by Andrew Crawshaw
There are a number of very significant changes this season for Arsenal Women.
- The WSL starts this weekend having reverted back to a winter league.
- The Club’s name has changed from Arsenal Ladies to Arsenal (with Women added when necessary to distinguish from the Men’s team)
- There have been significant personnel changes with retirements, young players joining American Colleges to continue their further education and a number of very exciting new signings.
As last year the Womens Super League (WSL) is divided into two divisions
WSL1
| Team | Location | Ground | Capacity | 2016 league place | 2107 spring Series place |
| Arsenal | Borehamwood | Meadow Park | 4,502 | 3 | 3 |
| Birmingham City | Solihul | Damson Park | 3,050 | 5 | 7 |
| Bristol City | Filton | Stoke Gifford Stadium | 1,500 | 2 (WSL2) | 8 |
| Chelsea | Kingston on Thames | Kingsmeadow | 4,850 | 2 | 1 |
| Everton | Widnes | Select Security Stadium | 13,350 | 3 (WSL2) | 1 (WSL2) |
| Liverpool | Widnes | Select Security Stadium | 13,350 | 4 | 4 |
| Manchester City | Manchester | Academy Stadium | 7,000 | 1 | 2 |
| Reading | High Wycombe | Adams Park | 9,617 | 8 | 6 |
| Sunderland | Hetton-le-Hole | The Hetton Centre | 2,500 | 7 | 5 |
| Yeovil Town | Yeovil | Huish Park | 9,565 | 1 (WSL2) | 9 |
WSL2
| Team | Location | Ground | Capacity | 2016 league place | 2107 spring Series place |
| Aston Villa | Tamworth | The Lamb Ground | 4,000 | 7 | 4 |
| Brighton & Hove | Lancing | Culver Road | 2,000 | 1 (WPL 2015-16) | 6 |
| Doncaster Rovers Belles | Doncaster | Keepmoat Stadium | 15,231 | 9 (WSL1 relegated) | 2 |
| Durham | Durham | New Ferens Park | 3,000 | 4 | 5 |
| London Bees | Canons Park | The Hive Stadium | 5,176 | 6 | 7 |
| Millwall Lionesses | Bermondsey | St Pauls Sports Ground | 2,500 | 8 | 3 |
| Oxford United | Marston | Court Place Farm | 3,200 | 9 (WSL1 relegated) | 10 |
| Sheffield | Dronfield | Coach and Horses | 2,000 | 5 | 9 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | Cheshunt | The Stadium | 3,000 | 1 (WPL) | n/a |
| Watford | Kings Langley | Global Metcorp Stadium | 1,000 | 10 | 8 |
One thing that won’t have changed I suspect is that it will be the same three clubs fighting to win the league. Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City have by far the strongest squads. Liverpool, on their day will push the top three clubs close and Birmingham are normally tough to beat. The top two clubs earn Champions League places.
It is worth remembering that although we came third in the Spring series earlier this year we were unbeaten and will certainly be looking to push on from there and reclaim our position back at the top of the WSL.
This weekend marks the start of the WSL season – In WSL1 the matches are :-
| Date | Match | Time |
| Friday 22 September | Everton v Liverpool | 19:45 |
| Sunday 24 September | Chelsea v Bristol City | 12:30 |
| Arsenal v Birmingham | 14:00 | |
| Reading v Sunderland | 14:00 | |
| Yeovil v Man City | 14:00 |
Who is in Arsenal’s Team
We have four members of this summer’s European Championship Winning Netherlands Team
- Goalkeeper – Sari van Veenendaal
- Midfielders – Dominique Janssen and Danielle Van de Donk
All of these three have been retained by Arsenal from last season but for this year we are joined by their compatriot and one of the finest players in Europe
- Centre Forward – Vivienne Miedema
Also retained from Last Season are two of the England stars from that competition
- Midfielder – Jordan Nobbs
- Striker – Jodie Taylor (winner of the golden boot in the Euros)
German Star defender Josephene Henning has rejoined the club. Swedish International Right Back Jessica Samuelsson has joined to provide backup for captain Alex Scott who has announced her retirement from International Football.
Chloe Kelly Everton) and Katie McCabe (Glasgow City) are both out on season long loans. Fara Williams has left to join Reading.
The full squad (as far as I can discover) is
- Goalkeeper – 1 Sari Van Veenendaal, 13 Anna Moorehouse
- Right Back – 2 Alex Scott, 25 Jessica Samuelsson
- Left Back – 3 Emma Mitchell, 24 Taylor Hinds
- Centre Backs – 5 Josephene Henning, 12 Vyan Sampson, 16 Louise Quinn and 19 Jemma Rose
- Defensive Midfielder – 20 Dominique Janssen
- Centre Midfielders – 8 Jordan Nobbs, 6 Leah Williamson
- Attacking Midfielders – 10 Kim Little, 21 Danielle Van de Donk
- Right Wing – 17 Heather O’Reilly, 18 Lisa Evans
- Forwards – 14 Jodie Taylor, 11 Vivienne Miedema and 23 Beth Mead
- Left Wing -9 Danielle Carter
Please accept my apologies if I have missed anyone out of this list as the Women’s pages on Arsenal.com haven’t been updated in months, neither has the Arsenal Women’s site.
First League Game on Sunday 14:00 kickoff at Meadow park, Borehamwood against Birmingham – hope to see you there.
Online tickets £6 adults, £3 concessions. On the gate £10 adults, £5 concessions (U16s over 65s and disabled)
- Nice ground
- Better tea/coffee and hot dogs than the Emirates
- Children friendly
- Great Atmosphere
- Players happy to sign autographs, selfies etc.
COYG
- Corbyn and Bellerin excommunicate Piers Morgan,
- What exactly does it mean when Arsenal are on red alert over a player spotted at the airport?
- Arsenal are not going to match the expenditure of the Manchester clubs no matter who is manager
Thanks Andrew
Thanks , Andrew and good like to the ladies.
Thanks Andrew. Never been to Meadow park, Borehamwood for a game. Might just fit one in before I retire to the warmth.
The ladies play great football with some super skills.