Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall remains focused on his team’s performance in the WSL title race, ignoring Manchester City’s recent stumble.

• Jonas Eidevall focused on Arsenal’s performance, not concerned with Man City’s slip in the WSL title race
• Arsenal aims for a top-three finish in the league, with senior players like Jen Beattie and Jodie Taylor providing valuable experience
• Chelsea manager Emma Hayes believes her team must win all remaining games to retain their WSL title

Arsenal Women’s manager Jonas Eidevall is determined to maintain a forward-looking approach as his team prepares for a clash against Brighton, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports on Wednesday 10 May, 2023 (7.30pm kick-off).

This comes after the Gunners narrowly beat Leicester 1-0, positioning them in fourth place in the Women’s Super League (WSL) table.

They are three points behind third-placed Manchester City, five behind second-placed Chelsea, and nine behind leaders Manchester United. Arsenal have a two-game advantage over both Manchester clubs.

Eidevall insists he is not focusing on the league table as the WSL title race heats up ahead of the season’s last four matches.

Arsenal, which have been hit hard by injuries, will be looking to capitalise on Manchester City’s unexpected loss to Liverpool over the weekend. The Gunners are targeting a top-three finish, though catching either of the top two sides seems unlikely.

Lina Hurtig and Steph Catley could join Arsenal’s growing injury list, which also includes Caitlin Foord, Leah Williamson, Laura Wienroither, Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema.

Eidevall said, “I don’t care [about Manchester City’s results]. We have four more games, we have to take one at a time. Do our very best in every one of those games. If we do, we will finish as high as possible in the table.” He emphasised the importance of focusing on the next opponent and not getting distracted by other matches.

Eidevall believes that relying on the experience of senior players like defender Jen Beattie and forward Jodie Taylor is crucial during this difficult run-in, as Arsenal aims to overtake Manchester City in the race for Champions League football. He also spoke about the recent addition of former player Kelly Smith to his first-team coaching staff, saying that she embodies everything the team wants in terms of playing style.

On the other hand, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes is convinced that her team must win all four remaining games to retain their WSL title for the third consecutive year. This includes a showdown with Arsenal, which will be a crucial match in the title race. Chelsea’s first challenge will be against a resurgent Leicester side that has been steadily improving under manager Willie Kirk.

Arsenal Women to play more WSL matches at Emirates Stadium next season

Arsenal Women’s team are set to play five Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) matches at the Emirates Stadium during the 2023/24 season, increasing from three league games this season. The decision follows the remarkable support Arsenal Women have received at the Emirates, with over 240,000 tickets purchased to watch them play during the current season.

Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham expressed his delight at the continued growth of women’s football and the team’s increasing presence at the iconic stadium. The move to play more matches at the Emirates is seen as a significant step towards the sustainable growth of women’s football, providing Arsenal Women with a larger stage to showcase their talents and reach a wider audience.

Arsenal Women’s current home ground, Meadow Park in Boreham Wood, has become insufficient for the growing fan base, leading to discussions about a more permanent move to the Emirates Stadium.

In March, manager Jonas Eidevall expressed his hopes for the future, stating, “I really hope that it continues to push…I get the sense of belief that we’re seeing history getting created very quickly in front of our eyes when I see how the attendances and the culture is here at the Emirates Stadium.”