Since the moment I started watching women’s football there was something I noticed and I know it’s not anything that you don’t know: women’s coaches, when pictured or featured alongside the men’s squad, always look like or are made to look like 2nd class citizens. It’s always the men’s coach who, like the oldest sibling, so kindly gives up their time for the younger one, so to speak.
Arsenal do this, and every club does this. Maybe not Lyon? But anyway, in pictures and videos it’s always framed or captured that the women’s coach is asking for advice or it always seems to me like its the men’s squad or their staff almost doing the women’s staff a favor. I’m not saying this is what it is, but that’s the vibe I get.
And I don’t like that.
I could give you many examples but let’s just look at where we are right this moment.
On one side you have Arsenal men who are in 1st place, 2 points ahead of Man City, but they have 2 games in hand. No FA Cup title this year, no League Cup and certainly no Europa League trophy either. For all intents and purposes, their season fell apart when ONE player got injured. ONE, a single player from the starting lineup.
Arsenal women are 6 points from leading the WSL yes, but are days away from playing at a basically SOLD OUT Emirates Stadium for the return leg of the Champions League. They’ve won a Conti cup already this season too. So, although its impossible to compare, there has to be a moment where we put things in perspective and realize the women have accomplished this, whatever you think about it, with at least 4 superstars missing. And I’m being generous because I can add plenty more.
So, all this to say that if Arteta isn’t asking Jonas about mentality, about half time talks, about keeping the squad confined and together through adversity, then he’s missing a big chance to learn and to create cohesion between the squads and around the club and culture of Arsenal.
Do you think he’s doing it?
I’d like to this he is but I highly doubt it.
d ❤
Listen to THAT ARSENAL WOMEN PODCAST on:
A very subjective look into AWFC 
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