Arsenal Women take on Chelsea Women at Emirates Stadium on Sunday, shortly before the men’s teams play one another as part of the Gunners’ pre-season preparations and a funding drive for the Mind charity. For those of you attending or watching that aren’t familiar with the women’s team, here are some short pen pics. The women kick off at 12.15pm.
1.Manuela ZINSBERGER (25)
Previous clubs: SV Neulengbach, Bayern Munich
Position: Goalkeeper
Austrian goalkeeper who joined the Gunners from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2019, Zinsberger signed a new contract with the club back in January. Previous coach Joe Montemurro had a policy of rotating the number 1 goalkeeper but Zinsberger still saw marginally more action than fellow ‘keeper Lydia Williams last season. Manu has a reputation for being brave with the ball at her feet and is very strong at starting Arsenal’s attacks and at being a release valve for the defenders when they come under pressure in possession.
🏆 The @BarclaysFAWSL Save(s) of the Season 😱
Congratulations, @Manu_Zinsberger 👏 pic.twitter.com/N8LZJ6gQKD
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) May 26, 2021
Arseblog interview: February 2021
3.Lotte WUBBEN MOY (22)
Previous clubs; Arsenal, University of North Carolina
Position: Centre-back
A product of the Arsenal academy, Wubben-Moy re-signed for the club last summer after leaving in 2017 on a four-year scholarship at the University of North Carolina. Lotte was a mainstay in the defence during the second half of last season due to injuries to Jen Beattie and Viki Schnaderbeck. A Stoke Newington native, Wubben-Moy is a lifelong Arsenal fan and has a Dutch father and speaks Dutch fluently. Lotte is in the Team GB squad for the Tokyo Olympics and will not feature in this game.
Gooners support Gooners ❤️@IanWright0 🤝 @lottewubbenmoy #BarclaysFAWSL @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/VDWqH3J5xk
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) March 22, 2021
4.Anna PATTEN (22)
Previous clubs: Arsenal, Florida State Seminoles, South Carolina Gamecocks
Position: Centre-back / right-back
Like her friend and fellow academy product Lotte Wubben-Moy, Anna Patten left the club in the summer of 2017 on scholarship to the US college system, where she played for Florida State and the South Carolina Gamecocks. ‘Patsy’ returned to the club in January and has been utilised as a right-back and a centre-half during the second half of last season. Anna is also a lifelong Arsenal fan who first watched Arsenal play at Highbury when she was six years old.
Arseblog feature interview: March 2021
5.Jen BEATTIE (30)
Previous clubs: Celtic, Arsenal, Montpellier, Manchester City, Melbourne City (loan)
Position: Centre-back
Beats initially joined Arsenal from Celtic when she was 18 years old in 2009, winning three league titles, an FA Cup and three Conti Cups before leaving to join Montpellier in 2014. From there, the centre-back returned to England to play for Manchester City (and enjoyed a short loan spell at Melbourne City) spending four years there before returning to Arsenal in the summer of 2019. Jen’s dad, John, and her brother Johnnie, have both played international rugby for Scotland. Jen was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and played through her diagnosis and treatment, happily, she has recovered.
Heading back to 2011 to see a 🚀 from @jbeattie91! #ThrowbackThursday ⏪ #10YearsofBFAWSL pic.twitter.com/OyIos4swzV
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) April 8, 2021
6.Leah WILLIAMSON (24)
Previous clubs: none
Position: Centre-back / defensive midfield
Another Arsenal academy product and lifelong Arsenal fan, Leah made her Gunners debut when she was 16 and won the FA Cup in her hometown of Milton Keynes at the age of 17. Leah has been an integral part of the Gunners defence since she was a teenager and was a key part of the team that won the WSL title in 2019. At the age of 9, Leah was a mascot for Arsenal in a League Cup tie away at West Brom, which her family broke from their holiday to attend. The 24-year old is representing Team GB in the Tokyo Olympics and will not be involved in this game.
🤩 @leahcwilliamson ➡️ @JordanNobbs8
📆 #OnThisDay last year, we saw a beauty of a goal from @ArsenalWFC 👏 pic.twitter.com/P1FQraMgYW
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) January 5, 2021
Arseblog feature interview: March 2020
7.Steph CATLEY (27)
Previous clubs: Melbourne Victory, Portland Thorns, Melbourne City, Orlando Pride, Reign FC (now OL Reign)
Position: Left-back
Signed from Orlando Pride in the summer of 2020, Catley is considered one of the best left-backs in the women’s game. Alas, Arsenal did not get to see much of her last season after a series of hamstring injuries which finally resulted in surgery. She is the vice-captain of Australia and won’t be available for this match as she will be representing her country at the Tokyo Olympics. Steph’s 98-year old grandfather was raised in London and grew up as an Arsenal fan.
