Eidevall: Arsenal need to work hard to get better of Chelsea

The striker had a number of key chances in the 2-0 defeat at Kingsmeadow, but failed to convert, and the two sides meet again in the final of the Continental Cup at Selhurst Park on Sunday (3pm).

“It is about creating the environment in putting players in those situations in training so they can make it a habit and not overthink it,” said Eidevall. 

“To keep on going, going and going. A lot of times players think they need to do differently, but it’s just small details.

“I would be worried if it was players I had never seen score before, these are players that know they can score a lot of goals so it’s easier to keep that belief.”

Asked if defending at Arsenal is becoming an issue, he added: “Before this game and Manchester City we didn’t really have those individual errors. Chelsea at home was 1-1, we can defend the cross better for the equaliser but it was one of those goals that happens. 

“After that, Aston Villa we got a clean sheet, Leeds was 9-0, West Ham didn’t have a shot on target, City at home clean sheet. City away we gave away poor goals [in a 2-1 loss] and in this game we also gave away a poor goal.

“I thought the second goal was a poor goal. But I don’t see it as a story of the team, we can have a lot of self-confidence in the way we defend.”

Sophie Ingle fired Chelsea in front on 21 minutes, after Blackstenius had put a good chance over at the other end. And Sam Kerr doubled the advantage befoer the hour.

Asked if Chelsea were able to then conserve energy, Eidevall said: “I don’t think Chelsea wanted to give away a lot of goalscoring opportunities. You run more when you don’t have the ball, we had the ball more in this game. The data probably showed they were running more.

“I was happy to see players who did a lot of travelling [during the recent international break] and had a heavy schedule to see how sharp they looked, how well they moved.

“I was afraid we would have to sub people after 60 minutes because of fatigue, but I didn’t see that. It means the players and the staff are doing a good job in preparing them.”

Although Arsenal’s poor run of results against their London rivals continued, Eidevall denied there was a mental block against Chelsea.

“It starts with performances, for us when I see our performances against Chelsea, we are getting closer to them,” he said. 

“The games I watched when I prepared before I came, Chelsea were very dominant in some of those games and were very effective in the way they pressed Arsenal high. Arsenal could not impose their possession style on them. 

“I think we see now an Arsenal side that move the ball well and play well out of pressure. But I am always the optimist so I am always trying to see the things we are doing better and I can see that development. 

“I am sitting here with that feeling, but we need to keep on working hard to give Chelsea an even harder match in the future.”