Arsenal Women’s interim manager was ‘shocked’ by Jonas Eidevall’s dismissal

RENEE SLEGERS admitted she was shocked by Jonas Eidevall’s dismissal as Arsenal Women boss.

The Gunners’ interim director has refused to be drawn on whether she is interested in doing the job permanently.

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Slegers, whose previous coaching experience includes guiding Rosengard to back-to-back Swedish top-flight titles, today shared his thoughts on Eidevall’s departure.

The coach resigned after a disappointing run of one win in four WSL games and one defeat in the opening group stage of the Champions League.

The Gunners were defeated 5-2 by Bayern Munich on October 9th.

Former Chelsea midfielder Pernille Harder caused a stir by scoring three goals in 16 minutes after her team came from 2-0 down.

That defeat was followed by Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to the Blues at the Emirates in Division One last Saturday.

The result saw some Gunners fans take to social media platform X calling for Eidevall to resign.

The former Arsenal manager came under further pressure with a painted “Jonas Out” sign posted on a wall on a north London road just hours after the game.

Slegers, who was informed by Eidevall on Monday of his imminent departure, said: “I was shocked by the news and very saddened because he has been a good leader for the team.

“I already worked with him in Sweden and we worked very well together.

“I’m very sad that it has come to this.”

Eidevall’s departure saw him become the first WSL boss to leave this period following a dismal run of results.

His former team are currently in sixth place and five points behind leaders Man City after four WSL games so far this season.

The team, who play all their home league games at the Emirates this season, are currently winless at the stadium after three games this season.

On whether there is more pressure than ever on women’s football managers, Sleger adds: “I think coming to a big club like Arsenal is definitely a change.

“Particularly compared to where I come from (the Netherlands) and Sweden, where I worked before.

“I haven’t worked in England for a long time, but I’ve been following (the game) from abroad.

“This brings a lot of positive points. It’s alive, it’s big now, with lots of fans and supporters.

“A lot of people are involved and engaged, which is very positive, but it also comes with (situations like) this.”

Casey Stoney, 42, who managed Man United Women for three years from 2021, is among the figures believed to be linked to the role.

The former San Diego Wave boss, who guided the American team to NWSL Shield and Challenge Cup triumphs, was in the Emirates watching Arsenal last Saturday.

However, the former Red Devils manager is currently not considered a candidate, according to BBC Sport.

On whether she wants the role permanently, Slegers said: “Right now I’m just focused on the next two games we have in front of us.”

Tomorrow Arsenal welcomes Norwegian Valerenga to the Emirates in the Champions League.

The team will be eager to get back to winning ways ahead of a trip to West Ham on Sunday, with their last victory in all competitions coming at Leicester on September 29.

Captain Kim Little said: “Jonas has been our leader for the past few years and has decided to step aside.

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“We have a lot of respect for him and as a group of players and as a leadership group we have to bring the players together.

“It’s a big change, but we need to move forward now and change the focus to the game (against Valerenga).

“Ultimately our job is to get out there and play like players and that’s what we need to focus on.”