Jonas Eidevall relief as Arsenal secure Champions League group stage place

Arsenal Women 4 BK Hacken 0

(Arsenal win 4-1 on aggregate)

‌Arsenal secured their place in the Women’s Champions League group stage by brushing aside BK Hacken to avoid the ignominy of an early exit for a second successive season

After losing in Sweden last week, this was a must-win game for Arsenal and their manager Jonas Eidevall, who had said pre-match that another premature departure exit would be a “failure” and whose position after four seasons in charge has come under immense pressure.

However, cheered on by 3,000 fans in cold and rainy conditions, Arsenal ground out an ultimately convincing win.

‌They initially found it hard to get past Hacken’s high defensive line but the breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when Lia Walti produced a stunning strike from 30 yards to level the tie on aggregate.

‌The goal forced the visitors to be more adventurous and that suited Arsenal, who scored their second just before half-time through Mariona Caldentey with her first goal for the club – although it was a scrappy effort.

‌The third goal for the hosts came quickly in the second half when Beth Mead volleyed the ball home from close range and Frida Maanum added a fourth in the 78th minute to finally see off Hacken.

‌“I think it was really important – given that we built the squad to get into this position that we wanted to be in - to be here now, to compete in the group stage and to compete in the league,” said Eidevall. “So I think one part of the season starts now and that I’m really happy with.

“We’ve grown with our performances. Now really, the season starts so we can’t relax, the season starts for us here. We are in all four competitions that we want to be in and we want to make the most of it.”

‌Mead said: “It’s the minimum standard at Arsenal being in the Champions League and getting to the group stages – so it’s good to get there and to get over the line today.”

‌Meanwhile, at the Joie Stadium, Manchester City Women confirmed their place in the group stage with a 3-0 win over Paris FC, adding to their five-goal advantage from the away leg.

It means there will be three English sides in the next round, with Chelsea having already won through.

Match details

Arsenal Women (4-4-2): Zinsberger, Fox (Wienroither, 89), Wubben-Moy, Codina, McCabe, Mead (Foord, 65), Little, Walti (Cooney-Cross, 75), Mariona (Kafaji, 89), Blackstenius, Russo (Maanum, 75).
Booked: Wubben-Moy.
Goals: Walti (23), Mariona (40), Mead (49), Maanum (78).
Subs not used: van Domselaar, Williams, Reid, Kuhl, Harbert, Godfrey, Lia.
BK Hacken (4-2-3-1): Falk, Nelhage, Ostlund (Bergstrom, 68), Rybrink, Wijk (Nilden, 77), Fossdalsa (Grant, 77), Curmark, Kitagawa, Anvegard, Tindell, Larisey (Schroder, 67).
Booked: Rybrink, Wijk.
Subs not used: Geurts, Selerud, Lowing, Nystrom.
Referee: Catarina Campos.
Attendance: 2,828.