Jonas Eidevall, the Swedish head coach, is recounting his transformative yet challenging journey with Arsenal Women. Eidevall, who spent over three years in north London, recently signed a new contract with the club in October, aiming to restore Arsenal to its former glory. However, a mutual decision saw him depart midway through an optimistic campaign. Despite the difficulties, he played a significant role in instigating a positive cultural shift at the club, developing a team that competed fiercely against top-tier teams.
Eidevall's tenure at Arsenal was marked by notable successes. Under his leadership, the team reached the semi-final of the Champions League and triumphed over Chelsea in two finals. Yet, his decision to let Vivianne Miedema, the WSL's all-time leading goalscorer, leave on a free transfer to rival Manchester City proved controversial.
"It was evident I lost quite a lot of my relationship with the supporters when we decided not to renew Miedema's contract," Eidevall admitted.
Reflecting on his departure, Eidevall revealed how removing himself from the equation seemed the quickest way to uplift the team.
"We needed to find a quick way to remove that cloud. It was an incredibly difficult decision for me to take, because you have a part of you that wants to be a fighter and prove doubters wrong – that's what I've been doing my whole career," he explained.
"I thought the easiest and quickest way to help the players perform was to remove that cloud, and that was me stepping away," he added.
Despite leaving Arsenal, Eidevall continues to keep a watchful eye on his former club's progress. He is particularly enjoying the success of Renee Slegers, who has won 10 of her 11 games in interim charge.
Eidevall's time at Arsenal was not just about victories on the field. It involved fostering a competitive environment and increasing fan engagement.
"During my time we developed into a team that was very competitive against the best teams, we reached the semi-final of the Champions League and beat Chelsea in two finals. That part was important for progress, and I had the privilege of doing that at a time where we grew from an average attendance of 1,500 to 35,000 – that was special," he reflected.
His reflections on his Arsenal journey highlight both personal and professional growth.
"It was an incredible time to be a part of the club. To see the power of having a club so fully invested, from a sporting perspective, but also from a commercial perspective, and understanding that growing a team is not done without cooperation," Eidevall shared.
Although his departure was tinged with regret and tension, as evidenced by his comment:
"We haven't sent each other any Christmas wishes," Eidevall said wryly.
Eidevall is now setting his sights on new challenges in the NWSL with San Diego Wave. He is enthusiastic about this opportunity and the potential it presents.
"It's a very competitive league with a lot of investment and growth, with owned stadiums and facilities. Those two things make it very exciting for me. It's development that we don't see in Europe at the moment and that's the key difference," he stated.
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