Jonas Edvall, former Arsenal coach, said that the departure of club icon Vivienne Miedema last July was the main reason for his departure. Resigning in OctoberSaying the situation has created a rift with fans who don't have a “quick fix” and has cast a “cloud” over the new season.
After joining in 2017, Miedema, the Women's Super League's all-time top scorer, scored 125 goals and provided 50 assists in 172 appearances for Arsenal – and Edvall, who arrived in 2021 after leaving Swedish side Rosengard, said he faced a budgetary decision between retaining the club. The club either turns 28 or signs World Cup-winning Spanish striker Mariona Caldente.
Edvall told a Swedish magazine: “My relationship with the fans was very bad after we let Vivienne Miedema go and there was no quick solution.” Al-Masaa newspaper.
“You have a limited budget to work with and we had the opportunity to sign Mariona Caldente or extend Vivienne Miedema's contract.
He added: “But this is not a decision that you stand up later in a press conference and talk about and say 'We had to choose between two players'. The reality is that we cannot afford both. Then I have to make a decision on what I think is best for the club.”
🗣️ “I think sometimes people don't connect the dots.”
Jonas Edvall discusses his relationship with Vivienne Miedema when he was Arsenal coach 🔴 pic.twitter.com/catmjD6vMM
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) January 7, 2025
“There are no problems” with Miedema, Edival says
Miedema won the 2018/19 Women's Football League title and three League Cups with Arsenal, but missed a year of football between December 2019 and the end of last season due to knee injuries.
The Netherlands' all-time top scorer has since joined Manchester City, scoring against Arsenal's Edival in September before suffering another knee problem that has kept her sidelined since early October.
“I usually think I'm pretty good at predicting the consequences of a decision, but I have to be honest in saying that I didn't see that in this case,” said Edvall, who took office in 2008. His appointment as manager of National Women's Soccer League team San Diego Wave was announced on Tuesday.
New Wave manager Jonas Edvall saw Arsenal fans angry with him in 2024, prompting him to step down in October after their slow start.
I asked what the lesson was from that experience. He discussed the importance of transparency, something he hopes to provide to his supporters in San Diego. pic.twitter.com/d7hpxi0OKc
– Darnay Tripp (@DarnayTripp) January 8, 2025
“There was a cloud hanging over us. If it had been hanging over me, I would have been fine – no need to worry. But if it becomes a narrative that affects the team, then the team’s performance in the autumn will not help.
“But I would have made the same decision. I am convinced that Caldente will continue to be a great asset for Arsenal.
“I didn't have any problems working with Miedema. She's a strong person and will always speak her mind, which is how I am as a person. The decision was made for purely sporting reasons.”
“We needed to find a way to get out of the cloud, and the easiest way was for me to leave. It's probably unusual in this industry to go it alone.
The Eid era has arrived 🌊 pic.twitter.com/4EqWinJGqu
– San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) January 7, 2025
Edvall backs Arsenal's successor, Sligers
Caldentre has provided one goal and one assist in nine Premier League matches and has scored five goals in 10 Champions League matches in 2024/25.
The former Barcelona player has contributed to an 11-match unbeaten run under caretaker manager Rene Sligers, who joined as Edival's assistant in September 2023.
“I experience Rene as a great leader,” Edival said. “(She has) a good foundation of values and a strong knowledge of football. I am very happy to see the good results and performances that she, the team and the coaching staff have put together and I really hope to see the possibility of allowing them to continue. I think this would be the best.
“Looking at other coaches coming into the league, will they have more experience than Rene? She has coached Rosengaard for two years, been the Under-23 national team coach for Sweden, a scout for the Netherlands and Sweden national teams (and was at Swedish club) LB07 before that and led them through a difficult season It is very wrong to say that she will not have much experience.
The Gunners are in great form under Rene Selegers#BarclaysWSL @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/Y0tYFjiMwA
– Barclays Women’s Super League (@BarclaysWSL) January 8, 2025
Arsenal 'drain' Eideval
Arsenal lost two of their first five Champions League matches this season and won one of their four league matches before Edival's exit, including a 2-1 home defeat to familiar title rivals Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in their last Champions League match. .
“What I missed most was finding a balance between areas where I could put my energy,” the 41-year-old said. “We had 37 staff when I left and 27 or 28 players in the squad.
“One of the parts I found draining – and one of the parts in my decision to leave – was not having a sporting director to work with.
“I almost thought it was difficult to deal with that many people on a daily basis. As soon as I talked to anyone, it was because I had an agenda. I didn't have any conversations that were just 'How are you?' It created a little void inside me.” “
