Eidevall sends defiant message after injury-struck Arsenal earn crushing victory

Jonas Eidevall insists Arsenal will look to recruit new forwards but stressed the importance of developing his current players after a horrendous run of injuries.

In the space of the last month, Arsenal have lost Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema to season-ending anterior cruciate ligament ruptures. The pair were the club's two top goalscorers from last season, scoring 37 between them.

But the Gunners didn't look short of firepower in their final Champions League game at Zurich on Wednesday, beating the Swiss champions 9-1. Frida Maanum's hat-trick helped the Gunners finish top of Group C, ensuring they will be seeded when the quarter-final draw is made in the new year.

Crucially, Stina Blackstenius also ended her lean spell in front of goal by scoring twice, with Caitlin Foord, Kim Little and Mana Iwabuchi also getting on the scoresheet. Eidevall stated before the game that Arsenal's plans for the January window had altered after the extent of Miedema's injury emerged.

But the Swedish manager said the win in Zurich highlighted he still has plenty of quality at the top of the pitch before signings arrive.

"End product is important with forward players," Eidevall said. "But I think it is important to develop existing players that we have.

"But that is one of the challenges of this transfer window, that we need to recruit players that can give us an end product, because that is certainly one of the measurable factors that we have lost with those two players (Mead and Miedema). We need to take that into consideration."

Arsenal were already through to the last eight, but the win ensures they finish above defending champions Lyon in the group and will be at home in the second leg. The Women's Super League title contenders will discover their opponents when the draw is made on February 10.

However, the loss of Miedema and Mead will undoubtedly hurt the Gunners' quest for trophies. Miedema had already scored in a crucial qualifying-round win over Ajax and twice in two games against Juventus.

But if the Gunners can bring in quality up front in January, they will still be in a position to mount serious challenges in Europe and at home. Reflecting on the first half of this season, Eidevall still believes his team are moving in the right direction despite suffering bad luck with injuries.

"Last season's experience was a factor and that is not only what is happening on the pitch but also off the pitch, where we are taking huge steps as an organisation," he added.

"We are improving everything that we do all the time in the way we travel and have our logistics, so we are more and more time efficient and better prepared. All those small details also makes a difference in the end. That shows progress."

Arsenal will now have time off over Christmas and the turn of the year, returning to action in a top-of-the-table WSL clash with title rivals Chelsea on January 15.

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