A battling defeat of West Ham ensured Arsenal secured back‑to‑back wins in the Champions League and Women’s Super League after the resignation of Jonas Eidevall. It took 71 minutes before Arsenal made the breakthrough, Mariona Caldentey scoring from the spot before Rosa Kafaji’s smart first-time finish killed off the home team.
It was unlikely that we would see a dramatic change in Arsenal’s fortunes after the exit of Eidevall. After three to four years at the club, the side and the way they play are products of his managerial style and coaching philosophies.
His resignation does not mean the problems that have plagued Arsenal in recent weeks, and arguably longer than that, have gone away. There can be upturns after any managerial change, but they are often short-lived, until the more patient work of isolating the problem areas and working on them is done.
The reality is that Arsenal’s interim manager, Renée Slegers, has had very little time to make substantial changes; nor will she necessarily be inclined to be too bold in her adaptations.
The 4-1 defeat of Vålerenga in the Champions League on Wednesday had certainly gone some way to exorcising their biggest demon, of struggling to break down low blocks, but the Norwegian champions were always going to be a far kinder test than what they would face in the WSL.
A trip to West Ham would be the real test of whether the Gunners would benefit from an uplift after Eidevall’s exit. Last season, a 2-1 defeat against the Hammers was added to defeats by Tottenham and Liverpool and proved costly. Teams outside the top three had worked out Arsenal; the blueprint was to allow the Gunners to dominate and to play with a narrow low block, to let the lion loose but remove the teeth.
This was the formula West Ham adopted for the visit of the managerless side on Sundayyesterday, the home team happy to concede possession and threaten on the break.
There were a few changes for the London derby. Leah Williamson dropped to the bench for Arsenal and Lotte Wubben-Moy was still unavailable, with the club following concussion protocol, meaning Steph Catley partnered Laia Codina at the back. Beth Mead was also on the bench. Rehanne Skinner made two changes to the team that secured a 1-1 draw with Everton last week, Shannon Cooke and Seraina Piubel replacing Emma Harries and Camila Sáez.
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The Hammers were effective at limiting the threat of Arsenal. It took 20 minutes until Arsenal went close to a shot on target, with Alessia Russo firing wide of the far post from a tight angle. Two minutes later they went close again, Emily Fox attempting to prod the ball through the legs of Kinga Szemik but the goalkeeper kept it out. Lia Wälti had a go from the edge of the box shortly before the break, switching on to her left foot before firing goalwards but the effort was a little too close to Szemik.
It was a familiar story for the Gunners, but the introduction of Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mead, Kafaji and Stina Blackstenius just before the hour proved decisive. Within 10 minutes Blackstenius was brought down by Amber Tysiak and Arsenal were awarded a penalty, which was coolly converted by Caldentey.
There were still nervous moments for the visiting team, though, Harries and Dagný Brynjarsdóttir going close. But two of Arsenal’s substitutes combined for the goal that quelled the fight, the Hammers having to be more expansive in search of an equaliser. Blackstenius latched on to Caldentey’s ball down the line and sent it towards Kafaji, who turned it in with one touch.
The win means Arsenal remain five points behind the league leaders, Manchester City, in fifth. They have a mountain to climb and the international break arrives to give some much-needed time at the drawing board.
Source: theguardian.com
