Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall has said he would consider it a failure if his team does not reach the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) group stage, adding that they will be without vice captain Leah Williamson as she continues to work through concussion protocols.
The Gunners need to win against BK Häcken in Thursday’s second leg to qualify for this season’s group stage after losing 1-0 against their Swedish opponents last Wednesday in Gothenburg.
While the manager admitted he would see it as a failure if his side did not succeed in their ambition to reach the next stage of the continental competition, he remains optimistic about his team’s chances.
“If we don’t qualify, yes I would consider that [a failure],” he told a news conference. “Our ambition is to go into the group stage and that’s what we need to do.
“I’m responsible for the team’s results. I’m very positive and optimistic about our chances this season. We are going into the game with really high motivation tomorrow night and we’re going to do everything in our power that we can do to overturn it.”
Arsenal began their qualifying campaign with a 6-0 emphatic victory over Rangers and a 1-0 win over Rosenborg in the first round.
The Swede admitted he has been disappointed in his side’s second-round performance so far, acknowledging that there were too many missed chances that could have made their home leg far easier.
“I didn’t think our performance and result against Hacken was a step in the right direction for us,” he continued. “That happens in football. Everything is about how do you react, you move forward as a team. I think our reaction from that game was really strong.”
The team rebounded well from the loss, earning a 2-2 draw with Manchester City to begin their Women’s Super League (WSL) campaign.
Eidevall confirmed they will be without first-choice defender Williamson as the England captain continues to recover from a concussion sustained during training. She missed the Gunners’ opening WSL fixture, as did Steph Catley and Lina Hurtig, who are still unavailable. The pair are yet to make the bench for a game this season.
Arsenal require a two-goal win to secure their place in the group stage. They failed to make it past the first qualifying round last season but reached the semifinals during the 2022/23 season.