Arsenal Women’s manager, Jonas Eidevall, has provided an encouraging update on the injury recovery progress of Leah Williamson and Laura Wienroither.

Leah Williamson with The Power of Football award at the London Football Awards for 2023 (Photo via TheLFAOfficial)
Leah Williamson with The Power of Football award at the London Football Awards for 2023 (Photo via TheLFAOfficial)

Arsenal Women’s team manager Jonas Eidevall has  provided some updates on the fitness levels within the squad, particularly focusing on Leah Williamson‘s comeback and Laura Wienroither‘s ongoing recovery from ACL injuries.

Williamson, who made her first start for Arsenal in nine months last weekend following an ACL injury, has shown promising signs of returning to full-match fitness. Eidevall expressed his satisfaction with her recovery post-match, stating, “She has recovered well from the [West Ham] game, which was pleasing. I thought her performance was good. It was really nice to see her back playing in the WSL again.”

As the team prepares for their next game which is against London City Lionesses at Princes Park on Wednesday, Eidevall highlighted the competitive nature of the Arsenal squad, dismissing the notion of having separate line-ups for different competitions. “We need to have competition in the squad,” he said, underscoring the importance of versatility and readiness among the players.

With Katie McCabe returning to the squad following a suspension, Eidevall does not anticipate making changes for Wednesday’s game.

On the topic of Laura Wienroither’s rehabilitation, Eidevall shared positive news about her gradual integration into team training. “She has started to join very early bits of team training, as of this week, so that’s very pleasing.”

However, he also noted that Wienroither’s return is not expected before the international break, with a more accurate update to follow thereafter.

Eidevall eyes rebound after setback: “Every game is the most important”

Following a disappointing defeat to West Ham, Jonas Eidevall is urging his team to bounce back in style, starting with Wednesday’s Conti Cup clash against London City Lionesses.

DAGENHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 04: Jonas Eidevall, Manager of Arsenal, inspects the pitch prior to the Barclays Women's Super League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at Chigwell Construction Stadium on February 04, 2024 in Dagenham, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
DAGENHAM, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 04: Jonas Eidevall, Manager of Arsenal, inspects the pitch prior to the Barclays Women’s Super League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at Chigwell Construction Stadium on February 04, 2024 in Dagenham, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

“Sometimes it’s how football is. Things have been looking good and then you take a step backwards,” he remarked, voicing his frustration with the result but also pointing out the mismatch between the performance and the outcome. His focus remains firmly on taking ownership of the performance aspects that can drive better results, with a clear message that there’s always room for improvement.

Reflecting on the lessons from the West Ham defeat, Eidevall discussed the necessity of being more efficient in front of goal and the strategic use of the entire field to overcome opponents’ defensive tactics. “It’s something we can definitely improve on,” he said, underlining the importance of learning from every game, irrespective of the result.

Addressing the significance of the upcoming cup matches against London City Lionesses and Manchester City, Eidevall expressed a focused mentality, preparing his team for each game as it comes without weighing them against each other in terms of importance. “For us, every time we go out and play a game, it’s the most important game that we have ever played because it’s the next one,” he said.