Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall spoke to the press this morning as the Gunners gear up for a semi final battle with Aston Villa in the FA Continental Tyres League Cup on Wednesday evening.

The Gunners return off the back of derby day victory, as Alessia Russo’s strike proved to be the difference in getting Arsenal over the line in a 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium.

Eidevall first started by providing a fitness update for his side, confirming that “nothing has changed since the game against Tottenham.”

The Gunners boss did however mention that Katie Reid will be unavailable for the clash, due to her cup tied nature following a loan spell with Watford.

Despite facing an undesirable commencement in proceedings in their 2023/24 Barclays Women’s Super League campaign, Aston Villa have found a recent rectification of form as 2024 came into view. Despite what was a disappointing loss to Liverpool on Sunday, Eidevall assured that the Gunners will not be underprepared for the clash, describing Villa as a “good side”

“They have a lot to play for here being in the semi final, just as we do. A part from the game against Liverpool- I think you have seen a Villa side that has been progressing and developing here after the New Year.

We have to be on our very best behaviour and performance tomorrow in order to get the result we want.”

Sunday’s North London derby saw another milestone reached for the Gunners, as Beth Mead became the first player in the Barclays Women’s Super League to register 40 assists for a single club.

Eidevall packed on the praise for the England international, emphatically stating that Mead is “not slowing down.”

He continued, “I hope she continues to develop and elevate her game to the next level as well. [It’s] really really nice having her back, and seeing her more and more integrated into the team.”

Arsenal Women Football Club continue to smash glass ceilings, as the Gunners registered back-to-back sell outs at Emirates Stadium while 60,050 spectators piled through the turnstiles on Sunday afternoon. Speaking on the formidable impact that Arsenal continues to have on the growth of the women’s game, Eidevall digested the circumstances with pride.

“I think it’s great, and it is of course where want to be. [It’s] the home we want to create for our fans. But as I said, I think there are some parts, probably, that can be something that all clubs can do. It has to start with the club, where everyone is invested in both the men;s and womens’ team. Arsenal is very much like that.”

Arsenal’s relationship with the league cup has proved fond over the recent year, as the Gunners took home the silverware at the close of the 2022/23 season. Eidevall digested the fact that Arsenal could still be in the race for the league title, expressing his desire to keep the Gunners in contention across both competitions.

He said, “We are still in two competitions, and we would like to do our very best to try and win both of them. This is a really important game for doing that tomorrow, so we are going to do our very best to try and go to another final.”

Arsenal will host Aston Villa at Meadow Park tomorrow evening, as the Gunners gear up to write their name in the final of the FA Continental Tyres League Cup.