Jonas Eidevall has admitted Arsenal will need to be at their best if they are to follow up their Conti Cup Final triumph with a victory over Liverpool on Wednesday night.
The Gunners have failed to win any of their three WSL games in 2023 and were beaten 2-1 by Manchester City in their last league outing before the international break. Eidevall's side are currently fourth in the WSL, nine points off the top spot with two games in hand over league leaders Manchester United.
While they have at times looked bereft of confidence up front since losing attacking duo Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema to season-ending injuries, Arsenal did flex their offensive muscles in their scintillating cup final display on Sunday. But while Eidevall believes his side can take confidence from the win over Chelsea, he is certain his side won't be taking anything for granted when they take to the field against Liverpool.
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"Winning doesn't give you anything for free," he said in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. "It doesn't entitle you to anything in the next match you play.
"We won't get anything as an advantage on Wednesday night. Winning culture is about making sure your focus is on the next game.
"Hopefully, though, what winning a trophy can give you is a sense that you have shown people you're capable of something you already knew inside you were capable of."
Although Wednesday will mark Arsenal's second game in just four days, Liverpool have not been in competitive action since their narrow defeat to relegation-threatened Leicester on February 12. But while the Reds find themselves in slightly precarious waters near the bottom of the table, Eidevall still believes Matt Beard's side will pose a huge threat when they travel to Meadow Park.
"They have obviously had a lot of time to think and to prepare for this game so we need to focus on the key details for the way we play and be prepared for a Liverpool that is obviously very well organised and very physical," he said.
"We need to do all the basics right to have any chance on getting the results we want. They're a strong pressing side. They work very hard together.
"They're strong in transition moments, strong at other set pieces as well so I think they're a side that poses multiple threats. They're a very hard, resilient side that you need to be at your best to be able to beat."
And one player who could prove key to breaking Liverpool's resilience is winger Caitlin Foord, who turned in an impressive display against Chelsea and is an integral part of Arsenal's attack down the left flank.
“Caitlin is a key player for us in all aspects of the game," Eidevall said. "Of course it is a team effort but she has a very big role when we have been successful on our left side in those big games.
“Whenever the transfer window closes, there is no point in discussing what you don’t have. It’s more about discussing what you have and she is a player that deserves to be in the spotlight for the performances that she is making.”
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