Jonas Eidevall: Arsenal win over Zurich shows trust in whole squad

Jonas Eidevall emphasised how Arsenal's Champions League victory over Zurich on Thursday was a great display of trust in his whole squad, as the Gunners' made seven changes to their starting XI and still ran out 3-1 winners.

Four players - Kaylan Marckese, Jen Beattie, Jordan Nobbs and Mana Iwabuchi - were handed their first starts of the competition, with the latter two particularly impressing in Arsenal's energetic midfield.

Nobbs opened the scoring with a fabulous solo effort and was named player of the match, while Iwabuchi singlehandedly set up her side's first with her endeavour and skill. Summer signing Lina Hurtig was making her first start in over a month, and she netted a brace.

The result leaves Arsenal as the only team in Group C on maximum points, after Juventus and Lyon drew 1-1 earlier on Thursday evening.

"This game came in a moment when we really had to trust the whole squad," said Eidevall. "It’s nice and it’s a Champions League game so a lot is at stake and it shows the players that we trust them. It is not the Conti Cup group stage when you play players because it’s just the game that came up. When you play players in the Champions League it is because you trust them.

"I thought with us coming off a pretty tight playing schedule it was important for us to change the squad a little in this moment. That midfield trio has a lot of creativity and a lot of movement, we expected Zurich to be a little bit lower based on the way they played against Juventus.

"But we had to adjust a few things and work a little bit to break them down. Jordan’s goal was a prime example of her being in the build up but then finding the right moment to go forward and attack."