Maanum on the mend and targeting return next weekend

ARSENAL midfielder Frida Maanum is progressing well after collapsing on the pitch last month and could make an emotional return at Emirates Stadium next week.

Maanum (right) collapsed off the ball in a concerning moment during Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Chelsea in the League Cup Final on March 31. She has not played since and pulled out of the Norway squad last week, but test results have been reviewed by two leading cardiologists and there are no obvious heart issues found from the investigations so far.

Maanum will not play on Sunday, when Arsenal face Bristol City in the WSL, but could be back for their clash against Leicester at the Emirates a week later.

“Everything is looking good, and that’s the most important thing,” Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall said this morning. “She is on a graduated, monitored protocol here now to return to play. She will not be available for selection for Sunday, but after that, [if] everything goes as planned, it looks promising for her to be available to play again.”

As well as Maanum’s collapse, the League Cup Final win over Chelsea made headlines after Eidevall clashed with Chelsea boss Emma Hayes at the fulltime whistle.

Hayes accused Eidevall of showing “male aggression” on the touchline during the game, but the Swede rejects that and today insisted he has no regrets over his actions.

“I need to be accountable for my actions and that is what I can take responsibility for,” he said. “In this situation, I am accountable for that. I am very happy with the way I conducted myself and I would not do anything differently. Emotions are high in football. They were two really competitive teams and they want to win.”