Sarina Wiegman ‘flabbergasted’ by Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall’s resignation – as England boss defends Mary Earps ahead of October friendlies

England manager Sarina Wiegman says she was ‘flabbergasted’ by Jonas Eidevall’s decision to resign as Arsenal head coach.

Eidevall made the decision to step down from his role on Tuesday following pressure and criticism from supporters and a disappointing start to the season.

Wiegman, who named her 25-player squad for upcoming friendlies against Germany and South Africa, said she was sad to hear the news about Eidevall and that she had enjoyed a good working relationship with the Swedish coach.

‘I just heard it, to be honest I was a little bit in shock,’ Wiegman said. ‘I didn’t expect that. Of course that’s really sad.

‘It’s always sad, I didn’t expect it. I had a good working relationship with him. I’m a little bit flabbergasted to be honest.’

Eidevall resigned as Arsenal head coach on Tuesday following a difficult start to the season

Eidevall had come under increasing pressure from supporters after Saturday’s loss to Chelsea 

Wiegman also defended Mary Earps after the goalkeeper was left out of two league games for new clubs Paris Saint-Germain, who also failed to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League.

Earps has been a mainstay in the England team since Wiegman took charge in 2021 but the goalkeeper faces competition from Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton, who started the last two international fixtures.

Asked about Earps having not played some games for PSG, Wiegman said: ‘You bring this message as if she’s not a starting player for Paris and I think she is,’ Wiegman said of Earps.

‘She’s the starting or No 1 goalkeeper. There’s competition there too. That’s obvious too. She started this weekend. Moving to France, it’s about adapting, new situation.

‘Unfortunately they didn’t qualify for the group stage of the Champions League which is a disappointment for them, for Mary and for us too because we want to see her in the Champions League too. So that’s not the start that she had hoped for.

‘We know what she brings for us. We also know there is huge competition going on between her and Hannah.’

Wiegman also insisted Chloe Kelly’s place in the squad was not in doubt despite her lack of game time for Manchester City.

Mail Sport reported on Monday that Kelly could leave City following a breakdown in her relationship with manager Gareth Taylor.

Wiegman has defended goalkeeper Mary Earps after she was left out for two PSG matches

Chloe Kelly retains her spot despite a lack of game time at Man City amid a breakdown in her relationship with manager Gareth Taylor 

‘She’s in a hard position,’ Wiegman said of Kelly. ‘I think City is in a very good position, which shows they have stepped up their quality.

‘You saw that last week, obviously at the start of the season and also against Barcelona the other day. So there’s a huge competition going on there, it’s the very highest level and she’s competing for that too.

‘She’s not getting the minutes of course she hopes to do, but she has built credit with us. She wasn’t in doubt for us to bring her in.’

Lauren James and Lotte Wubben-Moy are back in the squad after missing July’s fixtures through injury while Anna Moorhouse has retained one of the goalkeeper spots, with Khiara Keating dropping out.

Manchester United’s Millie Turner has also missed out on a place in the squad while Aston Villa’s Lucy Parker has been called up for the first time in a year following a return from injury.

England will play Germany at Wembley on October 25 before facing South Africa in Coventry on October 29.