Former Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall has been named manager of San Diego Wave in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), nearly three months after resigning from his position in north London after a difficult start to the season.

The Swede revealed that he had decided before Arsenal's defeat to Chelsea "that it would be the best decision for me step away."

"What I saw was a team that was only missing small details, but I saw at that moment my relationship with the supporters was like a cloud hanging over.

Eidevall opened up on his departure from Arsenal in interviews with Sports Illustrated’s Megan Humphrey, as well as Sky Sports, and admitted that the decision to let legendary forward Vivianne Miedema depart at the end of the 2023/24 season was a turning point in his relationship with Arsenal’s supporters.

“I think that when we didn’t renew [Vivianne] Miedema’s contract my relationship at the time with the fans was hurting the team,” said Eidevall.

“I thought [leaving] was the easiest quick fix for the team to be able to perform again. That was an incredibly difficult personal decision for me to walk away from, but sometimes you have to do that when it’s what you think is best for the team. I’m also preaching that to any team. I always preach [that] you have to do what’s best for the team. 

“Sometimes you lose as an individual, but if everyone is committed to always making the best decisions, then everybody will win in the end, and this time it was my decision to take the most difficult decision. 

“I think that was the right decision for me, personally and I think the team has been playing well, so I’m really happy.”

Eidevall has one key takeaway from his time in North London: “A very clear reflection for me after my time at Arsenal was that wherever my next role was, I needed to work with a sporting director.” 

“I really missed that at Arsenal. It’s a lonely place being a head coach that doesn’t have a sporting director.”

In an interview with Sky Sports, Eidevall backed interim head coach Renee Slegers to continue leading Arsenal: "From what I know, the work they have been doing, I don't think any change is needed. Me knowing Renee [Slegers] personally, and how talented she is, I would absolutely back her for the job."