opposite number this week (after the Chelsea postponing games because of Kerr statement). Think Hayes will use that comment to fire up her side even more on Sunday.
I like it when Katie McCabe came on and pretty much immediately gets into a fight. A great tradition upheld for the North London Derby- now we just need some red cards for Spurs…