Jonas Eidevall hopes Arsenal can get job done against Bayern Munich and Chelsea after Everton clinch draw
JONAS EIDEVALL wants Arsenal to move past the disappointment of their 0-0 draw with Everton, with clashes with Bayern Munich and Chelsea to come.
The Toffees withstood a barrage before thwarting the Gunners’ attempts to claim their first win in the league at the Emirates on Sunday.
Everton shot stopper Courtney Brosnan put in a player of the match shift as her side found themselves hemmed into their own half for large spells.
The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper made several impressive saves including a close-range injury-time stop of Stina Blackstenius’s attempted tap-in.
The stalemate resulted in Arsenal falling two points behind Manchester City ahead of two of their biggest games of the season in Europe and the WSL.
The Cityzens leapt to top spot following their 2-0 home win against West Ham with moving to Liverpool fifth and one place above Eidevall’s side on goal difference.
The Arsenal boss, whose side will face Bayern in their Champions League group stage opener in Munich on Wednesday, said: “First half we played with too little intent and moved the ball too slow.
“We had quite a bit of control in that half, but here at home at the Emirates we should have much higher demands and standards for ourselves and our attacking game.
“When we don’t move the ball quick enough then it’s really hard to break down a side like Everton.
“They defend with so many players behind the ball and are really dedicated in their defending
“We’re disappointed with the result and the performance.
“But we need to look forward to two really exciting, tough, challenging games.
“With the games coming up, playing away against Munich and at home against Chelsea, we don’t need any more fuel or motivation.
“Those games and those opponents are fuel enough.
“We now need to look forward because no matter how disappointed we are with the draw, we still have a job to do.”
The Gunners’ scoreless draw with the Toffees was the first of three games they will play in the space of seven days.
Eidevall added: “It’s a quick turnaround so we can’t put a foot wrong with recovery and preparation so that needs to be the focus, but no about it we’re disappointed.”
Arsenal were handed a fitness boost with defenders Leah Williamson and Steph Catley making their returns from injury.
Catley came on in the 77th minute with England skipper Williamson entering the fray 13 minutes earlier having missed Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Man City, and wins against BK Hacken and Leicester with Steph
Of their return to action, Eidevall said: “It’s really important for us. We’ve been playing a lot of minutes with the same players.
“When we look at our back four and given we have five games within 15 days here.
“It would not have been sustainable to keep on piling on the minutes for those players so it’s really important to have them back.”
Arsenal’s Emily Fox almost broke the deadlock with her floated 10th-minute delivery into the box hitting the crossbar.
At the other end a loose pass from Gunners keeper Daphne van Domselaar, in the 18-yard almost handed a scoring chance to the visitors moments later.
Brosnan made a perfectly-timed diving stop to keep out Mariona Caldentey’s shot from distance before Veatriki Sarri prompted Van Domselaar to tip the ball against the crossbar close to half-time.
The second spell saw Everton and Arsenal shuffle their decks with Blackstenius and Caitlin Foord amongst the subs coming on.
And Foord went close with a half-volleyed 90th-minute strike before Brosnan denied Blackstenius in injury time.
The scoreless draw resulted in Everton ending their winless run in the top tier and picking up their first point of the season.
And Brian Sorensen’s side will hope to register their first victory in the league this term when they host West Ham next Sunday (13 October).
The Toffees boss said: “We were strong defensively and I don’t think they had big, big chances. The plan was good and the girls were even better executing it.
“What pleased me most? The resilience, the togetherness, the willingness to fight for each other, the coolness, the calmness. I’m super proud.
“This result is only going to build our confidence.”