Former Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall has said the departure of club icon Vivianne Miedema in July was his main reason. He resigned in October.He said fans with no “quick fix” and no “cloud” thrown into the new season created the situation.
Miedema, the Women's Super League (WSL) record goalscorer after arriving in 2017, has 125 goals and 50 assists in 172 games for the Gunners, and Eidevall, who arrives from Swedish club Rosengard in 2021, said he was faced with a budget decision to keep him. 28-year-old club or World Cup-winning Spanish striker Mariona Caldentey has been signed.
“After we let Vivianne Miedema go, our relationship with the supporters was very bad,” Eidevall told the Swedish outlet. evening paper.
“You have a limited budget and you had the opportunity to sign Mariona Caldentey or extend Vivianne Miedema's contract.
“But it's not a decision where you stand in a press conference and say, 'We have to choose between two players.' Actually, neither of us can. Then we have to decide what we think is best for the club.”
🗣️ “I guess people just don't connect the dots sometimes.”
Jonas Eidevall discusses his relationship with Vivianne Miedema when he was Arsenal manager. pic.twitter.com/catmjD6vMM
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) January 7 2025
Eidevall says he has 'no problem' with Miedema.
Medima won the 2018/19 WSL and three League Cups with Arsenal, but missed the entire season from December 2019 until the end of last season due to a knee injury.
The Netherlands' all-time goalscorer arrived at Manchester City in September, scoring against Manchester City and Eidevall before suffering a knee problem since early October.
“I think you can predict the consequences of a decision, but I have to be honest, I didn't see it in this case,” Eidevall said. The San Diego Wave announced Tuesday that he has been named the National Women's Soccer League manager..
New Wave head coach Jonas Eidevall was sacked in October after a slow start to 2024, with Arsenal fans furious at him.
He asked what lessons he learned from that experience. He discussed the importance of transparency, which he hopes to offer supporters in San Diego. pic.twitter.com/d7hpxi0OKc
— Darnay Tripp (@DarnayTripp) January 8 2025
“There is a cloud over us. If you're hanging on me right now, I'll be fine – don't worry. But if that becomes the narrative that affects the team, the team's performance in the fall will not be beneficial.
“But I would have made the same decision. I believe Caldentey will continue to be a great asset to Arsenal.
“Working with Miedema has no problem. She has a strong personality and always speaks her mind, similar to mine. It was decided at the stadium.”
“We need to find a way to get rid of the cloud, and the easiest way is to get out. It's not unusual to go it alone in this business.”
The era of EIDEVALL has arrived 🌊 pic.twitter.com/4EqWinJGqu
— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) January 7 2025
Eidevall backs Slegers to succeed Arsenal.
Caldentry has one goal and one assist in nine WSL games and has scored five times in 10 Champions League games in 2024/25.
The former Barcelona regular has helped the club go on an 11-game unbeaten run under interim manager Renee Slegers, who joins as Eidevall's assistant in September 2023.
Eidevall said, “I feel Renee is a great leader. “(She has) a good foundation and solid football knowledge. she I am very happy to see the good results and performances that the team and the coaching staff have put together and I really hope they can continue. I think it would be best.
“If you look at the other coaches coming into the league, do they have more experience than Renee? She led Rosengard for two years, was the U-23 national team coach for Sweden, and was a scout for the Holland and Swedish national teams (Swedish club) LB07, leading them through a very difficult season. It's silly to say he doesn't have a lot of experience.”
The Gunners are in fantastic form under Renée Slegers 🤩#BarclaysWSL @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/Y0tYFjiMwA
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) January 8 2025
Arsenal 'advantage' for Eidevall
Arsenal lost two of their first five Champions League games of the season and won one of their four league games before Eidevall's departure, including a 2-1 defeat at home to close title rivals Chelsea in their last WSL outing.
“The thing I miss the most is … finding a balance that allows me to regulate my energy,” the 41-year-old said. “When I left, there were 37 employees and 27 players in the team. There are 28 people.
“The one part I found heartbreaking – and the part I decided to leave – was not having an athletic director to work with.
“I think it's too much to deal with so many people on a daily basis. Because as soon as I talk to anyone, I have a plan. There was no conversation at all, just 'how are you?' It created a small void inside me.”