Emma Hayes will leave her role as Chelsea manager at the end of the current season, the club have announced.
Here, the PA news agency looks at the trophy-laden career of the Women’s Super League’s most decorated coach.
Trophies
Hayes has led Chelsea to six WSL titles, first in 2015 and then the 2017-18 season, followed by the last four in succession from 2019-20 onwards.
The Blues also won 2017’s Spring Series as the league changed from a summer to winter format.
She has also won five FA Cups and two League Cups, completing at least a double in each of her title-winning seasons and a treble in 2020-21, when her side also reached the Champions League final where Barcelona denied them a quadruple.
The 2020 Community Shield completes her trophy haul with the club.
Records
Hayes’ six titles are a WSL record, representing half of the seasons the competition has existed in its modern form – Laura Harvey and Matt Beard are her nearest challengers, winning two apiece with Arsenal and Liverpool respectively.
She has been named the league’s manager of the season in each of those six campaigns, with no other manager winning the award more than once, and also holds the record for the most manager of the month awards – again with six. Her three in the 2019-20 season were another record, matched last season by Manchester United’s Marc Skinner.
Hayes has also amassed the most games (195) and wins (137) as a WSL manager, all with Chelsea after taking the reins in 2012. In the case of wins, she is the only manager in three figures – with former Manchester City boss Nick Cushing second on a distant 72 and only six managers having even reached 50.
Results
Across all competitions, Chelsea’s win over Aston Villa on Saturday was Hayes’ 236th out of 333 matches in charge for a stunning win rate of almost 71 per cent.
Her side have lost only 58 matches in that time and drawn 39, scoring 887 goals compared to 271 conceded.
She has won 27 out of 47 Champions League games, drawing seven and losing 13, and 72 out of 91 in the domestic cups and Community Shield.
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes will depart the Blues at the end of the season after more than a decade in charge, the Women’s Super League club have announced.
Hayes is among the most respected and successful managers in women’s football, having led Chelsea to six WSL titles, five FA Cups, two League Cups, one Spring Series trophy and one Community Shield.
The 47-year-old, who steered Chelsea to an historic double on two occasions and achieved one domestic treble, has previously been linked to the vacant United States women’s national team role currently occupied by interim boss Twila Kilgore.
A club statement read: “Chelsea FC can today confirm that highly decorated Chelsea Women’s manager Emma Hayes OBE will depart the club at the end of the season to pursue a new opportunity outside of the WSL and club football.”
Jonas Eidevall admits Arsenal have a “problem” with the lack of diversity in their first-team squad – but believes it is an issue across all of women’s football in England.
The Gunners were heavily criticised last month after their squad photograph for the 2023/24 season contained no players from diverse backgrounds.
Having initially declined to comment on the issue, Arsenal later published a statement admitting it was a “key priority” to improve diversity.
“We acknowledge our current women’s first-team squad does not reflect the diversity that exists across the club and the communities we represent,” it read.
“Increasing participation among young women and girls from diverse backgrounds is a key priority for us at academy level, with specific measures in place to improve pathways and accessibility.”
Eidevall was asked about the widespread condemnation of the picture ahead of Arsenal’s Women’s Super League clash against Manchester City on Sunday.
“I haven’t seen much reaction online but I think where we come from, north London, we are very proud of our community,” he said.
“It is a diverse community. The history of the club, both the men’s first team and the women’s first team has very proud history of players coming from diverse backgrounds as well and made the club very proud of that.
“So, us not having that diversity in the first team women’s today – of course, that is a problem.”
Last year, a report conducted by the BBC estimated that black, Asian and minority ethic players made up a maximum of 15 per cent of those signed to WSL clubs – with Eidevall calling on the whole league, as well as the Football Association, to improve those figures.
“I think women’s football has a diversity problem in that, in getting especially people of colour involved more in football, not only at the top level, but also at the grassroots level and I think we have to work with it but also the FA and other clubs,” he added.
