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Jonas Eidevall has opened up about his decision to leave Arsenal this season following a series of poor results and a tense environment for both the coach and players.

During his three-year tenure at Arsenal, Eidevall guided the team to three consecutive top-three finishes in the Women’s Super League (WSL). The closest they came to dethroning Chelsea as league champions was in his debut season, finishing just one point behind the Blues. His tenure also saw Arsenal claim their first trophy in four years by winning the League Cup in 2023, a title they successfully defended in 2024. However, further silverware remained elusive.

Eidevall’s final game in charge came against Chelsea, a team that had often stood in his way. Arsenal fell to a 2-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium in front of an increasingly discontented home crowd.

In an interview with BBC Sport, Eidevall discussed his departure from Arsenal, his lack of regrets over record goalscorer Vivianne Miedema’s exit, and the challenges that await him in the United States.

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“I thought the easiest quick fix in this moment here now is for me to step away,” Eidevall said. “It was extremely tough, both personally and professionally. It’s a privilege to lead a club like Arsenal. It’s very special when you’re there, so an extremely difficult decision to make.”

Eidevall’s decision not to renew Vivianne Miedema’s contract and allow her to leave for Manchester City in the summer had already placed him under scrutiny before the season even began. Miedema, Arsenal’s all-time leading goalscorer, had netted 125 goals and provided 50 assists in 172 appearances, making her a fan favorite.

Speaking to Sky Sports previously, Eidevall acknowledged that his decision regarding Miedema strained his relationship with the supporters. However, he stands by the choice.

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“I don’t [have regrets]. I think you always take the best decisions you can for the club at that point with the information you have,” he said. “You can’t rethink decisions based on new information that you couldn’t have known at the time. That’s not a helpful way of thinking about life. So no regrets.”

He acknowledged that the decision played a significant role in his deteriorating relationship with Arsenal’s fans but maintained that his focus was always on the club’s best interests.

“I never took any decision to be liked. I always took decisions because I felt they were the best for the club and for the team,” he added.

To fill the void left by Miedema, Eidevall signed Spanish World Cup winner Mariona Caldentey. However, Arsenal struggled to deliver consistent results, and the growing unrest among fans contributed to his departure.

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