Rebecca Hall is in Linköping for Impetus to cover Arsenal’s UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying campaign. Ahead of tomorrow’s final game with Paris FC, she reports from the Gunners’ pre-game media conference (8/9/23)
Above: Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall at today’s media conference. Photo: Rebecca Hall for Impetus.
With a place in the Champions League group stage at stake, Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall is well aware of the significant threat posed by Paris FC tomorrow.
The Arsenal boss and his staff were at Paris’s first game – a 4-0 win over Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih to gain a better understanding of their opponents. “I think Paris are very good at the counterattack… and they score a number of situations from wide areas. Ultimately, Eidevall contemplated that “The game was quite representative of Paris’s strengths”.
The potential impact of new signing Alessia Russo was also commended by the Gunners boss, who said: “I think she has the potential and ability to play in a really high tempo, and in small spaces because of that. She has so many different qualities, and you see that on the training pitch as well. So, I think she will fit really well”.
Eidevall was also asked the question most football fans are desperate to know, concerning where Mary Earps will be this upcoming season. The boss remained calm with a face that gave nothing away.
He reconfirmed that Arsenal “remain active in the transfer market. There might be business to be done”. However, the Swede firmly stated “no comment on that specific individual”. So, the questions remain as rumours continue to swirl around Earps, Manchester United, and Arsenal.
The good news continues for Arsenal off the pitch as well. Not only was Beth Mead named on the bench for Wednesday’s Champions League fixture, but this week has also seen, England Captain, Leah Williamson take a big step in her ACL recovery.
Williamson is now running on the zero-gravity treadmill at the club’s London Colney training ground. On how players’ injury progress impacts the team’s morale, Eidevall confirmed it ”definitely gives positive momentum”, “I always think, and we see this with Beth (Mead) now, you need to find your rhythm again… but we’re so excited that each one is making progress and every day getting closer to go back on the pitch”.
Also speaking to the media today was Arsenal’s former Linköping star Lina Hurtig. The Swedish international was received by huge applause at her former club, and the cheers continued even after the game, in which she scored. Reflecting on the reception, Hurtig said, “It was great, I have a lot of great memories, it was a special feeling coming here, it kind of feels like home a bit.”
Arsenal only had a week of training ahead of their first game of the season as a full squad, Hurtig emphasised the club’s positive team environment and explained that their short time together has been “good” and “we’re starting to really connect again after this summer.”
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