Arsenal’s statement, meanwhile, concluded: “Across all our teams, including our men’s and women’s academies, we’re proud of our players from diverse backgrounds who have contributed to our history, success and culture.
“It’s a priority for the club to continue to drive greater diversity and inclusion and create a sense of belonging for everyone connected to the club.”
Arsenal supporters may now be accustomed to packing the Emirates Stadium for women’s matches but the experience of playing in front of tens of thousands remains “surreal” to veteran Jen Beattie.
The Glaswegian returned for a second spell with the Gunners in 2019 having previously won a league title, two FA Cups and a pair of League Cups in a four-year stint between 2009 to 2013.
On Tuesday, Arsenal announced 40,000 tickets have already been sold for their Women’s Super League encounter with defending champions Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on December 10 – a figure which is becoming a regular occurrence rather than any kind of novel development.
Despite the large attendances becoming more routine, Beattie admitted to the PA news agency: “They’re still exciting. I don’t think it will ever not be.
“I mean I’m 32, I’ve been in the game for a long time, I’ve played in front of crowds that aren’t that big, so to still be a part of it now and to see the crowd numbers growing and becoming consistent is surreal, to be honest.
“But it’s credit to the club, the way that they’ve pushed the funding behind the marketing, behind games, and of course, the fans that have bought into what we’re trying to do.
“I don’t think selling out the Emirates will ever become normal for me. It will be just as surreal and just as exciting every single time. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.”
The numbers speak for themselves. On October 1, Arsenal set a new WSL attendance record of 54,115 when they played Liverpool at the Emirates in their league opener, following that up with over 35,000 against Aston Villa two weeks later.
Including the upcoming Chelsea contest, each of Arsenal’s WSL matches at the Emirates Stadium since the start of the 2022-23 season – after several members of the squad lifted the Euro 2022 trophy with England – have generated crowds of at least 35,000, the club also ticking off a first sell-out at the stadium for last season’s Champions League semi-final.
The PA news agency understands Arsenal have also experienced a 314 per cent year-on-year increase in total ticket sales for women’s games between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
Beattie can uniquely speak to what her club is doing behind the scenes. In 2022, the cancer survivor signed an extension that also saw her adopt a dual role which involves mentoring academy players and working with Arsenal’s commercial and partnerships teams.
She said: “It’s important for them to see how much the women’s side actually want to be involved in those big decisions, making the staff aware [that] we really value having an impact, because we care about it.
“I think that men’s football went on at such a fast growth so many years ago, but we wanted to kind of tailor it. I think we all just have a responsibility that we’re part of the big change that’s happening.
“There are so many similarities to men’s football, but there are so many differences, and I think it’s about things we want to make different as well. We don’t want to completely emulate the men’s game.”
Arsenal skipper Kim Little and vice-captain Leah Williamson have also been active in consultations about next year’s plan to move the WSL and Women’s Championship into an independent ‘NewCo’, which will result in a restructure of power in a move similar to the Premier League’s 20-club governance model.
Beattie, meanwhile, has been serving as a Scottish FA and McDonald’s grassroots ambassador, and believes striking the right balance between enjoyment and opportunity is pivotal when it comes to keeping girls in the game past their primary school years, when a 2022 Women in Sport survey found 43 per cent who once considered themselves ‘sporty’ drop out.
She added: “It is still a very male-dominated sport, but I think as long as fun is the number-one aspect, making it not too stressful, I think that’s what keeps kids in it, and creating a pathway up to professionalisation (and) giving support to schools, to education.
“As long as there’s a pathway and an opportunity for kids to stick to, that’s the most important thing.”
:: Jen Beattie was speaking at the annual Scottish FA Grassroots Awards in partnership with McDonald’s Fun Football. The awards recognise volunteers who are dedicated to making a real difference to community football in Scotland.
Sjoeke Nusken scored a brace to help Chelsea secure a 4-2 Women’s Super League comeback victory over Brighton at Kingsmeadow.
