Arsenal Women's Pre-Season: Eidevall Aims for Champions League Glory After Summer Shake-Up

After back-to-back third-place finishes in the Women's Super League, Arsenal Women are looking to make a statement this season under manager Jonas Eidevall. The Gunners have embarked on their first-ever pre-season tour of the United States, aiming to build a strong foundation for a campaign that will see them target a return to the Champions League.

Speaking from Washington D.C., Eidevall described the tour as "the most proper pre-season" since his arrival in 2021. Previous summers had been hampered by COVID-19 restrictions, the 2022 European Championship, and the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. This year, the Paris Olympics have also presented a challenge, with several key players only joining the squad recently.

"Out of the Olympic players, we had a trio from Australia (Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Kyra Cooney-Cross) who joined us yesterday on the travel day," Eidevall explained. "Then we have three players (Laia Codina, Mariona Caldentey and Emily Fox) who will join us on Monday, the day after we play Washington Spirit."

Managing the differing fitness levels of the returning Olympians is a priority for Eidevall. "Those coming back next Monday have the fitness as they have been playing competitive games at the Olympics, but what they might be lacking is the freshness – physically and mentally. We just need to make sure we tailor their programme."

The experience of managing players returning from international tournaments has been valuable for Eidevall. In previous seasons, he has implemented short breaks in-season to allow players to recover more effectively, with individualised approaches depending on their specific needs.

Arsenal's pre-season preparations are particularly crucial as they face a crucial Champions League qualifier against Rangers at Meadow Park on September 4th. A successful qualification campaign would see them face Atletico Madrid or Rosenborg three days later.

Eidevall acknowledged the importance of a fast start in the Champions League, having been eliminated on penalties by Paris FC last season. "You need to start fast. You need to be ready to play really competitive games. We're only playing one game, not a two-legged qualifier, which is very different. The stress of conceding a goal in the second half is totally different compared to if you were playing a return leg. The team's reaction will be very different, which makes the margins much smaller. We need to start fast to get those margins on the right side."

To test their readiness, Arsenal have chosen to play their first pre-season match against the Washington Spirit, a challenging opponent. Eidevall believes this will provide valuable insights into their current state. "It is a deeply uncomfortable challenge when we're coming here with a squad that is not ready to play a 90-minute game against a really tough opponent. But we need to get the correct answers on where we are as a team."

The Gunners will be drawing confidence from their impressive run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2022, as well as their back-to-back Continental Cup victories under Eidevall. However, last season's start was hampered by a few stumbles, including a Champions League exit and a poor start to the league campaign.

The club's ambition in the summer transfer window suggests they are determined to avoid a repeat of that slow start. The departure of Vivianne Miedema marked the end of an era, but Arsenal responded with the signings of Mariona Caldentey from Barcelona, Daphne van Domselaar from Aston Villa, and Rosa Kafaji from Hacken, alongside extending Stina Blackstenius' contract.

"We brought in some really exciting players in this transfer window and kept some really interesting players too," Eidevall said. "If it's the right player, yes. But not just any player."

Eidevall is seeking to create a well-balanced squad, one that can challenge for the WSL title and Champions League success. Last season, the absence of a Champions League qualification hindered the team's balance, with Blackstenius leading the club's scoring charts but making just seven league starts. The departures of Miedema and Cloe Lacasse will provide an opportunity to clarify Eidevall's preferred formation and style with the new additions.

The pre-season tour is also a chance to assess the futures of young players. Several promising talents will be given a chance to impress alongside the first team squad, with 18-year-old forward Michelle Agyemang a prime example. Eidevall believes the experience will be beneficial for the youngster, allowing her to "develop into becoming an Arsenal Women first-team player long-term."

Looking ahead, Eidevall is confident that Arsenal can build on the foundation laid in recent years. "I see life as a continuous process," he stated. "I'm a big believer that the same person can't step in the same river twice because whatever happens to us will change us from what we were before. When you live experiences together, they become new reference points for you as a team. There is a core and foundation we can continue to build upon. We could see how we were finishing last season that we have a lot of positivity going forward, so I'm optimistic. I have high hopes and high ambitions for this season."

As Arsenal Women prepare for a season full of promise, their pre-season tour of the United States provides a critical opportunity to build cohesion, refine tactics, and fine-tune their squad ahead of a challenging but exciting campaign.