After just over 40 days since Olga Carmona slayed England in the World Cup Final, The WSL makes its long-awaited return. All seasons feel massive, but 2023-24 has a particular edge to it, with an ACL injury crisis starting to resolve itself, contracts set to expire, and a title drought that is threatening to stretch to 5 years.
For a club that prides itself on historical glory and success pre-WSL, the present-day Arsenal have often floundered in the league, instead taking solace in Cup Competitions. 1 WSL title in 11 seasons is a criminal return for a club of Arsenal’s stature, with only Laura Harvey on Joe Montemurro being able to crack the Super League code for the Gunners. Jonas Eidevall was brought in to change that narrative, but so far, has failed to do so in his first two seasons. Indeed, last season had a very familiar feel to it, with an 8th 3rd placed finish in 11 years, but another Conti Cup triumph to celebrate.
Of course, to decry those two seasons as failures would be grossly unfair. Jonas’ first season saw Arsenal come within a point of toppling Chelsea and were it not for some crucial injuries and a small dip in form in the New Year, they would likely have done it. Instead, it was a first ever 2nd placed finish in the WSL. But Jonas had done more than just put together a credible title challenge, he had managed to restore faith in the players and the fanbase that he was the manager to drag them out of the bleak wasteland of mediocrity. His predecessor, Joe Montemurro, may have brought the WSL back to North London in 2018-19, but he was blessed by having Viv in the form of her life, Jordan Nobbs playing her best football for the club (until she tore her ACL), and Chelsea making such a wretched start to their season, that by the time they kicked into gear, Arsenal were already over the hills and far away.
In all his other seasons though, Arsenal looked weak in the ‘big games’, rarely competing and frequently getting turned over by the likes of Chelsea and Man City, especially away from home. The 5-0 win at Kingsmeadow was not just a freak result, it was his sole triumph over Chelsea in all competitions in his 4-year tenure. Yet in his first WSL game in charge, in that hot September afternoon at Emirates Stadium, Jonas got one over Emma Hayes with a 3-2 win, and even followed that up with a credible 0-0 draw at Kingsmeadow. Glory eluded them that season, but it showed that Arsenal weren’t simply ‘the best of the rest’ below Chelsea and Man City. They were at that level. Jonas took a club that was nosediving and had put them on an upwards trajectory. Until he was stabbed in the back by the transfer committee.
Much of the joy this summer has been revelling in Arsenal’s transfer window. Not just because of the quality of players brought in, but because it’s the first time Arsenal have actually had a strong transfer window. Jonas’ first summer saw Arsenal bring in a raft of players as they attempted to steer the club back on course. But all 5 floundered in their first season, and two years later, only Frida remains. Whilst the quantity was good, the quality was not, as they were not players that aligned with Jonas’ playing style. The following summer was even worse. Only 3 players brought in, and all 3 hardly played (Lina was never fit, Kaylan was just a 2nd choice keeper, and Gio went on Loan to Everton). Jonas’ side was compromised before a ball was kicked, so it should have come as no surprise when same team he’d been playing for two seasons straight (out of necessity, rather than choice) started to collapse to injuries. 2 ACLs before Christmas wiped out Arsenal’s title hopes, and a further 2 nearly saw their entire season collapse.
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The nature of Arsenal’s injury crisis afforded Jonas the luxury of mitigation as his side finished with a worse points percentage (71%) than Joe’s final season at Arsenal (73%). Indeed, the Conti Cup success and the glorious run to the UWCL Semi Finals provided welcome distractions to Arsenal’s turbulent League form. But things are different now. Europe is gone, lost in a penalty shootout to Paris FC. And there will be little sympathy from the punters and pundits if Arsenal fall short this time around. No Europe provides greater focus on home success, and they now have the squad depth required to stay the course.