The Germany midfielder netted her first two goals in blue after her summer move from Eintracht Frankfurt, with her first coming in first-half added-time before she scored again just after the break.
This came after Brighton’s Pauline Bremer scored the opener for Melissa Phillips’ side, who failed to take advantage of their early lead.
Seagulls defender Guro Bergsvand scored an own goal in the 74th minute and Chelsea’s Aggie Beever-Jones came off the bench to put the game out of reach.
Elisabeth Terland’s second-half stoppage-time goal was merely a consolation as Brighton’s losing run was extended to three.
Three points for Chelsea put them joint top with title rivals Manchester City after their 1-0 win at Leicester on Saturday.
In east London, West Ham’s equaliser in the fifth minute of second-half added time stole a late point against Liverpool.
Marie Hobinger opened the scoring for the visitors in the 52nd minute to give them a 1-0 advantage.
But Japan international Riko Ueki bundled the ball home at the death to grab a late share the spoils.
Nikita Parris returned to haunt her former club once again as Manchester United comfortably beat Everton 5-0 at Walton Hall Park to enter the international break unbeaten.
Liverpool-born Parris, who began her career at Everton, scored two second-half goals and set up one to take her record against the Toffees to eight goals in nine Super League appearances.
United substitute Rachel Williams also enjoyed her afternoon by picking up a brace of goals in the final 15 minutes after being introduced for France international Melvine Malard, who had earlier opened the scoring in the 14th minute.
Parris’ goals in the 58th minute and three minutes into stoppage time were a reward for her energy and non-stop harrying of an Everton defence that eventually buckled in the second half under the intense press of United.
In Sunday’s late kick-off, a Katie McCabe double handed Arsenal a narrow 2-1 victory away to Bristol City.
The clinical McCabe scored the first after seven minutes courtesy of a wonderful effort from range.
After City’s Rachel Furness cancelled the goal out in the 16th minute, McCabe scored once more just before the hour to give Jonas Eidevall’s side a much-needed victory on the road.
Reggae Girlz striker Khadija “Bunny” Shaw continues to soak up compliments from her Manchester City family, as England international Alex Greenwood is the latest to praise her all-round abilities and believes the high profile Jamaican international can become the best player in the world.
Shaw, 26, has significantly impacted City Women’s team since signing with the north England club two years ago. Last season, the towering striker amassed 31 goals across all competitions which has propelled her to the pinnacle as the club’s leading scorer.
Last weekend, Shaw netted her first goals of the new Women’s Super League season with a double against Bristol City, adding to her FA Women’s League Cup goal against Everton earlier in the week.
And if manager Gareth Taylor’s sentiments about how influential Shaw is to the team wasn’t enough, Greenwood added her voice to the chorus.
“Her goal record speaks for itself, but Bunny is so much more than goals. What she brings to the team in terms of play, her work off the ball, and off the pitch – she is a top person. I think she can be the best in the world if she wants to be. She has all the attributes to be the best in the world, I know how hard she works in training,” Greenwood declared.
“It’s the reason she’s flourishing right now. She’s been really strong for us so we just need to keep feeding her, keep giving her the ball and the rest she’ll take care of. She’s a great person to be around and a really good friend of mine as well. She is someone I can demand really high standards of, and likewise she can of me and everyone else,” the 30-year-old centre back added.
Shaw first made her mark professionally with FC Bordeaux in 2019. During her time there, she scored 34 goals and won the Golden Boot, as she assisted the French club to Champions League qualification.
It came as no surprise when she moved to City where she made her mark in her first season in which she tallied with 16 goals.
Now installed as City’s point player in attack, following the retirement of veteran Ellen White, Shaw, with 24 goals in the league last term, broke the club’s record for the most Women’s Super League goals in a season.
Taylor reiterated his admiration for the Jamaican.
