Arsenal face make or break WSL season under Jonas Eidvall after controversial transfer

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Unfortunately for Arsenal fans, the men's team and the women's team have something in common. 

They both seem to consistently get themselves within touching distance of the title, only to lose momentum in agonising fashion towards the end of the season. 

They are the most successful team in the history of English women's football, but Arsenal have not won the WSL since the 2018/19 season. 

And with the wealth of household names they have on their team, that is a rather surprising fact.

Leah Williamson, Alessia Russo, Beth Mead, Kim Little and Katie McCabe are some of the biggest names in what is a stellar line-up who are desperate for another taste of WSL glory. 

They have, however, retained the Continental Tyres League Cup for two years in a row, defeating the formidable Chelsea in the final both times. 

And this season, the Emirates finally becomes their home for almost all their home games after the immense crowds they drew in last season. 

The thing about Arsenal is that they have proved themselves to be the best team in the WSL on their day – now, they just have to show up. 

Manager: Jonas Eidevall

When Jonas Eidevall took over as Arsenal Women's manager back in 2021 he described his intentions like this. 

"My philosophy is simple: there’s only one ball and it’s our ball. We want to have it," he explained.

It is a style of play that has seen the side pull off some simply stunning results – but it has also failed to produce a WSL-winning campaign – yet. 

If this is to be the season that ends in glory, one imagines that a good start in their opener against Man City is a must – and the Swede does not seem daunted by that task at all. 

"What a great way to start," Eidevall told talkSPORT when asked about the opener at the Emirates. "We had some really close fought battles with them last season in the league. 

"We managed to take all six points from the two games against them. Very few teams manage to do that against such a good side as Man City, but we like to try and carry on and have that trend.

"I think that can be possible if we work together as a team and support each other."

Eidevall has indeed delivered two trophies to the club since taking over with Arsenal seeming to have developed a certain knack when it comes to the League Cup.

But it is the WSL that fans – and presumably the club management – really want: Eidevall has had three cracks at it so far – will it be fourth time lucky?

Star player: Alessia Russo

Alessia Russo's debut season at Arsenal might not have been as spectacular as fans were expecting – but the England striker still scored 16 goals in 31 appearances for the club. 

And now that she has settled in, expect even bigger things from Russo this season as she looks to really make her mark with the Gunners in what she hopes will be a campaign filled with silverware. 

"Last year I only had five days off after the World Cup and then came in straight for Champions League qualifiers," Russo told talkSPORT when reflecting on last season. "So I felt pretty exhausted and it’s tough coming into a new team anyway. But this year feels good. 

She added: "Pre-season kind of builds the foundation for what you want to do going forward. You get to build connections early on and having the full squad in nice and early makes a real difference."

Russo, for all her talent, has only won one major trophy at club level – and that was the Conti Cup with Arsenal last season. 

But she is desperate for that to change this year.

We want to win the Cups. Like, I think that’s very clear. And Arsenal is a club that comes from such a rich history of winning and that’s the bar. It’s big standards – but it’s standards that we know we can achieve. We know we’ve got the talent and we know we’ve got the staff behind us. 

"I think we’re aiming really high and hopefully it will be a big few years. And I think just keep progressing the game, keep inspiring the next generation. 

I know it sometimes sounds a bit cliche, but I know when I was a kid, I used to love going to these games and watching these kinds of tournaments. So if we can inspire one kid to start playing football, then we’re on the right track."

Big things to come from Russo then – and maybe, just maybe, she will pick up another cheeky back-heel or two along the way. 

One to watch: Stina Blackstenius

In some ways, it was Stina Blackstenius who effectively decided the WSL last year.

It was the Swedish striker who scored in the 89th minute and then two minutes into added time of Arsenal’s late 2-1 win over Man City, a result which ultimately put the WSL title out of City’s hands and back into Chelsea’s.

Certainly, Blackstenius would rather have put the title race back into Arsenal’s hands – but the point remains that she is the kind of striker who can do incredible things.

And she is a forward who is rarely talked about given all that she brings to the league. 

She has scored 43 goals in her 83 appearances for the club and delighted fans by signing a new contract earlier this summer. 

While she often gets overshadowed by some of the household names in the side, it was she who scored the winner in last year’s Conti Cup final.

After all, that was yet again Arsenal’s only trophy of the campaign.

Transfer window

Well, this one hurt a lot for Arsenal fans – but they did bid farewell to the league's all-time top-goalscorer Vivianne Miedema to their big rivals Manchester City over the summer. 

How did they replace her? By signing 2023 World Cup winner and three-time Champions League winner Mariona Caldentey. 

It is still a huge, and perhaps costly loss for Arsenal given such a talent is going to one of their title rivals, but they should have enough quality within their ranks to make up for it – if they are smart. 

They also boosted their options in goal by signing Aston Villa and Netherlands keeper Daphne van Domselaar which could really take them to the next level this season. 

And the one big thing that we already know could revolutionise Arsenal's performances this season is having their fortress as the Emirates. 

It is a fantastic change that marks a turning point for the women's game – and one that is already being emulated by clubs like Aston Villa and Leicester. 

"It means the world," England captain Leah Williamson told talkSPORT. "Obviously, being an Arsenal fan myself, to play (at the Emirates) is…the standard of professionalism that the game needs and the facilities and what’s on offer is what we’re deserving of, I think.

"But also, you’ve got to think of all our families: I mean, I’m from here and my family are Arsenal fans.

"But even the girls that play for this club that don’t necessarily live here, for their families to come over and experience game days like that as well – it puts a little bit of extra meaning on playing for Arsenal."

And it is no secret that the perfect way for the Gunners to celebrate their new stadium would be with a shiny new trophy (or two).

Arsenal vs Man City is live on talkSPORT 2 on Sunday 22 September from 12:30pm.