Jonas Eidevall says choice to leave Arsenal was ‘incredibly difficult’ and reflects on relationship with club’s fans

JONAS EIDEVALL reckons leaving Arsenal was an “incredibly difficult decision” following his departure from the club last October. 

The head coach, 41, who was yesterday confirmed as the new boss of San Diego Wave, believes his relationship with Gunners fans had soured. 

Eidevall’s reflections follow the USA-based women’s team formally announcing his appointment three months after he resigned as manager of Arsenal’s WSL side. 

The Sweden-bon coach stood down after a reign of just over three years following a run of tough results in the top tier earlier this season and a hefty group stage defeat in the Champions League. 

A three-game winless run in the WSL at the Emirates along with a 5-2 loss to Bayern Munich away in Europe saw Eidevall come under pressure from Gunners supporters. 

While he led the team to back-to-back League Cup wins in 2023 and 2024, a 2-1 home loss to Chelsea on October 12 last year was followed by him resigning from his role three days later. 

Eidevall told Sky Sports: “I had decided personally before that Chelsea game that it would be the best decision for me to step away. 

“What I saw was a team that was only missing small details, but I saw at that moment my relationship with the supporters was like a cloud hanging over. 

“We needed to find a quick way to remove that cloud. 

“It was an incredibly difficult decision for me to take, because you have a part of you that wants to be a fighter and prove doubters wrong – that’s what I’ve been doing my whole career.”

Eidevall reckons the decision to allow Vivianne Miedema to leave the club last May may have been a factor in the shift in relationship with Arsenal’s fans. 

The Netherlands forward, currently the WSL’s all-time top goalscorer, joined title-chasing Man City as a free agent last July, after seven years with the Gunners. 

The departure of a player, who was a firm fan favourite, left scores of the club’s followers dismayed. 

Eidevall adds: “It was evident I lost quite a lot of my relationship with the supporters when we decided not to renew Miedema’s contract. 

“All in all it was a decision that played hard on me but that’s life sometimes.”

Following Eidevall departure, Arsenal’s have had an upturn in form under stand-in boss Renee Slegers. 

The team went 11 games unbeaten in the WSL and Europe and topped their Champions League group with a 3-2 home defeat of Bayern in their final game of last year. 

The Gunners, who face Bristol City this Sunday in the Women’s FA Cup, have conceded just five goals since Slegers first match at the helm on October 16. 

And Eidevall hopes Arsenal’s interim boss who was his assistant manager at the club will continue in her role on a longer term basis. 

The San Diego Wave boss told Swedish sports news outlet Aftonbladet: “I experience Renée as a great leader with a good foundation of values, strong football knowledge. 

“It makes me very happy to see the good results and performance that she, the team and the coaching team have put together. 

“I really hope that they see the possibility that they will be allowed to continue.”