“I’m super proud of Bunny and all the players are. She understands the support and help she gets here to allow her to be herself. I think what she’s done is remarkable, really – to go from the first game of the season scoring and not really have a dry spell at all, maybe a couple of games,” Taylor said.
“She’s continued to score goals. She’s certainly a proven goalscorer, but it’s the types of goals she’s getting now and everything else she brings to us in the games. Her hold up play is phenomenal,” he noted.
Shaw’s could add to her tally when Manchester City visit Leicester City at King Power Stadium on Saturday.
Khadija “Bunny’ Shaw opened her account in the Women’s Super League this season, scoring twice in Manchester City’s 5-0 demolition of Bristol City Women at the Joie Stadium in Manchester.
Shaw, who scored her first goal of the season in Manchester City’s 2-1 victory over Everton in the FA Women’s League Cup on Wednesday, scored two first-half goals in the lopsided victory.
The Jamaican striker scored in the 38th minute and in stoppage time after Jill Roord had opened the scoring from a close-range header in the ninth minute moments after a Shaw shot cannoned off the cross bar.
Laia Aleixandri headed into the net in the 33rd minute before Shaw’s header made it 3-0 five minutes later. Roord would score her second early in stoppage time before the Jamaican capped a dominant half with another header before the break.
Manchester City were unable to add to the score in the second half but it mattered little as Bristol City had few opportunities to cut into the lead with only two shots in the game, one of them on target. By contrast, Shaw had five shots in the first half alone for her side that took 24 shots in the game, 12 of which were on target.
City enjoyed 81 per cent of the possession against Bristol City, who remain winless after three games and sit at the bottom of the 12 team table.
Shaw could have added to her tally having missed a header from inside the box in the 89th minute and her shot from the six-yard box in stoppage time was saved by goalkeeper Ffion Morgan, who had replaced Carrie Jones at the interval.
Expectations are high that Reggae Girl Khadija “Bunny” Shaw will enjoy another successful campaign to help Manchester City in their push to possibly cop a silverware this season.
The 26-year-old is already off to a good start, as she scored her first goal of the new campaign in City’s 2-1 win over Everton in FA Women’s League Cup action on Wednesday.
With a goal coming in her first start of the season, Shaw is expected to again lead the attack when Manchester City kick start Women’s Super League (WSL) action against Bristol City at Academy Stadium on Sunday.
With City currently third in the Women’s Super League standings on four points, Shaw said the expectations of her is no added pressure.
“No. No pressure. I love scoring goals and I always want to do my best to help the team,” she told SportsMax.TV.
Manager Gareth Taylor hailed the Jamaican for the leading role she has played since joining the club in 2021.
“She’s such an influential and a player the team looks to in terms of setting off everything we do whether it be attacking or without the ball,” Taylor said.
“She brings so much with her personality and the quality she has. It’s fantastic to have her back and nice for her to get off the mark so early in the season,” he added.
Shaw bagged 31 goals in all competitions last season which earned her City’s Player-of-the-Season award, as the club finished fourth in the league.
She then endured a busy summer, turning out for Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where the Caribbean side had an historic run to the round of 16 before bowing out to Colombia.
Shaw also featured in the Olympic qualifying playoff fixtures against Canada last month. She started in the home contest which the Girlz lost 0-2 but sat out the second leg encounter due to injury, as Canada won 2-1 in Toronto.
Taylor explained that Shaw needed to be managed properly once returning from international duty, which saw her miss the opener against West Ham, come off the bench against Chelsea before starting and playing an hour against Everton.
“Bunny had an unfortunate issue when she came back from Jamaica,” Taylor declared.
“The season she had last year and playing the role she did against Everton the other night, she created Jess Park’s goal and scored before we took her off,” he noted.
Liverpool manager Matt Beard is relishing a “tough game” against Everton in Sunday’s Merseyside derby.
Beard’s side host the Toffees at Anfield, where they will be aiming to extend their winning run in the league so far this season.
The Reds are at the top end of the table following back-to-back league victories against Arsenal and Aston Villa respectively and Beard is hopeful his side can build on their positive start.