Arseblog interview: September 2020
8.Jordan NOBBS (28)
Previous clubs: Sunderland
Position: Central-midfield
The Stockton-on-Tees born midfielder joined Arsenal as a teenager back in 2010 and has collected three league titles, four FA Cups and five Conti Cups in a glittering spell with the club. Jordan is renowned for her energy levels, her range of passing and her goal scoring ability. Nobbs has made 227 Arsenal appearances and counting and is the club’s longest-serving player. Her father, Keith, made over 280 appearances for Hartlepool United as a centre-back. Jordan attended the same trial for Sunderland on the same day as Manchester City left-back Demi Stokes when both were at primary school.
Outrageously good from @JordanNobbs8 🤩#WomensFACup #MCIARS pic.twitter.com/4MDnZisYWI
— Girls on the Ball (@GirlsontheBall) October 1, 2020
Arseblog feature interview: October 2013
9.Beth MEAD (26)
Previous clubs: Sunderland
Position: Wide-forward
Mead arrived at Arsenal in 2017 with a reputation as one of the most lethal penalty box strikers in the WSL, having scored 76 goals in 77 appearances for Sunderland. She has since remodelled herself as a wide forward and often gets into double figures for assists. ‘Meado’ is also very valuable in creating transitions for Arsenal, stealing the ball from full-backs and opening up counterpressing opportunities. She is also renowned for the “crot”, having scored several goals from crossing positions. While at Sunderland, she was involved in a car accident swerving a deer on a country lane- the next day she played and scored a hat-trick against Chelsea.
Two years ago today… @BMeado9 scored a goal that nearly never was! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/VhBqowLF4N
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) March 24, 2021
Arseblog feature interview: November 2020
10.Kim LITTLE(c) (31)
Previous clubs: Hibernian, Arsenal, Seattle Reign, Melbourne City (loan)
Position: Central-midfield
The Arsenal captain, Kim has long been considered one of the finest central midfielders in world football. Her ability to maintain the ball under pressure marks her out, a taciturn character, Little is also considered one of the best professionals in the women’s game with a reputation for hard work and perfectionism. Kim joined the club from Hibernian aged 17 in 2008, spending five years with Arsenal before spending three years in the US with Seattle Reign. She returned to North London in 2017 and captained the side to the WSL title in 2019. Kim is representing Team GB in the Tokyo Olympics and will not be available for this game.
Simply world-class from #CaptainLittle 🔥
🔙 #NorthLondonDerby pic.twitter.com/7f6wmWFhSQ
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) March 27, 2021
Arseblog feature interview: May 2013
11.Vivianne MIEDEMA (25)
Previous clubs: Heerenveen, Bayern Munich
Position: Centre-forward
Miedema signed for Arsenal from Bayern Munich in 2017 and has not stopped breaking records ever since. She is currently the all-time leading goal scorer in the WSL and she broke the Netherlands’ goal scoring record shortly before her 23rd birthday. A Euro 2017 winner and World Cup runner-up with her country, Viv is widely considered the best striker in the women’s game. She is representing Netherlands at the Tokyo Olympics and won’t be available for the Chelsea friendly. Viv is a Feyenoord fan and grew up idolising Robin van Persie.
🏆 @BarclaysFAWSL Goal of the Season 🏆
Congratulations, @VivianneMiedema 🐐
In a #NorthLondonDerby too 😉🔴 pic.twitter.com/1kZXHBqCJE
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) May 25, 2021
Arseblog feature interview: October 2019
12.Frida MAANUM (22)
Previous clubs: Lyn, Stabaek, Linkoping
Position: Central-midfield
Frida is the newest member of the Arsenal squad, her signing from Linkoping in Sweden was announced earlier this week. The 22-year old is an attacking midfielder who prefers to drift to the left of a midfield three. She captained Linkoping last season and went to Euro 2017 with Norway when she had just turned 17. Maanum is considered one of the most exciting young midfield talents in Europe.
13.Lia WALTI (28)
Previous clubs: YB Frauen, Turbine Potsdam
Position: Defensive midfield
Signed from Turbine Potsdam in the summer of 2018, Wälti has been a revelation as Arsenal’s deepest midfielder and has to be considered previous coach Joe Montemurro’s finest signing. Nicknamed ‘snake hips’ by her teammates due to her ability to wriggle away from pressure, the Swiss puts her low centre of gravity down to her childhood days ice skating in Switzerland. Wälti is incredibly two-footed to boot, last season she played more passes with her left foot than her right despite being nominally right-footed. She is the captain of Switzerland.
