Arsenal confirmed top spot in their Champions League group with a win over FC Zurich in Switzerland on Wednesday night thanks to a hat-trick from Frida Maanum a brace from Stina Blackstenius and a brace from Caitlin Foord. Jonas Eidevall spoke to the press post-match, the first four questions are from Arseblog News.
On the joy Arsenal got attacking the channels…
We saw that it was really important to try to stretch their defence, when we have seen them being stretched, we see the pitch opens up. We aimed for the channels and I thought we did that very, very well, especially in the first half.
WHAT A HIT BY ARSENAL'S FRIDA MAANUM 🚀#UWCL LIVE NOW ⬇️
🇬🇧 🎙 https://t.co/ATDtlk2k2R
🇨🇭 🎙 https://t.co/TD3Usq0NnS pic.twitter.com/fYjsuMDl0W— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 21, 2022
On Arsenal’s growth in the competition over the last 12 months…
Last season’s experience was a factor and that is not only what is happening on the pitch but also off the pitch, where we are taking huge steps as an organisation. We are improving everything that we do all the time in the way we travel and have our logistics, so we are more and more time efficient and better prepared. All those small details also makes a difference in the end. Time is a factor, last season i was new to the club and now we are more settled and have experienced more things together and we are more mature as a team. That shows progress.
Caitlin Foord DOUBLES Arsenal's lead 🔴⚪️#UWCL LIVE NOW ⬇️
🇬🇧 🎙 https://t.co/ATDtlk2k2R
🇨🇭 🎙 https://t.co/TD3Usq0NnS pic.twitter.com/2hqimcWJy2— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 21, 2022
On Foord, Blackstenius and Maanum getting on the score sheet in the absence of Mead and Miedema…
End product is important with forward players, I think it is important to develop existing players that we have. But that is one of the challenges of this transfer window that we need to recruit players that can give us end product because that is certainly one of the measurable factors that we have lost with those two players that we need to take into consideration.
Arsenal are ROLLING past FC Zurich as Frida Maanum makes it 3-0 to the Gunners 🔥#UWCL LIVE NOW ⬇️
🇬🇧 🎙 https://t.co/ATDtlk2k2R
🇨🇭 🎙 https://t.co/TD3Usq0NnS pic.twitter.com/abKzqN9ucy— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 21, 2022
On starting Leah Williamson in midfield…
I think that was the best starting eleven we could put out today, it was about me selecting the best starting eleven in my eyes.
Stina Blackstenius adds a FOURTH goal for Arsenal right before halftime 😱#UWCL LIVE NOW ⬇️
🇬🇧 🎙 https://t.co/ATDtlk2k2R
🇨🇭 🎙 https://t.co/TD3Usq0NnS pic.twitter.com/dTOCVvqBix— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 21, 2022
Reflections on 2022 as a whole..
I don’t know yet that’s a hard question at the moment. We live in an industry that is game by game by game. We have had that focus and one thing I am really looking forward to is getting days off over Christmas to be able to reflect. I hope I can better answer this question in January!
A HAT TRICK FOR FRIDA MAANUM AS ARSENAL ADD A FIFTH ⚡️#UWCL LIVE NOW ⬇️
🇬🇧 🎙 https://t.co/ATDtlk2k2R
🇨🇭 🎙 https://t.co/TD3Usq0NnS pic.twitter.com/Blv8C5kVg3— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 21, 2022
On Beth Mead being nominated for BBC Sports Personality of the Year…
She has had an extraordinary year under difficult circumstances that we are all aware of. Like I said in the autumn of 2021, Beth Mead is this good. It becomes so clear when you see her in training every day. Maybe people hadn’t seen that before and saw it as form, but it wasn’t form it was quality, that is why I am confident she will be able to return in a very strong condition again because she is that good a football player. I am very happy for her to be able to show that and she has been able to show that in a way that she is as a person. How positive and caring she is and i think that is inspirational for people.
ARSENAL ADD A SIXTH AS STINA BLACKSTENIUS GETS HER BRACE 🇸🇪#UWCL LIVE NOW ⬇️
🇬🇧 🎙 https://t.co/ATDtlk2k2R
🇨🇭 🎙 https://t.co/TD3Usq0NnS pic.twitter.com/tJzBrDqZFS— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 21, 2022
Seventh heaven for Arsenal as Caitlin Foord makes it 7-1 🔥#UWCL LIVE NOW ⬇️
🇬🇧 🎙 https://t.co/ATDtlk2k2R
🇨🇭 🎙 https://t.co/TD3Usq0NnS pic.twitter.com/7Z63lMxUoj— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 21, 2022
Kim Little marks her return from injury by slotting home her penalty and scoring Arsenal's EIGHTH goal of the night 8️⃣#UWCL LIVE NOW ⬇️
🇬🇧 🎙 https://t.co/ATDtlk2k2R
🇨🇭 🎙 https://t.co/TD3Usq0NnS pic.twitter.com/urKtQXDxEZ— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 21, 2022
Mana Iwabuchi SCORES Arsenal's NINTH GOAL of the night 🇯🇵#UWCL LIVE NOW ⬇️
🇬🇧 🎙 https://t.co/ATDtlk2k2R
🇨🇭 🎙 https://t.co/TD3Usq0NnS pic.twitter.com/bpcWPMm8jO— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 21, 2022
1.Zinsberger; 16.Maritz, 3.Wubben-Moy (10.Little ‘61), 2.Rafaelle, 7.Catley (5.Beattie ‘80); 6.Williamson(c), 13.Walti (8.Nobbs ‘61), 12.Maanum (23.Iwabuchi ‘73); 15.McCabe, 19.Foord, 25. (17.Hurtig ‘61).
Well done, cracking performance!
And well done Beth Mead, sports personality of the year!
This calls for a large whisky!
Or 2 !!!
Great night for the whole squad and staff.
Congratulations Beth.
Was the commentator being sponsored on how many times he could say Frida’s name in full during the match?
If he was he’s made a fortune!
Looking forward to him commentating when Anna Margaretha Marina Astrid Miedema returns.
Great performance and great result. Yay, Stine scored – twice! And welcome back Captain Kim Little. Great penalty.
I like Michael McCann as a commentator. He does a lot of background research and brings in interesting little details. And he makes a real effort with pronunciation.
Great performance and result. Went at them from the get go with full intensity.
Masterclass from Frida, and pleased for Stina (left-footed long range effort- who would have thought??)
Also nice to see Mana get 20minutes and a goal. Sad if that is really her farewell- her passing and movement are wonderful to watch.