He said: “Obviously the clean sheets… defensively the structure’s been great. There’s been a lot of good things from counter-pressing to bodies back behind the ball.
“That’s a big platform for us to build on. And the two teams that we’ve played have got some fantastic forward players. But it’s early stages.
“With these games the form goes out the window. We’ve had a good start, they haven’t. We know it’s going to be a tough game and we’re looking forward to it.”
The Merseyside derby caps off a jam-packed afternoon of WSL action on Sunday, which starts with league leaders Leicester facing Manchester United at midday and Foxes midfielder Aimee Palmer is looking forward to the trip to Leigh Sports Village.
She said: “We know that they are a good team but, equally, we’ve proven that we’re a very good team, and the opposition will be afraid of us.”
Across town, Manchester City face newly promoted Bristol City, who are bottom of the table. City boss Gareth Taylor expressed pride in his players amid the “different challenges” they have faced in their recent outings.
Leila Ouahabi was sent off in their WSL opener against West Ham, with captain Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp then sent off in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea and City’s last game came midweek, where they beat Everton 2-1 in the League Cup.
“The three (games) we’ve had so far have given us different challenges,” Taylor said.
“It was nice to keep all of the players on the pitch on Wednesday!
“I think they’ve been fantastic. A lot of the signs I’ve seen from the team have been so impressive and I think that comes from unity, sticking together, being really resilient, and the harmony is very good.”
Sunday’s remaining fixtures see Arsenal host Villa and Tottenham visit Brighton.
Beth Mead looks likely to make her long-awaited return to Arsenal’s matchday squad when the Gunners host Aston Villa at the Emirates on Sunday, boss Jonas Eidevall confirmed.
The England forward, who won the Golden Boot in the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 triumph, has not played for club or country since rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) late last November.
Mead faces one final training session before her fitness for Arsenal’s third meeting of the new Women’s Super League season is confirmed, but the 28-year-old’s manager was feeling optimistic after seeing her put through her paces on Friday morning.
Eidevall said: “In order to, for squad selection, we have one more training to go. If she goes through that training she should be 100 per cent ready for squad selection.
“She has a lovely energy, she plays the game with both her right and left foot with really good attacking qualities too. We all know that Beth Mead is a quality football player, so of course we are really looking forward to having her back on the pitch again.”
Mead, whose injury ruled her out of this summer’s World Cup, was one of four of Eidevall’s players to sustain an ACL problem last season, drawing further attention to what many feel is a crisis facing women’s football, where the issue is alarmingly common.
Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema joined the ‘ACL club’ a month after her team-mate and partner Mead but is also edging close to a comeback, said Eidevall, while Leah Williamson, who captained England to the European trophy, will not feature until after Christmas at the earliest.
Defender Laura Wienroither ruptured her ACL in May, while fellow defender Teyah Goldie became the fifth victim when she suffered the same issue in August.
Eidevall said: “Viv has returned to team training, which is really nice, so obviously the next thing from team training is to start playing in games, if that’s friendly games or internal games behind closed doors and so on.
“That’s the next step, and from there on obviously you’re not miles away from being able to be selected to be in the squad, so she’s definitely getting close.”
While the unfortunate quintuplet of team-mates have been able to support each other through the long recovery process, Eidevall and his staff do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach.
He added: “Unfortunately we have a group of players that went through the same thing. I think, though, at the end of the day you need to deal with your things yourself, because even if it looks on paper that you have the same injury, it’s never exactly the same.
“There are always differences. There can be similarities and yes you can help, but at the end of the day everything is going to be unique to you as an individual. I try to be very mindful of treating people with similar injuries like a package.”
Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor wants improved communication between players and officials following Sunday’s controversial draw with Chelsea in which he felt the referee handed out bookings “like confetti”.
