Arsenal manager, Jonas Eidevall, spoke to the media this morning, as the Gunners prepare to take on Chelsea in the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup Final on Sunday 31 March.

Eidevall kicked proceedings off by confirming the are no team news updates, with just two training sessions to go until the match. He said,“There are a lot of good players in contention to play”.

Speaking about the atmosphere in the Arsenal camp ahead of the final, Eidevall expressed, “It’s a very big weekend for the club and we have a focused feeling. We are looking forward to it. It’s going to be a tough challenge on Sunday, and we have been focusing on the values that we need to continue to build.”

The Gunners were heavily criticised for their last performance against Chelsea earlier in the month at Stamford Bridge, after falling to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Blues.

When asked about how the team has recovered since the loss in West London, as well as the impact the loss has had on preparations ahead of the final, Eidevall said, “I don’t think there is a mental obstacle for us in saying we can’t beat Chelsea, because we’ve done so on numerous occasions. There shouldn’t be any complacency going in, as they are a very good team and they’ve beaten us on numerous occasions. So, it will really come down to who is the best team and preparation plays a huge part in that, and that’s what we are focusing on.”

Arsenal return to action after securing a 3-1 victory in Birmingham last Sunday over a struggling Aston Villa outfit. Discussing the team’s performance, and ability to persevere, Eidevall reflected on his side’s ability to bounce back from the precarious position that the Gunners found themselves in at half time.

“Our second half against Aston Villa is probably our best 45 minutes against a low block. I think you can see similar trends there, especially in our recent games against Everton and Tottenham. The trends are there, we just haven’t been consistently dominant as we were in those 45 minutes, which is very pleasing to me.”

This season, Arsenal’s average crowd attendance at the Emirates Stadium have exceeded 35,000 across all fixtures held at the main ground. In March, the club also successfully sold out their home ground for back-to-back fixtures in the Barclays Women’s Super League, securing victories over both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

When asked about what impact this has had on the team, Eidevall said, “One thing the fans are very important for is creating the atmosphere and belief. Our fans have been so great the whole season and we’re doing so well. To see all the hours, they put in travelling to support the team, it really motivates us, and it is so special. Like if there is something that gives us an extra push, it’s that. We want to do everything we can to reward and repay the fans for the faith they are putting into us. Sunday is a great opportunity for us to do that and we are going to do our best.”

Outside of the final, Arsenal recently announced plans to travel to Australia in May, to take on an A-League all-stars exhibition match, as the Barclays Women’s Super League concludes in the final weeks of May.

According to media reports, England head coach, Sarina Wiegman spoke to Eidevall about the toll the fixture could have on players in the Lionesses squad ahead of the 2025 Uefa Women’s Euro qualifiers in June and July.

When asked her thoughts in a press conference, Wiegman admitted she was “surprised”, before stating: “I think for all the players with an already complicated calendar, it’s not good for them to go to the other side of the world, very short term, not having the time to adapt and play a game and come back and go for us in two games against France, home and away.”

 When asked whether he had had further discussions with Wiegman, Eidevall revealed: “They are her comments. I want to focus on the cup final. We have very good communication and have always collaborated well, there isn’t an issue there at all.”

Eidevall went on to give a nod of recognition to former England captain, Steph Houghton, following the announcement of her retirement made earlier this week.

Speaking on the legacy of the English defender, Eidevall said, “I was fortunate enough to work with Steph last summer during the World Cup coverage, and I think she has had a phenomenal career, playing for her club and national team. She is a phenomenal person, on and off the pitch with some tremendous leadership qualities. I hope she can be very proud of her career, and I wish her and her family the best in their future.”

Sunday’s fixture for silverware will mark the final meeting between Jonas Eidevall and Emma Hayes, as the Chelsea boss travels stateside upon the conclusion of the 2023/24 season.

Speaking on how he has enjoyed the rivalry with the Blues boss over the years, Eidevall expressed “I really enjoy our games from a challenge perspective, but rivalries in elite football will continue to come. There’s a big difference between the UK and Sweden in the amount of contact you have with your fellow managers. In Sweden, you tend to do a lot of trips together and then you exchange experiences and talk about the games. What you tend to understand, is that while you are rivals, you can also learn a lot from each other.“

The Gunners and the Blues will travel to Wolverhampton this Easter Sunday, as the wrestle for silverware in the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup all kicks of at 15:00 GMT at Molineux Stadium.