Renée Slegers and Arsenal Women: Building a New Era in the WSL

Shane Thomas

30th January 2025 | 1:30 PM

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There were good times under the management of Jonas Eidevall. I genuinely ponder how many Arsenal Women’s fans have forgotten this, since the generalised reaction to his departure last October was borderline gleeful, sprinkled with a soupcon of resentment towards him, as if Eidevall had ruined everything on purpose.

“I think that’s exceptional leadership,” Izzy Christensen said last December on Sky Sports. It’s probably not a sentiment many (online) Arsenal fans are interested in hearing, but egocentrism is a common (and necessary?) bedfellow of football managers. It’s rare that one has the clarity to realise they’re no longer the best person for the job. I wonder too if Eidevall resigned not only because the players were no longer responding to him, but because he is also a long-time Arsenal fan. Did that make it easier for him to put the club ahead of himself?

Eidevall, now at the NWSL’s San Diego Wave, recently addressed the end of his time in North London, saying, “It felt like a cloud was hanging over us.” Anyone who witnessed Arsenal’s final few performances under him could hardly dispute that assessment. 

In this writer’s view, it was the right decision for Eidevall to resign, yet I took no pleasure in that outcome. His commitment to the job was never in question, there were a couple of trophies, one serious title challenge, an incredible run to the Champions League semi-finals, and he was in charge during a time of huge growth for Arsenal—especially as far as attendances went.

So, ignore anyone who says Eidevall never had the backing of the supporters. I was at the final game of the 2022/23 season, and after he delivered his end-of-season speech, the fans serenaded him with a chant of “Jonas Eidevall’s red and white army!” While warning signs for this season were present, few anticipated things unravelling so rapidly.

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