City looked the brighter side and had taken a 1-0 lead via Chloe Kelly’s deflected seventh-minute strike, but late in the first half referee Emily Heaslip decided Alex Greenwood had been time-wasting after taking 26 seconds to take a free-kick and dismissed the bewildered captain with a second yellow.
It was an encounter with potential title implications that ultimately saw 10 yellows issued, including a second to Lauren Hemp 15 minutes before Guro Reiten’s stoppage-time equaliser, with the decision against Greenwood in particular lambasted on social media and criticised by big names including Ian Wright and Beth Mead.
Taylor, who himself was booked in the second half, said: “We submit a report which normally is fairly straightforward.
“I think this one will be quite an interesting one, just in terms of some of the feedback I’ve had from the players as well, in terms of the communication back and forth from the officials.
“Everyone makes mistakes. I think owning those mistakes at times is is much easier to handle, because we all do it, and I think it’s just a little bit easier if we get that communication between us, which is really important, so that we can create – not necessarily accountability – but we can create communication between us and go, we’re seeing it as this and you guys are seeing it slightly differently, who is right or wrong here?
“It’s important we get the feedback. Let’s see what we hear back.”
City, who also unsuccessfully appealed a three-match ban for Leila Ouahabi, sent off in their season opener, next travel to Everton on Wednesday to kick off their FA Cup campaign, a competition Taylor insisted “is not something to be sniffed at”.
City are looking to qualify for Champions League football again after narrowly missing out with a fourth-place WSL finish last year, with success against top sides like Chelsea critical in the short 22-match season.
While Taylor suggested Sunday’s decisions “went against us, it always seems to be against us and not Chelsea”, he conceded the first yellow of the game, shown to Blues forward Lauren James, was “harsh, and the next thing you know, before you know it, they’re handing them out like confetti”.
He also brushed aside theories that his side were less disciplined than Hayes’, adding: “They always seem to talk around that their discipline is much higher, but I don’t think there was any ill discipline from us at all.
“It was a real anomaly of the game and it forced us into a really, really difficult situation which the players coped with so well.
“I’ve been so impressed with the players and the way they manage that.
“To put four points on the board in both of those games, when you lose players, has been amazing.”
Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone joked she probably “won’t be best friends” with former team-mate Alessia Russo when the pair meet in the Women’s Super League on Friday night.
After spending three seasons in Manchester, Russo swapped the Red Devils for Arsenal in the summer, joining the north London outfit on a free transfer.
The 24-year-old striker now makes a quick return to her old stomping ground when United host the Gunners at Leigh Sports Village and her childhood friend Toone knows exactly what a threat her England colleague poses.
“We speak every day but we’ve not spoken about (Friday’s) game as such, probably not something we will speak about either,” Toone told the PA news agency.
“I’m sure we won’t be best friends for those 90 minutes, but I’m sure as soon as the game’s done we’ll be back to normal!
“In football that’s what happens, people move on and Alessia’s coming back to where she started her WSL career now so it’s exciting for everyone who’s there.
“For us we don’t want her to score, we know what kind of player she is, she’s unbelievable on the ball. We’ll really try and stop her threats.
“It’s going to be different, I remember the last time we were up against each other was probably when she was in the Chelsea youth and I think I was in Blackburn academy. That was one of the only times we did come up against each other.
“It’s always nice when you come up against people who you know, you know what they’re like as players and you know how to try and stop them. She’s going to come back to where she started and it’ll be nice to see her, but I guess for those 90 minutes I’ll want to beat her!”
Toone was speaking on behalf of McDonald’s to promote their McDelivery campaign, encouraging people to get their McDonald’s fix in the comfort of their own home and sharing their favourite orders.
United will be looking to secure back-to-back wins on Friday having opened the season with a 2-1 victory against Aston Villa thanks to Rachel Williams’ late winner.
Marc Skinner’s side are hoping to go one step further this season having come incredibly close to securing a maiden WSL title last year, finishing two points behind champions Chelsea.
