The Gunners showed fight in the second half but it wasn't enough as their manager suffered another damaging defeat, with Ramirez the primary tormentor
Was that Jonas Eidevall's final game in charge of Arsenal? The Gunners suffered a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday which leaves them with just five points from their first four Women's Super League fixtures. It's a division which has only twice been won by teams that have dropped more than 10 points across an entire campaign. After draws with Manchester City and Everton, and now this loss, the Gunners' total already sits at seven. Their title hopes have already taken an almighty hit.
It was an even more damaging result because of the 5-2 thrashing Arsenal suffered at the hands of Bayern Munich on Wednesday night. There are still five Champions League group-stage games remaining for Eidevall's side to sort things out in Europe and progress to the last 16, but the defending was truly atrocious and only continued into the weekend. There were just four minutes on the clock on Saturday when Arsenal conceded from yet another set piece, while the lack of communication, organisation and marking for Chelsea's second further highlighted the problems at the back.
However, though at 2-0 it felt like the Gunners were on their way to another thrashing and Eidevall's future would be seriously in doubt come full-time, the response from the players was positive. Caitlin Foord's goal just before half-time was important and the valiant second-half display saw the hosts show real fight, only denied a point by the crossbar in the end. That spirited fight back may not have earned them a result, but it may have bought Eidevall some time.
In the opposing dugout, Sonia Bompastor won't have been happy with the game management from her players. There will have surely been a feeling of relief when the full-time whistle went, as Chelsea were really on the ropes in those latter stages. But a win is a win – and that is all Bompastor has known since she joined the club, replacing iconic coach Emma Hayes in the summer. Five games into her time with the Blues, she has five victories to show for it, with this the biggest one yet as the WSL champions pursue a sixth successive league title.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the Emirates Stadium…
Getty Images SportLOSER: Jonas Eidevall
Arsenal haven't won the league for five years and after this start to the new season, it seems likely that the wait to be crowned champions of England again will only continue. The question is, will the club opt to make a change in the dugout in their bid to return to the very top of the domestic game?
Eidevall joined the Gunners in 2021 and things started well, with a strong title challenge. However, the past two seasons have seen Arsenal fall away before the race at the top has really heated up, only able to finish third on both occasions. The pressure has been somewhat eased by two League Cup triumphs, though added to by elimination in Champions League qualifying last year.
All associated with Arsenal want to win the league, something Eidevall himself said was the aim before the season began. But the same issues are costing them from achieving as much. So, has the valiant fightback on Saturday earned him more time to fix these problems? Or will this result be the straw that breaks the camel's back? We'll soon find out.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWINNER: Kadeisha Buchanan
When Kadeisha Buchanan arrived at Chelsea, she did so as one of the best defenders in the world. Her performances at Lyon helped her rack up five Champions League titles, while her form on the international stage was crucial as Canada won Olympic gold in 2021.
She's not really hit those heights in her two years in England so far, something Hayes said last season that Buchanan herself was aware of. So far this season, though, we are seeing her top level again.
The centre-back was great in the 1-0 win over Aston Villa on the opening day – and outstanding at the Emirates. She was like a magnet for the ball, always in the right place to make a crucial block, tackle or clearance. If she can continue in this manner, Buchanan could be a huge player for Chelsea this year.
Getty Images SportLOSER: Leah Williamson
It's not been an easy start to the season for Leah Williamson, who has only recently come back from a concussion. Perhaps that absence contributed to an uncharacteristically bad display on Saturday. The Lionesses captain was up against a dominant Mayra Ramirez and the sheer quality of the Chelsea striker certainly played a part, as she can make even the very best defenders look poor. However, Williamson looked totally out of sorts in a myriad of ways in a calamity of a defensive display from the Gunners in the first half.
There was a moment in that opening 45 minutes when Williamson was chasing Ramirez down the right wing and she appealed that the ball had gone out of play for an Arsenal throw. It looked clearly in to everyone else – including the officials – but the defender slowed her chase of her opponent to question that decision. It was a surprising sight to see such a top defender ignoring the number one rule for any footballer, to play to the whistle, but a moment that also showed how out of character this performance was from Williamson.
For Arsenal to improve on defending that has been awful lately, they need her on top form. In that sense, they'll hope this was a one-off.
Getty Images SportWINNER: Mayra Ramirez
Is there a more complete centre forward in the women's game than Ramirez? She's strong, able to bounce off defenders with ease, just as she did with Fox before scoring Chelsea's opener. She's deceptively quick, able to power away from opponents in a flash to either get in behind or get her team on the attack. She's incredibly skillful, as the improvised nature of her goal showed. She's also very intelligent in her movement off the ball, which allowed her to have so many good moments on Saturday.
Ramirez has real competition for her place in this Chelsea team. Aggie Beever-Jones has been in fantastic form and is earning opportunities as a result, while Sam Kerr and Mia Fishel will be back in the New Year. But if the Colombian continues to perform like this, Bompastor would struggle to bench her.