Another game, another masterclass from @LiaWaelti 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hpBX7QE0fe
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) April 6, 2021
Arseblog feature interview: July 2021
14.Nikita PARRIS (27)
Previous clubs: Everton, Manchester City, Lyon
Position: Wide-forward / Centre-forward
Parris joined the club this summer from Olympique Lyonnais after a two-year spell in France, where she won the Ligue 1 title and the Champions League. Prior to this, Parris played for Manchester City, where she won a league title, two FA Cups and two Conti Cups. ‘Keets’ sister is boxer Natasha Jonas, who was the first British woman to box at an Olympic Games in 2012. Parris will not be available for this fixture as she is representing Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics.
From Lyon to London…
You ready, @LilKeets? 😎 pic.twitter.com/hULcoKT2al
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) July 2, 2021
Arseblog interview: June 2021
15.Katie McCABE (25)
Previous clubs: Shelbourne
Position: Left-back / left-wing
Signed from Shelbourne in 2015, McCabe has grown into one of Arsenal’s senior players and one of their most consistent performers, winning the fans player of the season award last year for her performances at left-back, though she is just as comfortable on the left wing. Katie is also the captain of Ireland and played more minutes than any other player during Arsenal’s 2018-19 title winning season. She spent the 2017 season on loan at Glasgow City where she won the Scottish Premier League title. McCabe says she wanted to become a professional footballer when she saw compatriot Emma Byrne playing in goal for Arsenal in the 2010 FA Cup Final on Irish television.
POWER LOADING…
■■■■■■■■■□□🚀 @Katie_McCabe11 🚀 pic.twitter.com/6cRtewO2wK
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) June 4, 2021
Arseblog feature interview: December 2020
16.Noelle MARITZ (25)
Previous clubs: FC Zurich, Wolfsburg
Position: Right-back / Left-back
Born in California, Noelle is a dual US and Swiss citizen. She moved to Switzerland at the age of 10 and represents them internationally. Maritz joined the Gunners from Wolfsburg last summer and is comfortable playing in both full-back positions, playing mainly on the right during her time in North London. She was a Champions League winner at Wolfsburg and also won five league titles and six DfB-Pokals during her time in Germany.
18.Lydia WILLIAMS (33)
Previous clubs: Canberra United, Chicago Red Stars, Pitea IF, Canberra United, Western New York Flash, Houston Dash, Melbourne City (loan), Reign FC (now OL Reign)
Position: Goalkeeper
Williams has 90 caps for Australia having been their first-choice goalkeeper for the best part of a decade. Signed from Melbourne City last summer. Raised by her Aboriginal father and American mother in the Western Australian outback, Lydia has authored children’s books based on her experiences growing up. She is renowned for her propensity to bark commands from her area for an entire game. ‘Lyds’ is also a qualified zookeeper. She will not be available for the Chelsea game as she is representing Australia at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
19.Caitlin FOORD (26)
Previous clubs: Central Coast Mariners, Sydney FC, Sky Blue FC, Perth Glory, Vegalta Sendai, Portland Thorns
Position: Wide-forward / Centre-forward
Signed from Portland Thorns in January 2020, the Australian forward has made an instant impression at Arsenal, getting into double figures for goals and assists in her first full season in England. Aged 26, Caitlin already has 86 caps for the Matildas and she can play all across the front line as well as in either full-back position. She represented her country at the 2011 World Cup at the age of 16.Caitlin is currently representing Australia in Tokyo.
The Arsenal way ©@CaitlinFoord 🔥 pic.twitter.com/uUa99CBgK4
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) March 27, 2021
Arseblog interview: February 2020
20.Simone Boye SORENSEN (29)
Previous clubs: BSF, Brondby, Rosengard, Bayern Munich
Position: Centre-back
Signed from Bayern Munich this summer, the Danish international played under new Head Coach Jonas Eidevall for two years at Rosengard, before moving to Bayern in 2019. The 29-year old won the Frauen Bundesliga with Bayern last season, however, injury restricted her appearances. Sorensen is strong in the air and provides leadership in defence. She has 61 caps for Denmark.
