Beth Mead admits Arsenal are in 'tough place' after Chelsea defeat as Lionesses star calls for 'help' for Jonas Eidevall's struggling side

Mead spoke candidly on the pressure Arsenal's players are feeling in the wake of Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Women's Super League. The defeat left Eidevall's side sixth in the WSL and already five points behind leaders Manchester City. Furthermore, the Gunners were recently beaten comfortably by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Eidevall is under real pressure to keep his job after the Gunners' underwhelming start to the season, which already leaves them with a lot of work to do if they are to win the WSL. It's led to plenty of attention on the north London side, which Mead doesn't believe is helping the players as she called for more support.

"Players just need a bit more confidence, we're in a tough place at the moment, people need to help us a little bit," the Lionesses star told Hayters. "I think there's not so many nice things being said about us as a team right now and it's not the place or the time for doing that for us, we need to be picked up. We are really trying as players, trying to sort it out on and off the pitch and that's all we can do, keep going, keep believing in each other, stick together and hopefully the results will start coming.

"We've got to concentrate on ourselves as players, and as a collective we're sticking together. The rest of it will sort of speak and sort itself out."

Arsenal created 20 chances against Chelsea and Mead believes they were unfortunate not to get more from the game.

"Disappointment and frustration," she added. "I thought arguably we were the better team throughout the whole game. We haven't seemed to have had a lot of luck at the moment as a team. I'm really proud of the team for what they put out on the pitch – it's been a tough week, a draining week, a busy week."

Arsenal will look to put things right when they host Valerenga in the Champions League on Wednesday, which precedes a trip to winless West Ham in the WSL at the weekend.