Arsenal slump to new low leaving Eidevall on brink

Perhaps the most damaging feeling in football is not anger but apathy.

- JAMIE BRAIDWOOD

At the Emirates, Arsenal have led the way with their ambition in the Women’s Super League. Their average attendance is by far the largest in the division and on the days when a sold-out stadium rocks and the home side plays with a swagger and confidence, they can seem an irresistible force.

But under Jonas Eidevall, Arsenal’s performances on the pitch look a long way from matching their momentum off it. A 2-1 defeat to Chelsea leaves the Gunners with five points from their first four games. Four behind Chelsea, who have a game in hand, Arsenal’s dismal start may rule them out of the title race even at this early stage, in a season where they needed to challenge after Emma Hayes’ departure. “We have winning ambitions,” Eidevall conceded. “There’s no point hiding away from reality. It’s a poor start to the season.”

Already under pressure, Eidevall described the visit of rivals Chelsea as “must-win” but a second damaging defeat of the week again highlighted their glaring defensive vulnerabilities in a big game. At full-time, there were a few murmurs of boos among the crowd of 45,000 but it seemed as if the majority had given up long before then. “I am hurting, the players are hurting,” Eidevall said. “I totally understand their frustration.”

But Eidevall also said Arsenal’s second-half performance was reason for their supporters to believe. There was certainly more spirit to Arsenal than in the late collapse in the 5-2 thrashing at Bayern Munich in midweek, with the home side at least rallying following early goals from Mayra Ramirez and Sandy Baltimore inside 16 minutes, but Eidevall’s side also failed to answer the other accusation that is frequently thrown at them: they showed a familiar lack of ruthlessness in front of goal, with Stina Blackstenius sweeping their best chance for an equaliser onto the underside of the crossbar late on.