21.Malin GUT (20)
Previous clubs: Grasshopper Zurich
Position: Defensive-midfield
Malin joined Arsenal from Grasshopper Zurich in her native Switzerland last summer. At 21, Gut is considered one of the finest young midfield talents in Europe and, like her senior compatriot Lia Wälti, is very comfortable passing on either foot from defensive midfield. Gut is currently recovering from an ACL injury incurred in May.
22.Viki SCHNADERBECK (30)
Previous clubs: LUV Graz, Bayern Munich
Position: Centre-back
Another of the ex-Bayern Munich contingent, Viki is the captain of the Austrian national team and signed for the club in 2018. Comfortable at centre-back or in central midfield, Viki is renowned for her calmness in possession and her ability to pass progressively from the back. She is currently recovering from a knee injury picked up in November last year.
23.Mana IWABUCHI (29)
Previous clubs: Nippon Tokyo Verdy Beleza, Hoffenheim, Bayern Munich, INAC Kobe Leonessa, Aston Villa
Position: Wide-forward / number 10
Signed from Aston Villa this summer, the Japan international was a World Cup winner with her country in 2011. She is also the best friend of Lisa Evans and Vivianne Miedema after the trio played together at Bayern Munich. Mana is also a former teammate of Viki Schnaderbeck and Manu Zinsberger. Iwabuchi can play on either flank or as a number 10. She is currently representing Japan in the Olympics and will not be available for this game.
What can we expect from @buchi_mana?
😎 Goals like this 👇 pic.twitter.com/m9LSEbdLnl
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) May 26, 2021
29.Teyah GOLDIE (17)
Previous clubs: none
Position: Centre-back
Teyah only turned 17 in June but has already had a taste of first-team action, making three appearances from the bench towards the end of last season. Goldie is a centre-half by trade who can also operate in midfield. She is an England U-18 international.
77.Tobin HEATH (33)
Previous clubs: New Jersey Wildcats, Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues, Pali Blues, Atlanta Beat, Sky Blue FC, New York Fury, Paris Saint Germain, Portland Thorns, Manchester United
Position: Winger
Signed as a free agent this summer after leaving Manchester United, Tobin Heath has 177 caps for the US National Team and has won two World Cups and two Olympic Gold medals. Nicknamed ‘Tobinho’ because of her close control and love of a stepover, Heath is one of the most famous players in the game and a big Arsenal fan to boot.
THE BOSS
Jonas Eidevall was appointed this summer after Joe Montemurro stepped down after nearly four years in charge. The Swede comes from Rosengard and despite only being 38, he has 15 years’ experience in coaching, all of which has occurred in Swedish men’s and women’s football, where he has enjoyed two stints at Rosengard as well as a spell as assistant to Henrik Larsson at Helsingborgs. Jonas is said to be a vocal and sometimes explosive coach on the sidelines with a forensic attention to detail on the training ground. Chelsea represents his first game in charge at Arsenal.
Arseblog interview: June 2021
Excellent article! We have a lot of very high quality attackers – Miedema, Parris, Mead, Foord, Iwabuchi; any ideas how they might all fit in and kept happy with game time etc? And how far do people think the signings this summer might be to safeguard against Miedema potentially leaving next year?
If Arsenal get into the CL there will be no issues with game time but even without, there will be a Conti Cup group stage and the latter rounds of the FA Cup happen in the autumn, Arsenal have a tight schedule this year.
My honest sense on Viv is that she will be ready for a new challenge when her contract is up and short of properly challenging to win the CL, I don’t see her staying beyond next season.
Hope we make the most of it!
Great write up. Excited for the season!! Thanks
Great article as usual mate. Any idea why the #2 isn’t in use am I right in saying it’s not been used since Alex left?
Cheers! Katrine Veje had it when she was here but not sure why Simone Boye didn’t take it for example!
Usually a ‘RB’ number so maybe Noelle will take it in the future who knows!
Kudos to the Author. A seasoned and comprehensive article.
Can we have the same for the men’s team?
Great work as always, Tim, but with that squad there are no excuses for being 10 points behind Chelsea in WSL and not challenging for the domestic cups this coming season. It will also help the cause if we can go straight into the CL proper instead of filling up the Autumn fixture list with qualifying matches.
No disrespect to Joe but let’s hope that Jonas has the ability to mould a good team into a great team.
I suppose the transfer activities are done then?
Forgot about Noelle at RB.
Quite excited if we can keep everyone fit and the Olympians ready in time.
I think based on form, GK is our weakest link with Zinsberger not convincing, and Williams now dropped for the Aussies.
Time for Fran Stenson to shine then instead of keep saving her for the future!