Jonas Eidevall must 'find solutions' as Arsenal face Wolfsburg UWCL semi-final
“I am here to find solutions,” were the words of Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall in the wake of Wednesday night’s WSL defeat to Manchester United.
It wasn’t a defeat that knocked the Gunners out of top three contention as they remain level on points with Manchester City. But it almost certainly ended their title hopes for this season after falling six points behind the leaders, albeit with a game in hand.
Arsenal lost Leah Williamson early in the game with what worryingly, for England as well, looked to be a potentially serious injury. Frida Maanum also needed lengthy treatment during the first half as well but was fortunately able to shake it off and carry on.
Eidevall was relieved to hear from medical staff at the time that there was a ‘zero per cent’ risk with Maanum, who has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season and had at one stage benched Vivianne Miedema, staying on the pitch. “We can’t lose her also,” he said.
In the build up to the United defeat, decided somewhat ironically by Alessia Russo – a player the Gunners wanted so desperately in January they made two world record bids - Arsenal also learned the extent of Kim Little’s hamstring injury: out for the season.
The captain joined Beth Mead and the aforementioned Miedema as long-term injured. Williamson could yet be added to that group in the coming days once scans and assessments are carried out.
Arsenal were missing Katie McCabe in Manchester because of suspension, but she also completed a seemingly miraculous injury recovery only last month. Caitlin Foord was another injured, but may yet be back for the weekend’s Champions League trip to Germany. Fellow Australian Steph Catley only made her return from injury off the bench at half-time of the United game, while Lia Walti started after recently having time off to recover from mental exhaustion.
With Maanum down and a substitute being readied at Leigh Sports Village, Arsenal were genuinely facing the rest of that game without their seven best and most important players – Mead, Miedema, Little, Williamson, McCabe, Foord and Maanum. In the end it was just six.
As Arsenal now prepare to fly to Germany to meet Wolfsburg to commence the Women’s Champions League semi-finals, the ‘solutions’ that Eidevall finds will define their season.
The Gunners dug deep to win the Conti Cup and mount a WSL comeback victory over Manchester City. But it felt like facing United, especially losing Williamson so early, was a game too far. Now, another challenge in Europe immediately awaits.
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On this edition of 90min's Definitive European Power Rankings, part of the 90min podcast network, Sean Walsh and Jack Gallagher discuss the top 10 teams from across the continent after a busy week of Champions League quarter-finals.
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