Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall knows what to expect from Paris FC after watching the French club’s midweek win against FC Kryvbas.
The Gunners face Paris FC in the final of their UEFA Women’s Champions League Round 1 group. Arsenal defeated Linköping FC 3-0 in their semi-final tie on Wednesday while Paris FC saw-off Ukrainian club FC Kryvbas just hours later.
Having analysed Paris FC’s victory over FC Kryvbas, Arsenal boss Eidevall says that the game was a good representation of what his own side will come up against this weekend.
“In the first half, Paris were the better team but it was quite an even game and Kryvbas were working really hard in their defensive organisation to deny them space,” Eidevall said when speaking in the pre-match press conference.
“When I look at Paris, I can see that they are really strong on the counter attack. Of course, Kryvbas didn’t create a lot of opportunities on the counter for Paris, one of the few that they did was after a set-piece which was also where Paris scored their first goal and I don’t think that was a coincidence. They scored from a number of situations from the wide areas.
“The game was a good representation of Paris’ strengths and what we need to deal with.”
Arsenal have started their season with Beth Mead edging back towards fitness while the club issued a video of defender Leah Williamson on the treadmill this week. Eidevall said that being able to see Arsenal’s injured stars on the road to recovery gives everyone a lift.
He said “I definitely think that it is a positive momentum, it is the opposite to when you lose players to long-term injuries.
“With Beth (Mead) being in the training environment, you see that it is not as black and white as just going back and going to play. When you have been away for a long time, you have to find your rhythm again, find your form again and that’s an individual thing for all players.
“We are so excited that each player is making progress and they’re getting closer to being back on the pitch every day. That feels great and I think we can build on that.”
Arsenal’s UEFA Women’s Champions League Round 1 final tie against Paris FC kicks-off at 2pm on Saturday afternoon.