🧠 Food for Thought - Jonas Eidevall: Eideball ⚽ and Why It Works. 💯

Arsenal Women boss Jonas Eidevall has been the subject of much unwarranted criticism | Getty

Throughout the 2023/24 season, and following the departure of elite forward Vivianne Miedema in particular, much toxicity was directed towards the gaffer from a section of our so-called "fanbase". So toxic, in fact, he allegedly received death threats. This kind of behavior is appalling and quite frankly, unwarranted. Why?

"Life is built on perception and reality."

- Preach | All American S06E07

The perception driven by a selection of "fans" who want the boss out at all costs is that he let Viv go. The reality, though, is no fan can categorically claim to know what happened. Unless you actually work for the club, you're scapegoating. Viv just about stayed by the end of the 2021/22 season. Her departure's felt inevitable since. In fact, she recently affirmed her exit to be of mutual consent.

"I think from both sides we realised this wasn't the fit it was two years ago anymore, and from there on you need to look to the future."

- Miedema speaking to former USWNT midfielder Sam Mewis on the Friendlies podcast

But less of that. I wanna ruminate on Eidevall's football on the pitch ("Eideball"), and why I think it's good enough to take us places.

Eidevall's football "Eideball" works! | Getty

Let's do that by breaking down some of the excuses that get thrown around to try and bash him, and why they're just that... excuses.

❎ Excuse 1️⃣: "Oh! He has no style of play."

Jonas once described his style as "high-paced possession" football, a hypothesis corroborated by one of our fiercest rivals:

"Arsenal have the most counter-attacking shots in the league, they’re an unbelievable counter-attacking team. They can cut you open in two or three passes and have such a threat on the last line."

- Former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes speaking in a pre-Arsenal match presser

This style of football is built on our four key principles of play based on "positioning" in possession and "compactness" out of possession.

"When we lose the ball, we try to make the pitch small. When we win the ball, we try to make the pitch big. It’s as easy as that."

- Jonas Eidevall speaking pre-Chelsea (H)

Arsenal Women's positioning in possession to stretch out the pitch | Total Football Analysis Magazine

And this doesn't just apply to our women's team, it reflects right across the club to the men's team and the academy. It's... "The Arsenal Way".

"Against Chelsea, their trademark pressing structure was recognisable again. It is almost identical to the men’s team, and it aims to condense the pitch when opposition teams build in wide areas."

- Art de Roché writing on Arsenal Women for The Athletic

Arsenal Women's compactness out of possession | Total Football Analysis Magazine

I think this is one of the main reasons why despite all the outside noise calling for his head, the club will continue to stick by Jonas. Because his values and ideologies align with the club's.

❎ Excuse 2️⃣: "Oh! He can't beat a low block."

"The better you understand the principles, the better you understand how your position might impact someone else, the better you are able to be dynamic and fluid."

- Jonas Eidevall speaking post-Leicester (H)

Did you know, we beat every team that played a low block against us at least once this past season? Sure, we lost to Liverpool (H), West Ham (A) and Tottenham (A), but with an xG of 1.65 against Liverpool, 2.01 against West Ham and 2.74 against Tottenham [Stats courtesy of FootyStats], we created more than enough chances to win those games. This also dispels the notion that "we don't shoot" 'cause the reality is we garnered 436 shots across the campaign, the highest in the division (19.8 shots per game).

FA WSL 23/24 Shots per Game Ranking | Stats courtesy of WhoScored

The problem wasn't an inability to open up low blocks, it was our goal conversion rate, which also attributed to our inconsistencies. Check out the "Food for Thought" on our inconsistencies over the 23/24 season.

❎ Excuse 3️⃣: "Oh! He doesn't know how to rotate."

This one directly contradicts "Oh! He makes too many changes." So, I'll leave it at that.

❎ Excuse 4️⃣: "Oh! He's clueless."

Well, riddle me this. Does a clueless manager steadily progress his win rate from 36% at Lunds BK, to 44% at FC Rosengård [+8%], to a whopping 69% at Arsenal [+25%]?

Jonas Eidevall's Career Progression | Stats courtesy of FotMob

Jonas has now garnered 21 more victories (79) than his predecessor Joe Montemurro oversaw during his four-season stint with the club (58) [Stats courtesy of Wikipedia].

I'll also tell you this, a clueless manager doesn't beat the reigning WSL champions twice in the same season, nor does he do a double over Man City. Indeed, we led the Top Three 23/24 WSL Mini League on 9 pts (W3 D0 L1). Chelsea and City trailed on 4 pts each (W1 D1 L2). Furthermore, bar the first game of the season, the Liverpool defeat, we won every single home game, placing us 2nd in the WSL Home Table, level on points with league-leaders Chelsea (30). This is title-winning form (2.73 pts per game).

23/24 FA WSL Home Table | Stats courtesy of WhoScored

Arsenal Women 23/24 FA WSL Home and Away Form | Stats courtesy of FootyStats

Finally, when we got dubbed the "ACL Club", Eidevall had us quickly learn to play a back three formation, still challenge for the league, reach a UWCL semi-final for the first time in 10 years, and lift a League Cup. What he managed to do with that extremely thin squad in the 22/23 season, to me, was nothing short of special. Is that what passes for "clueless" nowadays?

❎ Excuse 5️⃣: "Oh! With this squad, he should be winning."

Well, he's had "this squad" for only one season and he's been winning alright. Averaging 2.3 pts per game (all comps) this season, Jonas managed a 72.73% win rate, scoring 2.94 goals per game, whilst only conceding 0.91. Solid stats, which could be and will be better, but part of the reason for the inconsistencies was going into the season with a virtually new "super squad".

Arsenal Women 23/24 Season Stats (All Comps) | Stats courtesy of FootyStats

Regardless, we gelled and improved over the season, being one of three domestic teams to lift silverware. Granted, we want more, but we now have a sturdy foundation and a relatively stable core group of players to build on. Did you know, we top the current WSL Form Table [ranked on the last 6 matches] on 16 pts (W5 D1 L0)? A form that if we carry into next season, makes us likely to get off to a fast start, unlike last season.

23/24 FA WSL Current Form Table | Stats courtesy of WhoScored

"While we are undoubtedly proud of the progress we have made, I want to be clear that no one at the club will stand still. We’re all working behind the scenes to move us forward – always forward."

- Josh Kroenke, Arsenal Co-chair's message at the end of the season

Jonas has added talent on and off the pitch, including assistant coach Renée Slegers | Getty

The perception is we've done pretty much nothing during Jonas' tenure, but the reality is we've lifted two trophies back-to-back, we've been up there challenging for the title every season, and we've been gradually improving under his watch. From 2.21 pts per game (all comps) in 21/22, to 2.30 pts in 23/24 [Stats courtesy of FootyStats], there's reason for optimism. The numbers don't lie.

Jonas Eidevall has tasted cup success in back-to-back seasons | Getty

🥜 The Nutshell.

So, in a nutshell, is this food for thought for the Anti-Jonas brigade?

“Mikel said it the other day - we've all turned into believers again.”

- Leah Williamson speaking post-penning her latest deal with the club

Eidevall with club vice captain, Leah Williamson, who's signed two new deals under his tenure | Getty

This food for thought is simply a reinforcement for those who trust the process. ⚽ Keep believing! 💯

Jonas has instilled a "we can beat any team" mentality in the club | Getty

"We can beat any team on any given day."

- Jonas Eidevall