It baffled me, as it must have you, to see the Arsenal Women losing 2-1 to West Ham. How the Hammers managed to pick up three points from the Gunners, I don’t know. They are a team battling relegation, while the Gunners are a team supposed to be battling for the league. On Sunday, the Gunner Women couldn’t show their superiority. For the first time (since facing West Ham in 2018), they lost to their London rivals. That loss is so shocking that you can’t imagine It was West Ham United’s first WSL home win of the season.
Anyway, why do you think the Arsenal Women lost? I believe that Manuela Zinsberger was partly at fault.
The Austrian goalie needs to pull up her socks. Tell me a game Arsenal have lost this season, versus Liverpool, versus Spurs, and then Sunday vs. West Ham, where she hasn’t been adjudicated to be at fault. Some goals she’s conceded when Arsenal have lost this season honestly leave the Gooners asking themselves, Could she have done better?
It is also telling that Jonas Eidevall’s subs didn’t work. He has a quality bench but couldn’t find a way to change the game around. Lia Walti wasn’t at her best. All she did was pass backwards. She ought to have been subbed off, probably for Kim Little. I don’t understand why Little didn’t feature; she could have been the difference-maker. Given McCabe was suspended for that game, when Leah Williamson subbed off, Eidevall should have had plans to bring Kim Little into the fray, but he didn’t. Which saw Arsenal women in the second half lack a leader on the pitch, with no knowledge or direction of how to break West Ham down. At no point was it likely that they were going to score after West Ham took the lead.
Taking off Leah Williamson at halftime wasn’t wise; what was wise was probably giving her a chance to feature in the last 45 minutes, introducing her at halftime, rather than starting her and so completely changing the defensive line. With McCabe forcing the change at fullback, two defensive changes were made in the starting lineup, which shook the defensive stability that had been experienced in the last few months.
I’m more than convinced Kim Little should have been introduced after West Ham took the lead. Her experience could have been valuable in Arsenal’s engine room.
Not signing a top goalie in the winter is also Jonas Eidevall’s fault and now he’s stuck with Zinsberger.
Other than those three, the referee officiating the game poorly, and the Arsenal women not being clinical, cost them the game.
Ultimately, not beating West Ham has put Arsenal in a tricky position in the title race. They had a chance to put Chelsea under pressure with a win, and now the Blues will not be stressed about the Gunners unless they also drop form and drop points, which is looking very unlikely at the moment.
Susan N
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Over reactions as usual all round.
Manu must take blame for her mistake as must Steph for the pen. But the main reason for this loss is the continued profligacy with all the chances.
I agree
You predicted this downfall and now you want blame everyone else. Be a little gloomy in your prematch damnation and maybe it will cast a better light.
If you want to blame anyone it would be specically Zinsberger for the second otherwise the whole team lost not just Jonas.
Eidevall, like Arteta, lack a plan B…Jus sayin
He’s also spent a lot of money, but unlike MA, he’s not getting the results. Anyone think Jack Wilshere might be able to turn things around?
What money has he spent or is this something you picked up from the know nothing press?
Russo was free and you do not know what was paid for Fox so where are your “facts” coming from? Sky by chance or the gutter tabloids?
In my view Jonas is getting results so what team are you watching and what is your measure?
Stupid remark to compare one with the other.
Actually most players come on a free as short contracts have (until very recently) has been the norm. Eidevall just needs to persuade the player to come to Arsenal instead of anyone else most of the time.
Cooney Cross for a reported £300,000 grab your attention for starters?
A stupid remark? Why?
Both manage Arsenal squads.
Wassup Michael? You Eidevalls agent or something? The guy is useless.Mentally & certainly tactically.How he can’t get a tune out of that squad is shocking.
You can quote me that we won’t win a major( I do mean major.Not the Mickey Mouse continental cup)trophy under him.The big loss was Joe the Aussie coach.
New manager needed. Has one of the best squads in the world. Not good enough.
Arsenal only gave Jonas a new contract just a couple of months ago…..
True. And at the time, I wondered what he had done to deserve it.
Even the best team are no match up against a team of twelve players.
The referee had an atrocious game; a clear penalty when two WHU players couldn’t decide who was going to hold the ball and, at nearly every Arsenal corner, their players were grappled with..
Micheal
Hurtig cost £134,00 KKC £334,000
We have lost against 3 poor sides
We have the best squad in the league badly managed
our keeper has the nearly the worst stats across both leagues for shots stopped against on target
Facts
No cups or CL ,,,new manager
Arsenal Women likely have one of the best teams in all of women’s football. I definitely think it comes down to coaching. To have that much underutilized and poorly managed talent is a bit shocking to me. And while this may infuriate all Arsenal supporters, Viv Miedema isn’t back at 100%… maybe 70%. The West Ham game was a masterclass in mismanagement.
You got that spot on JC