A man under pressure. Jonas Eidevall knew Arsenal had to perform against Chelsea after a disappointing start to the season.
But the writing was on the wall after just four minutes, as Sonia Bompastor's side eventually claimed the London bragging rights with a tense 2-1 victory.
During his pre-match press conference, Eidevall, 41, stated that pressure is "a necessity for high performance", whilst you must "make sure pressure gets the best version out of you". Yet in one of the biggest matches of his career in north London, the Gunners shot themselves in the foot.
Their defensive mishaps have been well-documented this season after they collapsed in the second half against Bayern Munich to lose 5-2.
Mayra Ramirez's looping overhead kick four minutes in foreshadowed Arsenal's frustration – and, when Sandy Baltimore doubled their lead with a free header at the back post, there was a palpable sense of disappointment around the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal did pull one back through Caitlin Foord – and will be frustrated they could not convert any of their chances in the second half – but it was not enough. A narrow defeat to Chelsea is not the worst result in the world on paper, but it continues issues which have been prevalent all campaign.
They now sit sixth in the league with five points after four matches. They're already four points behind Chelsea – who have played a game less – as any conversation of a title race in N5 is over.
A major decision looms for Arsenal
Whether the hierarchy at Arsenal still believes in Eidevall's philosophy and vision is unclear, but they have a major decision to make. Stick or twist? The same issues remain prevalent, defensively and offensively, even if their second-half dominance will provide hope.
-
Arsenal's second-half dominance toppled by defensive mishaps
After a disappointing campaign came to a close in May, Arsenal continued to signal their intent to fight at the top. Mariona Caldentey, Daphne van Domselaar and Rosa Kafaji – all highly-regarded players – joined.
However, the same issues remain — defensive lapses of concentration, poor decision-making in the final third and inefficient finishing. Those issues only amplified the challenge which awaited them in N5.
In a match with nearly everything riding on it, Arsenal needed a quick start. A chance to show they were focused, composed and ready for the challenge against the WSL champions, but they switched off early on at key moments.
When Guro Reiten and Ramirez both raced one-on-one in the opening four minutes, although the Norwegian was offside, alarm bells rang. They were lacking communication, which made Ramirez's opening goal from a corner four minutes in entirely unsurprising. She guided a looping overhead past Van Domselaar, with the hosts seemingly failing to realise it was creeping in.
Pre-match, Eidevall told BBC Sport that they had worked on defending set-pieces this week. Conceding one four minutes in – particularly in the manner they did – epitomised the general concern in and around N5.
12 minutes later, the visitors again took advantage of space, this time on the right flank. Lauren James glided into the box and picked out Baltimore at the back post. The left-back was left unmarked – as Emily Fox tucked in to mark Reiten and Beth Mead failed to get back in time.
Their defensive struggles shot themselves in the foot. 2-0 down after 16 minutes, it would have required a monumental effort to even dream of a comeback – and they came close.
Consistently breaking into the final third, Foord halved the deficit at the end of the first half. The Australian picked up the ball on the left flank, cut inside, beat Lucy Bronze with ease and then picked out the far corner from close range.
A stunning individual goal provided hope for the hosts in a match they had to deliver in, but moments of brilliance like Foord's were not common enough.
Time and time again, Arsenal picked up the ball and drove forward, but their two main issues – poor decision-making and inefficient finishing – meant they struggled to truly threaten Hannah Hampton in between the sticks.
Arsenal dominated the second half, consistently driving directly at Chelsea's backline. It was an onslaught, but the Blues remained composed and frustrated the hosts. Stina Blackstenius came closest to finding the golden equaliser, rattling the underside of the bar with five minutes remaining. It symbolised their afternoon – a story of irritation.
-
New era, same Chelsea
When Emma Hayes left Chelsea at the end of last season, the Blues entered a period of unpredictability. Could they replicate the legendary Englishwoman under Bompastor and win the title again?
Everything so far suggests they can — and that they're favourites to do so. Opening the season with a nervy 1-0 win against Aston Villa and a spectacular 7-0 demolition job against Crystal Palace set the tone, but an away trip to Arsenal – where they lost 4-1 last campaign – was always going to be a significant match.
Their experience and composure throughout the encounter were the difference makers. Millie Bright always looked comfortable leading the backline, whilst Ramirez's strength, power and hold-up play provided the Blues with a focal point until she was subbed off.
Despite Arsenal's clear weaknesses, Chelsea's attacking prowess left everyone in applause. As Baltimore doubled their lead in the 16th minute, they showed how they can pick apart every defence they come up against. From James' stunning run to Reiten drawing defenders out of position, it was a work of art.
Although Arsenal have struggled to finish off chances recently, Chelsea still defended valiantly. Away at the Emirates is never an easy challenge – even if the Gunners are in a slump – yet their defensive composure and awareness flustered Eidevall's side.
When they weren't defending in a pack during the second half, the Blues always pounced on the counter – not only possessing a threat to the Gunners but also providing a rest bite.
They did come close to extending their lead through Aggie Beever-Jones with 20 minutes remaining, as her header was tipped past the post, but it did not matter in the end. Chelsea are well on their way to winning a sixth title in a row.
