GREAT DANE
As we reported yesterday Arsenal announced the signing of 32-year old Danish defender Janni Arnth from Swedish side Linköping. Janni will join the Gunners on January 1st when the WSL winter transfer window opens.
She brings reinforcement into an area where Arsenal have lacked numbers. Austrian defender Viki Schnaderbeck tore knee ligaments on the eve of the new season and though Arsenal scoured the market for a defender before the August 31st deadline, they didn’t quite have time to do a deal.
Arnth captained Linköping in Sweden and at 32, she has plenty of experience. “I’m a central defender who is defensively and offensively minded,” Arnth told Arsenal.com. “I like to contribute with my passing skills and help the team sitting up a good build up play.
“I put a lot of energy and concentration on the pitch and communicate a lot to help in bringing a good structure to the team, so with my experience I feel like I can help the team to control the game as much as possible.
“I’m fully committed to what I’m doing, I’m a dedicated person and I just love being a footballer. I’m a loyal person and my everyday approach is to always be professional – no excuses. I just want to do the best for the team and help to solve whatever challenges come our way, on and off the pitch.”
AWARDS SEASON
Arsenal’s fine form in October, which included a crushing 5-0 win away at defending WSL champions Chelsea, has been recognised with a series of individual awards. Jordan Nobbs scooped up the PFA Player of the Month Award, while Vivianne Miedema won the WSL Player of the Month gong after scoring 7 goals in 3 matches in October. Nobbs’ sweeping finish against Birmingham was also voted goal of round 8 in the WSL.
? Easy work for @JordanNobbs8…
Her strike for @ArsenalWFC has been voted #FAWSL goal of Round 8! pic.twitter.com/RUUom8kr3s
— The FA Women's Super League (@FAWSL) November 8, 2018
Manager Joe Montemurro, who signed a new contract in October, also won the LMA Manager of the Month for the WSL. The Gunners won each game they played in October scoring 15 goals and conceding 0 over their three games. Joe conducted a ‘twitter takeover’ on the WSL account last week, in which he spoke glowingly about Jordan’s recent form.
? '@JordanNobbs8 is playing brilliantly right now, but can she get better?' from @JamesYellen
? What does the @ArsenalWFC gaffer think?
? #TuesdayTakeover pic.twitter.com/tSzan2EeqZ
— The FA Women's Super League (@FAWSL) November 6, 2018
ARSENAL ON THE BEEB
Two upcoming matches have been moved for television coverage on the BBC, with the game at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, 25th November now scheduled to kickoff at 1230pm. Likewise, the crunch trip to Manchester City on Sunday, 2nd December will also now kickoff at 1230pm. Both matches are being screened live on BBC Online and the red button.
? Our @FAWSL fixtures against @OfficialBHAFC and @ManCityWomen have been selected for TV coverage ? https://t.co/xLHywStv0Z
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) November 7, 2018
This Sunday’s match away at Everton will be live on the same channels with a 1230pm kickoff. Heather O’Reilly will feature on the BBC’s coverage against Everton. Toffees boss Andy Spence stepped down as manager after their 1-0 defeat to Yeovil last week, so Everton will be managed by goalkeeper coach Jennifer Herst for the game.
INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP
Vivianne Miedema was on the score sheet as Netherlands cruised to a 3-0 victory against Switzerland in Utrecht in the first leg of their World Cup qualifier playoff match. Danielle ven de Donk and Dominique Bloodworth played the full 90 minutes for the Dutch, with Sari van Veenendaal on the bench.
Make it 3. @VivianneMiedema adds another for ??
The stars came to play today for the Dutch ? #NEDSUI pic.twitter.com/dAISpQqcn1
— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) November 9, 2018
Lia Walti captained the Swiss. The second leg takes place at 7pm this evening in Switzerland. Meanwhile, Jordan Nobbs and Beth Mead were both part of England Lionesses’ 2-0 defeat to Sweden on Sunday, for whom Jess Samuelsson played for the first time in 13 months after a foot injury.
On Thursday, Leah Williamson played the full 90 minutes as the Lionesses beat Austria 2-0 in Vienna. Lisa Evans is set to line up for Scotland at home to the US tonight. Emma Mtichell pulled out of the Scotland squad with a minor injury and will be assessed ahead of Sunday’s trip to Everton. Pauline Peyraud-Magnin also pulled out of France’s 1-0 victory over Brazil due to a slight wrist problem.
COMING UP
Full match preview for Sunday’s trip to Everton will be on the site on Friday afternoon and we will have exclusive player reaction from that game on the site on Sunday evening. Next week, we will also have the November feature interview, which will focus on the advances in strength and conditioning in the women’s game, so stay tuned for that.
The awards are well deserved, let’s hope for continued momentum when the women return from internationals as well.
Thanks, Tim. I shall be very interested to read about the conditioning and training improvements next month. I wonder how our footballers compare to elite sportswomen in other sports, like the GB Women’s hockey team. Congratulations to Nobbs, Miedema and Joe Montemurro. And I see England kept a clean sheet in the game Leah Williamson started in – just saying! I hope we can continue our stunning form and that Everton do not have a “new manager bounce”. The injuries are a bit concerning, though. Good luck to Miedema, vdD and Janssen later – I’m sorry, Lia Waelti, but the… Read more »
Absolute dominance. Can’t wait for City to feel our wrath. Thanks Tim.
Any word on Kim Little’s progress on the injury?