The side have made some exciting signings over the summer with World Cup golden boot winner Hinata Miyazawa and Brazil forward Geyse joining, and Toone is determined that the club can keep building.
“We’re at a club with high ambitions, as players we have those ambitions as well,” she said.
“You don’t want to be at a club where you’re not winning trophies, so for us it’s about kicking on and really progressing as much as we can.
“Coming off the back of last season we finished the highest we’ve ever finished in the league and we managed to reach a FA Cup final, which is the best cup run we’ve had.
“So it’s about building on that now, we’ve signed some really good, talented players and integrated them into the squad nicely, for us it’s about taking each game as it comes and progressing in the league.”
Ella Toone is encouraging football fans up and down the country to get in on a game day McDelivery. Download the McDonald’s App and order today!
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall brushed off suggestions that summer signing Alessia Russo will put herself under extra pressure when she faces former side Manchester United on Friday.
The 24-year-old England striker completed the free transfer in July before she left for the Women’s World Cup in Australia, though it was the conclusion of a courtship that extended at least as far back as the January transfer window.
Russo may be met with disappointment from the home support on her first trip back to Leigh Sports Village, but Eidevall insisted she is taking everything in stride.
He said: “Alessia is 100 per cent professional. She always trains with a lot of motivation, but of course it’s special when you return to play against a club where you have all your former team-mates and former fans and so on.
“It’s really important for us, like with every time we go somewhere, we go there together and we play together.”
Arsenal placed third in the Women’s Super League last season, while United qualified for Champions League football for the first time after finishing runners-up to champions Chelsea.
The Gunners have gotten off to a shaky start, first with a shock elimination in the Champions League qualifying stages then a loss to Liverpool to kick off the new campaign.
United boss Marc Skinner, who brought in Brazil international Geyse to replace Russo, was adamant he and his side were only looking forward.
He said: “In all honesty I’m not really here to talk about Alessia.
“Of course it’s a narrative that wants to be spun around. Look, Alessia is coming home, but she’s not our player anymore.
“You prepare for her like she’s the opponent.”
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall has signed a new “long-term” deal, the Women’s Super League side have announced.
The PA news agency understands the Swedish head coach, who was first appointed in June 2021, has agreed to a three-year contract with the Gunners.
Last season, the 40-year-old led Arsenal to the Continental Cup trophy and steered his side to the Champions League semi-finals.
He said: “I’m full of pride to have signed a new contract with this football club.
“I’m aware of the huge privilege and responsibility that comes along with my role at Arsenal. This is a special place with a special group of players and staff and we all believe there is a great future ahead of us here, so I am delighted to have agreed a new deal.
“We’ve made great progress on and off the pitch over the last couple of years and we are all working hard to continue that growth every single day. Our ambition is to be competing for the highest honours in women’s football consistently and we all believe we are capable of achieving that.
“I’d also like to say a special thank you to our supporters. From the moment I arrived, I’ve felt your warm support and it means the world. Home or away, our supporters never fall short – to represent this club, this community, is an honour. Together, we can achieve so much.”
Arsenal, who finished third in the WSL last season, have already been eliminated from the Champions League after suffering a shock defeat to Paris FC in the qualifying stages last month.
That result led some to wonder if that result could threaten Eidevall’s future in north London, speculation swiftly silenced by the announcement of his extension.
Arsenal sporting director Edu said: “We’re delighted to have agreed a new contract with Jonas. This is an exciting time for our women’s first team as we approach a new season and this announcement is an important sign of our renewed commitment to the journey ahead. As a club, our aim is to be challenging at the top of the game and Jonas will play a key role in us achieving that.”
Arsenal head of women’s football Clare Wheatley added: “Jonas is a crucial part of what we are building here at Arsenal and we’re very pleased to say he has signed a new deal with us. He has overseen real progress since joining us in 2021, winning his first silverware and guiding us to the semi-finals of the Champions League last year.
“Jonas shares our ambitions for our club and we are looking forward to working towards them together over the coming years.”
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