What Arsenal fans did after Chelsea defeat made Jonas Eidevall resignation inevitable

The writing had, quite literally, been on the wall for Jonas Eidevall. Hours after 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Women's Super League (WSL) on Saturday, the words “Jonas Out" had been daubed in big white letters on a wall on Hornsey Road, just feet away from Emirates Stadium.

It hinted at a level of simmering apathy rarely seen in the women's game, with the collective discontent of the Gunners' fanbase writ large for everyone to see. In a world where contracts are often short and financial parameters are far more constricted than in the exorbitant realms of the Premier League, such overt lobbying for a manager's sacking is pretty unprecedented.

Still, when as head coach after more than three years in charge in north London, it felt somewhat at odds with the WSL's historic natural order. That is not to say that it not the right call.

Eidevall presided over a second-placed finish and two third-placed finishes in his three full seasons at Arsenal and reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2023. However, fan sentiment toward the Swede plummeted after the club crashed out of Europe in the qualifying stages last term and, despite leading the Gunners to consecutive League Cup wins in 2023 and 2024, there has been little in the way of sustained progress during his time at the helm.

Having won just two of their last seven matches in all competitions this term, it is clear Arsenal are in need of some fresh perspective. While other WSL managers - including Manchester United boss Marc Skinner and Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor - have previously weathered periods of poor form, the smattering of boos that echoed around the Emirates following Saturday's defeat were illustrative of the fact Eidevall's position had become untenable.

It is understood the Swede, who joined the Gunners from FC Rosengard in 2021, met with club officials on Monday afternoon and tendered his resignation. In spite of his success in the League Cup and largely positive record against Arsenal's biggest rivals, the objective this term was always to challenge for one of the game's two major prizes; an ambition that, even in these early weeks of the season, now appears a huge ask.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

Already, the Gunners - after just four games played - find themselves five points off the pace of WSL leaders Man City, while was hardly the optimum way to mark the club's return to the group stage of Europe's premier club contribution.

“There is no point in hiding away from reality — it’s a bad start to the season,” Eidevall admitted in his post-match press conference at the weekend. “People are disappointed when we don’t win football matches, and we are also really disappointed. We are really hurting, I’m hurting, the players are hurting.

“We want to do better so I fully understand that (booing) in that moment. Just as you’re allowed to show emotions when we win, you’re allowed to show emotions when you lose. They (the supporters) invest everything. They travel, they support us, they give us absolutely everything. I totally understand their frustration when we don’t win football matches.”

While Eidevall had seemed focused on helping Arsenal turn their fortunes around, it is now apparent that even he was of the belief that his relationship with some quarters of the fanbase, and even the dressing room, was entirely beyond repair. His assistant, Renee Slegers, will now take charge of the team on an interim basis while the Gunners seek a permanent replacement.

“We thank Jonas for his commitment to the club and achievements here since joining us in 2021,” sporting director Edu said in a statement on Tuesday.

“We have great respect for the dedication and commitment he showed to our women’s first team and recognise the role he has played in the growth and development of Arsenal Women. We all wish him the very best for the future.

“Our focus will now turn to the process of appointing a new head coach, and in the meantime, supporting Renée, as she takes interim charge of the team starting with two important fixtures this week.”

Indeed, it will be interesting to see how Arsenal respond to the maelstrom of emotions that has engulfed the club in the last few days when they take on Norwegian side Valerenga at the Emirates on Wednesday night. The Gunners will then travel to east London on Sunday, where they will face WSL strugglers West Ham United in their final game before the international break.

The calibre of both opponents is such that Arsenal would have been expected to win both of those matches even with Eidevall still in charge, although it was a defeat away to West Ham last term that blew the club off course in the WSL title race. While it is often the manager who must live and die by their results in football, it must be noted that Arsenal's players are not entirely blameless for their poor start to the campaign.

Last season, while Arsenal exactly matched their xG number of 53 goals, they were often culpable of lacking a clincial edge. That profligacy has continued into 2024/25, with the Gunners having scored just three goals from an xG of 4.4 in three WSL games.

The second-half defending against Bayern Munich last week did not align with a team almost entirely comprised of full internationals and there is now a responsibility for the playing squad to step up and deliver. There will no doubt be plenty of speculation in the days and weeks ahead as to who will be anointed Eidevall's successor.

Former Man United boss Casey Stoney - who was a spectator at the Emirates on Saturday - would be a popular choice, while former Aston Villa manager Carla Ward is also available. For now, though, Arsenal must try and salvage some morsels of positivity from these testing first months of the season and ensure that whoever follows Eidevall has all the ingredients to turn this into a successful campaign.