Arsenal quadruple winner warns Jonas Eidevall is under pressure to deliver the Women’s Super League title next season

Amid the celebrations following Arsenal’s Conti Cup win over Chelsea, manager Jonas Eidevall may have breathed a sigh of relief.

Once again, the Women’s Super League has fallen out of reach for Arsenal this season.

Defeats in games the Gunners really should have won and a failure to build any momentum mean their wait for a first league title since 2019 continues.

Eidevall may have signed a long-term contract extension in October 2023, but the Swede has been under pressure this season, particularly after Arsenal’s early exits from the Champions League and FA Cup.

With five WSL games remaining, a six-point lead above and below them in the table, Arsenal are unlikely to finish anywhere other than third this season.

This will definitely give them a chance to win the Champions League.

But one of Arsenal’s quadruple-winning legends believes that is unlikely to be enough.

Gilly Flaherty made 76 appearances during his time at Arsenal, impressively helping his side achieve a historic quadruple in the 2006/07 season.

And the former centre-back admitted it is this history of success at the club that makes Eidevall’s job so difficult.

Speaking to former teammate Lianne Sanderson on talkSPORT’s women’s football show, she said: “We both know what it’s like to be at Arsenal, we both know the expectations of fans and the club.

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“We have to win. Arsenal have been going for too many years without winning, without bringing home any silverware.”

Flaherty also played for West Ham, Chelsea and Liverpool during his decorated career.

Her trophy collection includes five FA Cups with Arsenal, two more with Chelsea, four WSL titles and four Women’s National Premier League titles (the predecessor to the WSL).

But for her, one competition in particular stands out in the women’s football calendar: it’s the one that Eidevall will have to master next season.

She added: “I think with Arsenal though, they don’t necessarily want to be seen as Cup specialists, obviously with the FA Cup or the Conti Cup.

“They want to win the WSL, they want to take it home because in my eyes that’s what shows the most consistency throughout the year.

“But I think it saved (Eidevall’s) bacon a bit, bringing the (Conti Cup) home. I feel like Arsenal fans are frustrated because in recent years they’ve always been there for the title, and then they get to a point where they completely give up.

“I think the pressure will be on him next year to win the WSL.”

Tune in to talkSPORT’s women’s football show on Mondays from 7pm on talkSPORT 2.