Jonas Eidevall: "People might see we are standing still, but I see a different story"

To the outside eye, it may seem like Arsenal Women have stood still this campaign. The Gunners look as if they are going to match their accomplishments from last season - replicating their 3rd place finish while retaining the Conti Cup. 

It has been five years since Arsenal last lifted the WSL title which for a club the stature of the Gunners is far too long. Arsenal have so much to admire - good football, sensational support, and a rich history in the Women's game. But, since Eidevall's arrival the Gunners have only managed to secure two Conti Cup's. The clubs previous dry spell without a title lasted seven years, with Joe Montemurro eventually leading Arsenal back to WSL glory. 

The three time WSL winners, will attempt to end their five year title hiatus next campaign as they once again set the target of lifting the WSL title. Jonas Eidevall reflected on what he has learnt this campaign with the Gunners absent from title contention with three games to play. 

"Of course, there is disappointment. The position you need to put yourself in is that if you have not already won the title every game should be deciding it that is the starting point if you want to win something.

"But, when I deal with disappointment, I don’t dwell on it, you have to accept it. Of course, it’s disappointing but it’s now about what we do in this situation to make the best of it for the rest of this season and next.

"There are loads of things that are within our control, and that we need to change and we can do that with planning and preparation and that is what our focus is on. Yes, we are disappointed to not be in title contention, but it’s not something I dwell on and we need to move forward."

Albeit, from the outside looking in it looks that Arsenal have stood still this season. However, Eidevall downplayed that as he admits that Arsenal are "progressing and developing." 

"It’s been a very different season from last season. Last season we got off to a good start but we got into an injury crisis that we had to manage during the season. 

This season we got off to a slow start and then we have managed the volatility on the other way, managing returning players from long-term injury at almost all of the stages of the season. 

"Our underlying numbers are much stronger this season but we just haven’t been effective with our chances in both directions. I see us developing, I see the progression."

The Arsenal boss confessed that his side will provide a difficult proposition to the rest of the league next season as they continue to build towards returning to the summit of the WSL. 

"Next season we should be in a very strong situation to compete as long as we have a very strong transfer window. So while people might see that we are standing still because we might be finishing in the same position, I see a big difference in the story getting there but also with the underlying numbers and performances. 

"I think it is inevitable that we will be successful if we keep having the best underlying numbers, that’s where we need to keep our belief in what we are trying to achieve."

As the Arsenal boss continued to look forward, he acknowledged that the planning for next year is already underway as his Arsenal side looks to strengthen and further bridge the gap between themselves and the league title that has eluded them for so long. 

"Of course [we have started planning], that is what we need to do. Sometimes it is external decisions to bring players in but it may also be the way we work with the existing players that we have." 

Arsenal have shown that they are more than capable of competing at the pinnacle of the WSL this campaign, with victories against Manchester United and Manchester City testament to that. However, the Gunners have lacked consistency and nerve in the season-defining moments. Eidevall admitted that his side have performed well throughout the campaign, but the lack of consistency has been costly.

"I think consistency is a really important success factor. Our underlying numbers this season are very strong. 

"This is the season from our last three seasons where we have by far the strongest underlying numbers but we just haven't been effective which has hurt us from a results perspective.

"We have shown against the best teams in the country that we are capable of producing both performances and results that can give us what we want. 

"We also see that we haven’t had the consistency as a team to deliver those performances and results throughout the whole season."