‘I can’t see the logic’: Arsenal’s Jonas Eidevall frustrated by WSL scheduling

Jonas Eidevall has expressed frustration at the inconsistencies between the challenges facing Arsenal and Chelsea before their Champions League semi-finals at the weekend. The Gunners face a tricky midweek trip to play Manchester United while the Blues’ calendar remains clear.

Eidevall’s side travel to Leigh for the next instalment in the WSL title race on Wednesday night before flying to Wolfsburg on Saturday for Sunday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against the Bundesliga side.

Meanwhile, Chelsea, who beat Aston Villa on Sunday to earn a place in the FA Cup final, welcome Barcelona to Stamford Bridge on Saturday after a week of preparation and significantly less travel.

“I find it very odd that we are the only one of the two English teams that have qualified for the semi-final that are forced to play before our semi-final,” the Swede said. “I have a really hard time getting my head around that because it’s almost like you want one of the teams to have a better chance to succeed than the others.”

Arsenal’s game against WSL league leaders Manchester United, which was set to be played on the weekend of the Champions League semi-final first legs, was announced as rescheduled on the 4 April. Chelsea’s game against West Ham was announced on 14 April as having been moved to 17 May, three days after the Blues compete in the FA Cup final.

“We need to go to Manchester, we need to play well there, and then we need to go to Wolfsburg. Of course, it’s the preference to, like the other team has, have no games at all, to train and just to prepare for the Champions League,” said Eidevall. “I can’t see the reasons for it and it’s something we need to look into. I can’t see the logic.”

A WSL spokesperson said: “Arsenal’s