Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall says that forward Mana Iwabuchi will get chances to impress in the team despite a challenging start to her career at the LV Bet Stadium.
The Japanese international joined the club on a free transfer in the summer. Iwabuchi impressed for Arsenal in the early stages of the UEFA Women’s Champions League but has struggled to make her mark since.
The player has made 10 appearances for The Gunners in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League but just half of those outings have come as starts. Iwabuchi has been a substitute for each of Arsenal’s last three league matches.
When discussing Iwabuchi’s Arsenal career to date with FAWSL Full-Time, head coach Eidevall said that the player is impressing on the training field and chances will come.
“The downside of having such a large squad is that the competition for places is fierce,” Eidevall said. “I think Mana started the season really well and when I watch her in practice now, I can see that she is on her way up, in form as well.
“Like I say to all players, chances will come, it is about being ready when they appear. It is hard to predict exactly when they come but you need to focus on the things that you can control, that’s preparing yourself so when the chances arise, you are ready to take them.”
Eidevall went on to say that it is the toughest aspect of the game when you are training well but not getting so many minutes. He said that Iwabuchi just needs to be well-prepared for when her next opportunity arrives.
He said “That’s the toughest mental aspect in football, sometimes you are training really well, maybe the best that you have done in the season, you just have another player in the same position as you who is doing it a little bit better. At other times, you are maybe not practicing well but there are no other players in your position so you are playing anyway.
“Playing time is not necessarily the best indicator of how you are performing so that’s why you need to drive yourself internally, prepare and when you get the chance, take it, come back and be stronger than you have ever been before.”
Iwabuchi will be hoping for another chance to impress when Arsenal travel to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday evening.
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