Eidevall reckons Arsenal star injuries have made this season one of the toughest of his career

JONAS EIDEVALL admits Arsenal’s injury woes have made this season one of the toughest of his coaching career.
The third-placed Gunners later visit Kingsmeadow for a lunchtime duel with leaders Chelsea in their penultimate WSL game of the season.
However, they will be without the services of Lia Walti, who was the last first-team player to end her season through injury.
Kim Little, Laura Wienroither, Leah Williamson Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema are her other key figures who are missing with hamstring and knee ligament problems.
But he reckons Walti will be fit for the World Cup even if the ailing Gunners star has missed his last two games.
Eidevall, 40, said: “It was definitely tough.
“It’s hard when players are injured because you feel so much for them, but you also have to constantly come up with new solutions and prepare new paths.”
“For me, this happens on different levels. One is to think ahead, to think about the next action, but still remember that behind every injury there is an individual and a human being.”
“We have to take care of that person and support them as best we can.”
“Another thing is finding solutions to be flexible in the way we think.
“When you’re in the thick of it, just keep going one game at a time. There are two more games and then we’ll be done.”
Walti was carried away on a stretcher in Arsenal’s 4-1 win at Everton on Wednesday after Aggie Beever-Jones caught his ankle on a late tackle.
However, Eidevall believes the midfielder will be ready to play for Switzerland when her side meet the Philippines in the opening game of the World Cup group stage on July 21.
The Gunners coach added: “It’s not a multi-month injury so she should be able to recover well in time for the World Cup, which is obviously very important for her.”
“I’m very happy for her that it hasn’t gotten worse. I was afraid it might be like that, so that’s a relief.”
The Arsenal-Chelsea clash is the first time the rivals have met since the Gunners’ 3-1 Conti Cup final victory over the Blues in March.
And Eidevall expects his players to have a different performance as their opponents have won their last five games in all competitions, scoring 20 goals.
He said: “We are flexible and we will be prepared that the Chelsea side will look a little different than last time.”
This game sees Pernille Harder and Chelsea captain Magda Eriksson make their final blues appearances at Kingsmeadow, with the duo leaving the club.
And Emma Hayes is looking forward to a good farewell.
The Chelsea manager said: “I’m proud of Pernille and Mags. As a football club it is important that we send away players who have meant a lot to us in the way we want to.”
Hayes’ Blues could retain the WSL crown with a win over Arsenal should Manchester United lose to Man City at Leigh Sports Village today.
However, he is careful not to underestimate the threat posed by the Gunners.


She added, “We didn’t win anything.”
“We have to play against one of the best teams in Europe this year and that will be a big challenge.”