Women’s Super League 2022-23 previews No 1: Arsenal

Jonas Eidevall has turned around Arsenal’s fortunes, taking Chelsea to the wire in last season’s WSL title race. The Gunners had finished nine points off Chelsea in the previous campaign, coming third, and that deficit was reduced to a single point in his first season.

Most encouragingly, eight months into his tenure, Arsenal had taken eight points off Chelsea and Manchester City, having previously struggled against their closest rivals. A stellar start faltered around Christmas as injuries and a fixture pile-up bit but action in the January transfer window, with the forward Stina Blackstenius and defenders Rafaelle Souza and Laura Wienroither coming in, shored things up enough to ensure the title race was taken to the last day. This summer they have been less active, with the goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese, from last season’s Champions League group stage opponents HB Køge, and the Sweden forward Lina Hurtig the only recruits.

More important, though, they have held on to Vivianne Miedema, the WSL and Netherlands record goalscorer, who signed a new contract after being courted by Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, and have hired a new lead analyst and added to their strength and conditioning personnel. Having lots of incoming players is attractive but there is a lot to be said for squad consistency, keeping the core together and building the team around them.

Hurtig’s arrival is important, though, given Nikita Parris has been allowed to join Manchester United, Tobin Heath has returned to the US and Miedema has been used in the deeper No 10 role. The Dutchwoman’s position switch from striker has given Eidevall a midfield headache, with the Japan magician Mana Iwabuchi, England’s Jordan Nobbs and the captain, Kim Little,