Arsenal Women – the Season Preview – part 2 Our team for the Season

Manuela has been with us since May 2019.  She signed from Bayern Munich and is our undisputed first choice keeper

Sabrina joined us in January 2023 from the Swedish side Vittsjö.  She is also a regular member of the Canadian national squad

Naomi is 18 and will normally be keeping for our development team, She will be called up to the first team squad whenever required through injury or as required for normal squad rotation.

Lotte is a lifetime Gooner, I remember first Senior game when she came on as a substitute in a cup game at the age of 16 and was extremely impressive.  Now a full England international she is a solid Centre-back, good in he air and crops up with headed goals from time to time.

Now 32 and one of the longest standing players at the club.  A Centre-back most commonly used in the middle of a back three.  She is excellent when facing the ball but can be caught out for pace if forwards get behind her.  Excellent in he air and a calming presence at the back

(but retired Internationally)

Well on the recovery road following her ACL injury.  England captain before her injury and one of the finest ball playing defenders in the world.  She would be a starter in any team in the World when fully fit.  Another lifelong Gooner  and a true global superstar.  Although not yet available for matches her return is eagerly awaited

The first of our Australian trio.  Steph is one of he finest Left Backs around at the moment.  She joined us in July 2020 and signed a new contract in 2022.  Equally adept in a back 4 or as a wing back ahead of a back 3, one of our most reliable and effective players

What is Katie?  A versatile player who will nominally be listed on the left hand side of he field but, in practice is equally likely to be on he right or the centre of the pitch.  Wherever she plays she will do it well.  A nominee for the Women’s Balon D’Or prize for her efforts last season

Noelle is a right back, she joined us from VfL Wolfsburg in July 2020.  Ready and solid, attackers rarely get the better of her and she is quite likely to make overlapping runs resulting in decent crosses for our forwards.

Laura is a right back and, unfortunately, another of our players who suffered an ACL injury last season, she is unlikely to feature for us for most of the season.

Laia was one of the World Cup winning Spanish squad.  An imposing Centre Back, it will be interesting to see how she fits into our squad.  I suspect she was brought in as a replacement for Rafaelle Souza who departed at the end of last season

Another Centre Back, Amanda came to my attention when for a long time she was the leading goal-scorer in the World Cup his last summer scoring 4 times with her head for Sweden.  In the Champions League games she showed a penchant for chasing the ball out of defence and we were caught out a time or two due to her leaving a gap behind her.  Hopefully this will now be out of her blood as she gets more used to our systems of play

Teyah must be the unluckiest member of our squad, missing for 14 months following an ACL, she fought her way back to the match day squad at the end of last season only to tear the ACL in her other leg whilst on holiday post season.  Another long time in the treatment room for the 19 year old.

Kim is our captain and one of the finest female players of all time. Now 33 she is showing no signs of losing her edge.  She could dribble out of a phone box when surrounded by opposition players.  Our regular penalty taker (I’ve only ever seen her miss 2 in all the years I’ve been watching) and currently our leading goal-scorer with 164 in her 290 plus appearances over her two spells with the club.  A terrier on the pitch always driving the team forward or being the first to track back and fulfil her defensive duties.

(but retired Internationally)

Sill only 24 but one of the best in the business.  An all round midfielder with a thunderous shot and capable of turning any game on it’s head.  Also capable of playing as a Centre Forward when the need arises  She joined us from Lincopings in July 2021

One of the most two footed players there is, her passing numbers are virtually 50/50.  Normally our defensive midfielder, the glue in the midfield who collects he ball and passes it forwards accurately and without fuss.  Captain of the Swiss National team one of our leaders on the pitch.  She signed for us from Turbine Potsdam in July 2018.  Now 30 years old but, again, still in her prime.

At 24 years old, brought in to learn from and, eventually take over from one of our older midfielders.  Victoria is regarded as one of the brightest of he younger group of international platers.  I am keen to see her progress over he coming season.

At just 20 Kathrine Kühl has joined us very much as ‘one for the future’  and is another player who I very much look forward to seeing as he season progresses.

A deadline day signing this summer, Kyra caught the eye with her performances in the World Cup in the summer.  Another relative youngster one to watch.

One of the most exciting players in the world, she is now back in the match day squad following her ACL last season.  Will probably be introduced gradually over the next few weeks as she regains full match fitness

Another player needing no introduction from me.  When fit would be a starter in any team in the World, a goal-scorer par excellence but one who prefers the No10 role.  Again recovering from an ACL injury, in full training but not yet match fit.  Her timeline is a month behind Beth Mead

We haven’t yet seen the best from Lina, last season she was hampered by series of niggling injuries which affected her availability and meant that she could rarely display her full talent.  Hopefully this season she will remain fit and be able to show us what she can do as the left sided attacking player.

Usually our Carter as left sided forward, Caitlin can play anywhere across a front three.  She signed for us in 2020 from Sydney FC, has over 200 caps for her country and averages about a goal every two games for us.  A starter when fit, which she usually is.

Signed as an 18 year old as ‘one for the future’ I expected her o go out on loan for the season but that didn’t happen.  Will probably get minutes in the League Cup group stage games.

After a failed transfer bid in January, Alessia joined us this summer at the expiry of her contract with Manchester United.  She will be expected to score many goals for us this season, probably alternating with Stina as the starting CF

To me a surprise signing and possible a relatively short term one.  Cloe is a right sided attacking forward, a position that will probably be retaken by Beth Mead when she regains full fitness.  Cloe will, nevertheless, provide extra strength in depth the lack of which was ultimately responsible for our disastrous end to last season

Stina joined us in January 2022 from BK Häcken in Sweden.  Clearly a very talented player and our leading scorer last season,  I’m not sure that we have yet seen he best of her.  She likes to sit on the last defender and spin off then to reach a through ball.  Very effective when i works but she is caught offside too often for my liking.