If summer recruit Rosa Kafaji is to live up to the hype, it’s time the Arsenal Women technical bench gave her the chance to fulfil the significant role we anticipated her to play. If there’s anything holding back this Arsenal team, it’s the lack of sharpness in the final third and a creativity problem.
I know that we have a sharp shooter in Stina Blackstenius, but she can only do the job if trusted (she didn’t start versus Everton). That said, how can we have a creativity problem with Kafaji? Didn’t Arsenal bring her on board to be the X-factor, unlocking the tightest of defences with her outstanding technical ability and trickery with the ball at her feet?
In that 0-0 draw with Everton, it was interesting; the Arsenal Women were looking for a goal, and Jonas Eidevall brought on two defenders, Leah Williamson and Steph Catley, and a defensive midfielder, Lia Walti, ignoring the exhausted Frida Maanum, who after the 60th minute looked like she needed a rest, which she could have been afforded had Kafaji replaced her.
Match Report: Arsenal Women 0-0 Everton
Yes, Maanum has been on fire, but today wasn’t her day. When you can try something else, you don’t just keep a player like Frida on the pitch and hope she pulls off something magical.
In a WSL title race, where a single point can decide the outcome, Arsenal’s drop of 2 points against Everton is unacceptable; they are not on the right path. Jonas Eidevall needs to be bold with his selections. We need Rosa Kafaji on the field; a player who terrorised Real Madrid women in the Champions League, and was wanted by almost every women’s team in Europe. She can’t be left warming the bench.
Please don’t say that we are in for another season just like the last one. Should Eidevall be allowed to drive out Gunner women into another dead-end of a season? I know it is very early days but our women really didn’t look particularly driven yesterday. It was almost embarassing to watch.
Should Eidevall just be allowed to continue? What do you think we’ll see done differently when our Gunners face Bayern Munich in Germany this week, in the UWCL?
I don’t think we’re looking very much like winners and champions at the moment..
What do you think’s going on Gooner?
Danni P
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With Eidevall, we won’t win anything significant, only occasional league cup. He has no idea and hasn’t for a while. Even last season, we had the best squad, beat the top teams but not the bottom ones.
100 per cent ,pay big money for quality and leave her on the bench when we need something special, bring on defenders when we need goals. Last season we beat all the teams you need to win against to win titles and lose to West Ham. Lost the changing room and maybe the supporters, only 20 something thousand for Everton.
Could not agree more.
I’ve been Eidevall out for a long time.
Because Arsenal’s lack of urgency, tempo, rhythm,
or connections haven’t been working for most of the season.
I’ve watched six of the seven games played this season, and the same things are happening all the time, and Eidevall either doesn’t see it or doesn’t want to see it.
And he certainly appears to do nothing about it. I’ve also heard rumor’s that certain players are not happy with the way we play.
Although I don’t know who they are, I look at Mead, McCabe, and a few others and they look a shadow of their former selves.
And we also lack any creativity, and the one player that can give us that creativity is left warming the bench. (A certain Rosa Kafaji).
I don’t know if anyone else has noticed, but a few times I’ve noticed our new Spanish signing appearing to get frustrated at the lack of movement in the team at times.
So finally, as I said earlier, I’m definitely an Eidevall out supporter, because I’m convinced that while he’s in charge Arsenal will not be challenging for any of the major trophy’s.
Derek has given a very detailed account which puts me to shame. I must admit that I occasionally tune in but I’m reading about stellar signings and results are not as expected. It’s been like that for too long. Arsenal have a long association with women’s football
Eidevall is a politician not a football manager. We gave great players and he has no clue how to use them. We are struggling to score and he gets rid of WSL top scorer. To our rivals. The man is a fool
I think Eidevall is one of those people who is all talk and no substance. Mr platitude. So many players were messed up or messed about by inconsistent team selections and poor man management . I’m a Preston North End fan and I’ve only been to one match at Boreham Wood a couple of years ago. Yet I remember the flair that day of Katy McCabe, Iwabuchi and Beth Mead. Last season, watching on TV, we saw Katy playing at right back, Mana retired and Vivienne not shown the respect she deserved. I’m sure he’s lost the dressing room.