Jonas Eidevall reacts to 'fearless' Arsenal comeback against Wolfsburg
Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall described his team as ‘fearless’ in their 2-2 draw with Wolfsburg in their Women’s Champions League semi-final first leg, coming back from 2-0 down when the German giants were threatening to kill the tie inside 90 minutes.
Having lost Leah Williamson to long-term injury in the days before the game, adding to an already lengthy injury list, Eidevall set up with a back five in a bid to try and limit what Wolfsburg could do.
It was a struggle at time, with a well worked Ewa Pajor goal putting Wolfsburg ahead and then a miscued pass from Rafaelle across the six-yard box gifting them a second.
But Rafaelle herself head Arsenal back into the game, before Stina Blackstenius got her reward for a performance full of tireless running with the equaliser. The aggregate score-line now means the second leg at the Emirates Stadium on 1 May will be a winner takes all affair.
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“We have three values as a team, we put the team first, always be 100% and to be fearless. Today, we lived all three of those values,” Eidevall reflected afterwards.
“The best example is when we concede that second goal, of course it is a mistake, it is a difficult situation. But you have the choice to say we give 100% even if that is a tough situation and to approach the game and believe in the way that we play still.
“A mistake cannot be defining for us, how we respond to the mistake can be defining as a team. I am beyond proud to see that response from the players because it shows real resilience, real bravery on the ball and I thought they represented Arsenal excellently today.”