West Ham 2-1 Arsenal: Defeat ‘a tough and frustrating lesson’, says Gunners boss Jonas Eidevall

Arsenal have lost two of their last five Women’s Super League matches

Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall said his side were dealt “a tough and frustrating lesson” in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat by West Ham.

The Hammers came from behind to secure their first Women’s Super League victory over the Gunners.

Defeat for Arsenal leaves them three points behind second-placed Chelsea, who have played a game less, and leaders Manchester City.

“We created enough chances to win the game,” said Eidevall.

“We started the second half very slow. That’s the period of the game I’m disappointed with. We were harshly punished in that period conceding two goals. It’s a very tough and frustrating lesson for us to take.

“We created enough chances to turn the game around but we didn’t put the ball away.”

Emma Hayes’ Chelsea host Everton at 18:45 GMT on Sunday, knowing victory will put them six points clear of Arsenal and three above Manchester City .

On how damaging Sunday’s defeat is for Arsenal’s title hopes, Eidevall said: “We don’t know. We know that every game is important. We certainly wanted the three points today.

“We’re really disappointed with that. It’s a frustrating lesson starting the second half as slow as we did, but we need to put our focus on the things we can control – that’s the next games ahead.

“We have a lot of league games left to play, a lot of league games left with teams that are closer in our region of the table as well. Our focus needs to be on our performances in our next games and then we’ll see what that means for the league table.”

‘It’s hard to catch up those points’Alessia Russo opened the scoring for Arsenal, scoring her fifth WSL goal this season

Victory for West Ham saw Arsenal lose a WSL game after leading at half-time for the first time since 13 October 2019, ending a run of 48 matches.

Former Arsenal midfielder Fara Williams said there were obvious concerns for the Gunners, but that it is too early to write them off in the title race.

“Arsenal and Jonas will know it’s a big three points lost if they are to keep the pressure on Chelsea,” she told BBC Sport.

“Chelsea don’t come to teams like West Ham and slip up the way that Arsenal have today. The difference between teams like Chelsea and Manchester City, they can adapt within games, they can adapt their gameplan. Arsenal have shown time and time again they don’t adapt and they don’t change when things are up against them.

“Are they out of the race? It’s probably hard to say, but it’s hard to catch up those points.”