Rosa Kafaji is one of the players that the Gooners are looking forward to seeing this season. Rosa Kafaji’s admission that her idol is Brazilian legend Ronaldinho, along with the admission from her former BK Hacken coach Robert Vilahamn (now with the Spurs women) that she is destined to be one of the best, explains why many believed she would be the player to take our Gunner women to the next level.
Unfortunately, in a run of games (the first four games of the 2023-24 WSL season) in which our Arsenal women have been accused of lacking creativity in the final third, in addition to not being clinical, Kafaji, one of Arsenal’s most creative talents, has not received much consideration.
Eidevall has given the impression that he does not believe she can make a difference, despite the fact that some thought she’d be the X-factor on which our gunner women’s offence would rely to resolve offensive issues.
Giving her “time to adapt” is not a justification for overlooking her, in my opinion. So, why is Kafaji not a regular starter for Arsenal when the team needs a spark in attack?
Cloe Lacasse’s comments about her time at Arsenal may provide the answer. During her one and only season with our Gunners women last term, the Canadian international asserts that the primary challenge she faced was the lack of freedom to express herself and enjoy playing on the pitch.
“At the end of the day, you want to get minutes, you want to score goals, you want to be able to be creative and be the type of player that you are,” she said. “And I think my type of characteristics were being a little bit limited and a little bit restricted at Arsenal, which didn’t allow to bring out my best characteristics.”
Players like Kafaji are ones who you don’t limit with tactics; instead, you let her express herself on the pitch and watch them pull off something special. So, is Eidevall’s inability to allow players with “that character” to express themselves the reason he is opposed to bringing Kafaji into the mix, as he believes she will influence the implementation of his tactical decisions?
I can’t help but believe so since I’m questioning why she was signed if not to be played, when a number of clubs were interested in her in the hopes that she would transform them.
Susan N
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Cloe Lacasses comments hit the the nail on the head. Eidevall’s tactics are too regimented and predictable. There’s no point in having players with flair and creativity if your not going to give them the freedom to express themselves. I think thats probably why Viv’ took her skills and went. Katie Kuhl’s been playing for Denmark since she was sixteen and she gets 3 minutes playing time. I say lets take the chains off and start playing in the old Arsenal way. At least we’ll be entertained.
I thought Lacasse was a really good player, but like so many players, she was messed about by Eidevall. Top managers like Emma Hayes and Bompastor give clarity to their teams. I feel sorry for KafajI. The bemused faces in the huddle after the Chelsea game show where the club is now. Eidevall is out of his depth.
I was very frustrated at the way this joke of a manager treated Lacasse.
Here’s a player that was banging in the goals for fun at Benfica, and also had a lot of assists. She was playing down the left wing for most if not all the time.
And what doe’s the genius that is Eidevall do, he plays her down the right for most of her stay at Arsenal, and then wonders why her level’s are not the same. (It doesn’t take a genius to work it out).
Now he’s treating Kafaji in the same way. If Eidevall doesn’t rate these kind of players who are very creative, it begs the question as to why he wants them in the first place.
The first thing that this club needs to do is get rid of this clown, whos clearly out of his depth. And secondly, release the shackle in the team and play the way they used to.
They may still come unstuck occasionally, but I think more often than not, it will lead to better results and maybe a title challenge at some point.
Anyone else agree.
Genuine Breaking News!
Eidevall has Resigned as Arsenal women’s manager, (Possibly Sacked?).
Absolutely the right decision.
Maybe they could get Joey Barton in as the new Manager and have Emi Aluko as his assistant, (Just kidding).
Whoever takes over, hopefully they will get the team back to playing something like they used to. (Here’s hoping).
https://www.justarsenal.com/eidevall-resigns-after-admitting-that-arsenal-womens-title-winning-ambitions-have-gone-awry/378215
Cloe is now banging them in for Utah. She is a baller and Eidevall messed her up. What a shame
I really believe Edu will get someone very good to coach the Arsenal way. We have the talents. Just need to apply it our way and bring the best out of the players. I can tell Kafaji is capable to bring Arsenal to the next level.