One of Joe Montemurro’s principles was insisting upon working with a smaller squad. This was something that infuriated Arsenal fans, particular as the injuries began stacking up. You knew things were bad when Arsenal only named two keepers, a defender and some academy players on their bench. All that has been swept away in a glorious summer of investment and directed ambition. Alessia Russo has arrived, 5 months later than had been hoped after the record bid for her in the winter was rejected by Man United. Cloe Lacasse, another failed winter pursuit, has arrived to give Beth Mead some much needed cover. Amanda Ilestedt and Laia Codina will help cover the defence until Leah Williamson returns from her ACL injury. And finally, with just seconds of the window remaining, Arsenal swooped in for young Matilda star Kyra Cooney-Cross, at last providing an alternative to Lia Walti in the midfield. Arsenal have gone from only having one starting XI to arguably being able to name two, especially when Beth, Viv, Leah and Laura are integrated back into the fold. But equally impressive as this summer’s intake has been convincing the rest of the squad to stay at the club. Beth Mead committed her future in December last year. Then, since the tail end of last season, Arsenal managed to convince (deep breath) Kim Little, Lia Walti, Frida Leonhardsen Maanum, Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Jen Beattie to stay on. And then finally, with the League start just days away, it was announced that Katie McCabe would also be signing on again. The latter was a major coup, as Katie’s childhood club Chelsea had attempted to swoop in for her in the winter window with what was described as a ‘considerable offer’. It’s a far cry from the final days of Joe Montemurro, with Jill Roord and fan favourite Danielle van de Donk making for the exit door and Leah Williamson, the Arsenal rock in the team, finding herself uncertain as to whether she truly wanted to stay at the club she loved. There is now a real sense of momentum within the team, the togetherness forged the adversity and trauma of last season has made them stronger than ever, and the club is now as attractive a prospect as it’s ever been. Although, we are ignoring the elephant in the room here.
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As poor as the 2022 summer window was, it did come with the good news that Vivianne Miedema had chosen to commit to a 1+1-year deal to the club, after being halfway towards moving to Barcelona. It was a real show a faith in a team that was looking upwards after their close run-in with Chelsea. But now question marks hanger over her. 2022-23 was a disaster for Miedema. She arrived still struggling with the effects of the COVID infection she suffered during the Euros. And then when she did come back into the fold, an ACL injury before Christmas wiped her out for the remainder of the season. Viv will hope to be fit again this season, but her position in the team is no longer the rock-solid certainty it once was. As Joe’s tenure declined, the team slowly devolved into ‘passing to Viv and hope she scores’. Viv would play every game, because failing to do so meant jeopardising Arsenal’s chances of winning. Under Jonas, however, Arsenal have evolved beyond just ‘feeding the goat’. Arsenal now have two star strikers in Russo and Blackstenius to choose from. Viv is now withdrawn into the 10, a position she has said she prefers. But it is not a position she has yet to nail down fully. The 2021-22 run-in saw her play behind Stina, we hardly saw her play that role again the following the season for the reasons described earlier. Instead, it was Frida who took up the mantle, to such great effect that she was voted the club’s Player of the Season and in the PFA Team of the Year. Viv will return this season, but it will take time to find her fitness and form again, time she does not have. The question that hangs over her head is whether she chooses to extend her stay at Arsenal again, and whether she can become the preferred choice at 10.
The other question mark is Jonas himself. His contract his up at the end of the season, and as stated earlier in the piece, has yet to win a WSL title, with only last season’s Conti Cup to celebrate. His last two WSL seasons both ended in disappointing failure (for differing reasons). Will it be third time lucky? Should he be kept on, success or no success this season? Despite the setbacks, he retains the support of the fans and the players. There can be no doubt Arsenal is a far more positive place than it was before his arrival, but sympathies and faith will only stretch so far whilst nothing is received in return. With no Europe this season, a squad that is finally of his own design, players returning from injury, and attendances continuing to grow (51,000 tickets confirmed as sold for their opening game against Liverpool at Emirates Stadium), everything feels like it is growing towards a critical mass. Is this the end of the journey? Or the beginning of a new dawn? Can Arsenal final topple the Chelsea juggernaut? Be in no doubt, despite some question marks over the defence (Rafa’s sad departure and Leah’s rehabilitation still ongoing), this is the strongest Arsenal have looked in years, with a midfield and strike force to rival any WSL side, and two quality keepers between the sticks.
This is the moment. Now or never. If it is going to happen for Arsenal, it has to be now. The Conti Cup was a good start, and if anyone is looking for omens, Jonas’ last two predecessors followed up their Conti Cup triumphs with further glory in their following seasons, with Pedro winning the FA Cup, and Joe winning the WSL. Failure cannot be tolerated, excuses exhausted. Arsenal fans have been tolerant, they have been patient. Now it is time for Eide-ball to finally deliver on its promise and potential. COYG!
