With all the talk of Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya’s battle to become Mikel Arteta’s number 1, Jonas Eidevall is facing his own goalkeeping dilemma.
The first two matches of the Women’s Super League season demonstrated why Arsenal attempted, but ultimately failed, to sign Mary Earps from Manchester United.
Eidevall started Manuela Zinsberger in the 1-0 home defeat to Liverpool on matchday one. Zinsberger was No. 1 last season but was error-prone.
The Austrian was not entirely responsible for Liverpool’s goal but did not cover herself in glory and her overall performance was shaky.
With that in mind, Eidevall has called on Sabrina D’Angelo for Friday night’s clash against United.
Manuela Zinsberger was Arsenal’s No.1 goalkeeper last season but is not assured of her place
Sabrina D’Angelo came on against Man United but her overhead kick allowed Leah Galton to score
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After Arsenal took the lead through Stina Blackstenius, D’Angelo gifted Leah Galton an equalizer when, instead of clearing a long ball, he produced an overhead kick that left United ahead with an empty net to finish.
There was then a confusion in communication between the goalkeeper and Amanda Ilestedt for United’s second goal. In D’Angelo’s defense, she hardly played any soccer last year – club or country – and so she was always rusty.
Eidevall now has the problem of deciding whether to go back to Zinsberger – who he dropped, or whether to stay with D’Angelo, who may now lack confidence.
This raises the question of why Arsenal didn’t look for other options when they knew they wouldn’t be able to sign Earps. This is a point that Fara Williams made passionately about in her podcast Boots, Balls and Bras.
The former England international suggested Arsenal should have tried to sign Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, who joined Aston Villa on a free transfer.
Like Earps, Van Domselaar was nominated for the Ballon d’Or and had a hugely impressive World Cup after impressing at last summer’s Euros.
Hannah Hampton, who joined Chelsea from Villa, was another option they could have explored. “They (Arsenal) knew they wouldn’t have Mary, they knew it all through the World Cup,” Williams said.
D’Angelo and Zinsberger pictured during pre-season training – but their mistakes raised doubts
Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall faces a dilemma over who his regular number 1 is this season.
“They had a period of six to eight weeks where Mary Earps wasn’t going to Arsenal. So you can push and try and players can apply for a transfer and all that, but we’re not like men’s football These transfers are not carried out.
“He (Eidevall) should have gone for a goalkeeper. Hannah Hampton signed for Chelsea as third choice goalkeeper, she could have gone to Arsenal and been first choice.
“Domselaar has signed for Aston Villa. Are you telling me that if Arsenal replace Domselaar, she won’t run to Arsenal? It is at the bottom of the M6 bruv.
“She won’t sign for Aston Villa if Arsenal replace her, that’s a fact. We always see Manuela Zinsberger and I’m not saying she’s a bad goalkeeper but she’s not world class.
“If Arsenal want to go to the next level you need a world-class goalkeeper and they missed the mark.”
Arsenal tried – and ultimately failed – to sign Mary Earps from Manchester United this summer.
Arsenal are also trying to sign new defenders Ilestedt and Laia Codina, who were both signed in the summer. It’s not easy to do if you change goalkeepers every two games.
Codina and Ilestedt struggled at times against United and would undoubtedly benefit from having a well-established goalkeeper behind them. In the long term, Arsenal will need to recruit – as Williams pointed out.
Earps is out of contract at the end of the season and they could look to replace her when the opportunity presents itself. But until then, Eidevall needs to pick a No.1 and stick with it.
