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As the boos echoed through the Emirates, Jonas Ideval’s face said it all. After a midweek game at Bayern Munich, this London derby against Chelsea is a must-win for their team.
This defeat, however narrow, could mean the end of his reign as Arsenal manager. He headed down the tunnel full time, knowing that the scrutiny and pressure would only increase.
He seemed to have lost the fans and his team did not lack effort, the discussion that the players had among themselves after Chelsea’s two goals in the first half did not reflect well the mood on the field.
“I completely understand that people feel disappointed when we don’t win football games and we are very disappointed too,” Ideval said. “We are suffering a lot, I am suffering, the players are suffering.
‘They (the fans) should see how incredibly hard the players work. How much heart, how much character they have for the club. I hope this gives confidence to the fans.”
Chelsea continued their impressive start to the WSL with a win against Arsenal on Saturday.
The result at the Emirates Stadium increased the pressure on Arsenal manager Jonas Ideval
Chelsea star Mayra Ramirez (centre) opened the scoring in style after just four minutes.
Things could have turned ugly when Chelsea took a 2-0 lead with goals from Mayra Ramirez and Sandy Baltimore in the space of 16 minutes. Arsenal got back on track when Caitlin Ford scored before the break and perhaps should have got the equalizer with the chances they created in the second half.
But Chelsea have held firm to maintain new boss Sonia Bombaster’s 100 per cent record. His predecessor Emma Hayes, who had numerous clashes with Edeval during her time as Blues boss, was watching from the stands.
“Emma texted me, we have a great relationship,” says Bombaster. “I am very proud of my players and very happy for them.”
After losing a series of set pieces against Bayern Munich in midweek, Eideval said in his pre-match interview that Arsenal had worked on their defence. But it took Chelsea less than four minutes to score from a corner. Arsenal failed to clear their line and the ball fell to Ramirez, who managed to flick it over his shoulder into the top right corner. The Chelsea striker was creative, but Arsenal’s defenders took too long to react.
Things went from bad to worse for the hosts in the 16th minute, when Baltimore put an end to a great play by Chelsea to make it 2-0. Johanna Wright passed the ball into the hands of Canneryd Lauren James, who beat two defenders before crossing for an unmarked Baltimore to head in at the back post.
Caitlin Ford almost put Arsenal ahead when she shot from inside the area. But Ford managed to score before the break, the striker producing a sensational solo effort to dribble past Lucy Bronze before curling around the far post.
Sandy Baltimore (left) made it 2-0 in the 16th minute when she finished off a brilliant Chelsea move.
Caitlin Ford scored a goal for the Gunners, but it was not enough to avoid another defeat.
Eideval was photographed talking to his players on the pitch after the final whistle on Saturday
Arsenal started the second half with more enthusiasm but continued to be useless in front of goal. Chelsea vigorously appealed a penalty when James went down in the area under a challenge from Lotte Ubben-Moye, but referee Cheryl Foster waved play on.
Daphne van Domseler was called into action to block Aggie Beaver-Jones’ header at the near post as Chelsea looked for a third goal.
Wubben-Moy should have leveled Arsenal but Stina Blackstenius could only send a free header before volleying over the bar from close range. Hannah Hampton then parried a volley from Alecia Russo as Arsenal looked for an equaliser. It wasn’t a comfortable ending for Chelsea, but they showed determination to finish the game. A packed Chelsea party celebrated wildly in the away stadium for full-time, in contrast to the destruction in the home stands. It remains to be seen whether Edeval will return here for Arsenal’s Champions League clash against Valerenga next week.
