Arsenal were 3-1 winners over West Ham in the WSL on Sunday night, breaking a WSL record of 13 consecutive wins. After falling behind, the Gunners rallied with goals from Jordan Nobbs, Stina Blackstenius and Frida Maanum. Jonas Eidevall spoke to the press post-match, the first three questions are from Arseblog News.
On whether the midweek Champions League game took its toll in the first half…
It is a challenge when you play a lot of games, especially when you are coming to the end of a block like this. I think you can see that in the way we played, we made mistakes we don’t usually make on the ball with how we position, we looked slow and we lost focus. With the goal we conceded you could see a prime example of that, I don’t recognise us as a team there. That part annoys me because you always want to be better than that but there is a reason why we looked like that.
SHE'S ONLY JUST COME ON!
What an impact from @JordanNobbs8 🤩#BarclaysWSL @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/TN6aYAgZzG
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) October 30, 2022
On bringing Jordan Nobbs on for Kim Little in the number 8 role…
You could see when we built up it was so important to get the close connection between the two 6s and in front of their midfield. We needed to change the point of attack, for example, when Noelle got the ball she needed a short option inside and I couldn’t think of a better player than Jordan Nobbs for that. I know she will be there constantly asking for the ball, making short passes and making the extra pass. That was exactly what we needed and she gave us that and a bit more and I am very happy for her and it’s important for the team that she performed the way she did. Potentially, I think it’s why we won the game.
On Steph Catley’s set piece delivery in recent games…
You need both, you need good delivery and you need good targets you can’t only have one of them so she’s 50% of the reason!
A beautiful touch from @SBlackstenius to get on the end of @stephcatley's free kick 🤩#BarclaysWSL @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/e0FOyhsd5q
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) October 30, 2022
On the reaction to going 1-0 down…
For us to concede can never be the end of the world. It’s not a great goal for us to concede but what I am interested to see is the reaction. How do we look from a mentality perspective and how do we respond? That i was really happy with.
A beautiful touch to start the move & a header to finish! 🎯
Frida Maanum 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/nid0NMoK60
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) October 30, 2022
On managing the squad in this period and the players who don’t start…
Communication, trying to see everyone, trying to give them points where they help the team. That is what you can do. You can’t change the fact that you can only pick 11 players but you can do your very best, me and the staff, to see the bigger picture and constantly remind people of how you can contribute in other ways when you are not starting.
1.Zinsberger; 16.Maritz (26.Wienroither ‘71), 3.Wubben-Moy, 7.Catley, 15.McCabe; 13.Walti, 10.Little(c) (8.Nobbs ‘38), 12.Maanum; 9.Mead, 19.Foord (17.Hurtig ‘70); 25.Blackstenius (11.Miedema ‘70).
Ooft. Very nearly a banana skin game. Essential to win this one, good message to send to the rest of the league and indeed to ourselves – we will get the job done one way or another. Congratulations to Jordan and Stina.
Zingsberger’s improvement over the last couple years has been really refreshing. And yeah, Catley’s got a mean delivery on that left foot of hers. We move
Passing out from the back really has to improve before Man Utd (no disrespect to Leicester…)