Mini Reneessance: Making sense of the first two Arsenal matches after Eidevall's departure

What can we learn from interim head coach Renee Slegers' first two matches in charge

Arsenal's two matches last week were their first in over three years not to be played under the stewardship of Jonas Eidevall. And, the first in a decade under a female head coach, Renee Slegers, albeit an interim one at the time of writing.

With two wins from two, it could be argued that Arsenal have enjoyed something of a Reneessance (sorry), but what really changed in their first two games of the post-Jonas era? 

Same as it ever was 

With the departure of Eidevall dominating the build-up to the Valerenga game, Arsenal fans spent the 24 hours preceding the match dreaming up hypothetical starting XIs packed with players who had to make do with a place on the bench towards the end of the Eidevall era. 

The presumption was that interim head coach Renee Slegers would take to her lineup selection like a kid in a sweet shop, feasting herself on untold delights – a start for Rosa Kafaji here; a cameo for Kathy Kuhl there – anything was possible.

Instead, a change in the dugout did not lead to wholesale changes on the pitch. Slegers made just one change from the team in the final match of the Eidevall era, and an enforced one at that: Laia Codina replaced the concussed Lotte Wubben-Moy. Two further changes were made for Sunday's win at West Ham, with Steph Catley and Frida Maanum coming into the side. 

Perhaps this explains why Arsenal faced familiar shortcomings on Sunday. The Hammers largely stifled Arsenal from open play on Sunday, initially pressing in a 5-3-2 formation when Arsenal had possession in their own half. Riko Ueki and Viviane Asseyi pressed Arsenal's central defenders while their ball-sided central midfielders would push out when the ball reached Arsenal's full-backs. 

Arsenal generally showed a willingness to go direct and target space in behind the West Ham defence (more on this later), rather than playing through the thirds. Still, when they did manage to progress the ball up the pitch, Rehanne Skinner's side were happy to sink into a low block.

This was bad news for the Gunners, with Sleger's side reverting to 'horseshoe' sequences of sideways passing quicker than you can say "Jonas Out". Sunday's win may have made it two wins from two under Slegers, but a non-penalty xG of 0.9 in a game where the gunners mustered just 11 shots suggests that the departure of Eidevall has not done much to eliminate the familiar shortcomings that were seen under the Swede.  

Verticality against Valerenga 

In both games under Slegers, Arsenal showed a willingness to find Russo against defences who were willing to press and left space to attack. In both games, Russo led Arsenal for progressive passes received (17 against Valerenga and 12 against West Ham), but the way she was used across the two games showed how to play to her skill-set, and how not to.

Valerenga were somewhat naïve in their approach on Wednesday, often pushing up their wing-backs both in and out of possession and leaving the wide areas exposed. This created a transitional game that suited Arsenal, with Mariona and Russo left with plenty of space in which to operate between the lines. Unsurprisingly, most of Arsenal's good play went through the former, with the ex-Barcelona player leading her side for attacking third touches (41) and shot-creating actions (seven) in midweek. 

The screenshot below gives a snapshot of the sort of space Arsenal's forward line was afforded.

Russo meanwhile was able to show both sides to her game, as a creator and a finisher. Her play in the build-up to Arsenal's third goal is textbook Russo, dropping into space and drawing in a defender before turning and releasing Frida Maanum with a perfectly weighted through-ball while Valerenga's full-backs are caught up the pitch. 

Meanwhile, for Arsenal's fourth, Russo showed her instincts as a penalty box striker, getting onto the end of a Mariona through-ball before slotting through the legs of the onrushing Tove Enblom in the Valerenga goal. 

Notably, developing this side of her game was something that former head coach Eidevall challenged her to do during his tenure at the club.

Stinanomics (reprise) 

On Sunday, due to the Hammer's proactive out-of-possession setup, Arsenal showed a willingness to go direct rather than play through the thirds, with long balls over the top of West Ham's defence. Once again, Russo led the team for progressive passes received.

While the England centre forward showed a willingness to put herself about, her lack of pace meant that West Ham could contain her relatively easily, with Russo often being forced into the right channel when found with these balls, as the touch map below shows. 

via WhoScored

Arsenal's change of fortunes against West Ham can be directly attributed to Sleger's quadruple substitution on the hour, and replacing Russo with Stina Blackstenius was something that the Gunners were able to reap immediate rewards from. 

Arsenal had not mustered a single shot in the second period until the goal, but within minutes of coming on, Blackstenius went through one-on-one with Kinga Szemik, only to be denied by a good save from the Pole in goal. This was a sign of things to come, and it was another probing run from the Swede that led to the award of Arsenal's deadlock-breaking penalty, with Blackstenius being felled in the box by Amber Tysiak. 

In many ways, this was the inverse of the situation found themselves in the opening weekend's encounter with Manchester City. On that occasion, it was Blackstenius exploiting a high line from the start before Russo struggled from the bench. On Sunday, it was Blackstenius’ introduction from the bench that made the difference.

Rosa Gets Her Flowers 

Until The Gunners took a 71^st minute lead, the biggest cheer from the Chigwell Construction Stadium's away end came when Rosa Kafaji took to the pitch on the hour mark to make her first appearance in the WSL since late September.

Of all the players deemed to be underused by Eidevall before his resignation, Kafaji was the one who the fanbase has most relentlessly clamoured for. On the evidence of Sunday's 30-minute cameo, you could see why. Her time on the pitch offered a snapshot of her immense technical ability. The Swede led her team for successful take-ons (4/5) despite only being on the pitch for a third of the match, before capping her performance with a well-taken goal, placing the ball into the top corner after combining with fellow substitute Blackstenius. 

On Sunday's evidence, the lyrics to her chant, "Rosa Kafaji, trust in me when I say…" is advice Arsenal's next permanent head coach would be wise to heed. 

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All match data via FotMob