Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall says that the club are improving a number of factors in a bid to challenge for glory in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
The Gunners ended this season’s group stage as group winners following an emphatic 9-1 victory over FC Zürich in Schaffhausen last night. It is a very different picture to 12 months ago when Arsenal crept into the last-eight with a whimper as they went down 4-1 at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Matchday 6.
When speaking to the media after last night’s victory over FC Zürich, Arsenal boss Eidevall said that the club have worked hard to improve everything for their participation in this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League.
“Last season’s experience was a factor (in the growth this season) and that is not only what is happening on the pitch but also off the pitch, where we are taking huge steps as an organisation,” Eidevall said. “We are improving everything that we do all of the time in the way we travel and have our logistics, so we are more and more time efficient and better prepared.
“All of those small details also make a difference in the end. Time is a factor, last season I was new to the club and now we are more settled and have experienced more things together and we are more mature as a team. That shows progress.”
Arsenal have had a successful 2022 and clear progress has been made both on and off the pitch. Eidevall is unable to sum up his side’s achievements whilst in the moment but he will be reflecting back on the year over the Christmas break.
He said “I don’t know yet that’s a hard question at the moment (how to sum up Arsenal’s achievements in 2022). We live in an industry that is game-by-game. We have had that focus and one thing I am really looking forward to is getting days off over Christmas to be able to reflect. I hope I can better answer this question in January!”
Arsenal now enter a mid-season break. The Gunners will return to action with a Barclays Women’s Super League fixture against Chelsea at The Emirates Stadium on 15 January.