Brazilian forward Gio Queiroz has returned to Arsenal Women, cutting short her loan spell at Everton.
The 19 year old spent the first half of the season on loan at Everton, where a hip injury prevented her from playing too many minutes.
With Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema injured, Arsenal had a need to bolster their forward line. Debinha was a target for the club but she opted to stay in the US with Kansas City. Gio was recalled earlier this month and will wear the number 20 and will be available for Sunday’s game with Chelsea.
Makes sense!
We are light on strikers thanks to injuries so there should be opportunities to be involved in the WSL and cup games with us rather than Everton.
Sometimes being dropped in at the deep end can pay dividends! Lotte’s game improved noticably when she had to step up in Leah and Rafa’s absence.
Just checked and Gio hasn’t completed 90 minutes this season because of her injury. It wouldn’t be fair to expect too much of her if she hasn’t played. We might need to be patient with her
Talking strikers does anyone know how Ebony Salmon is getting on in Houston? I always thought she would be a good acquisition and the stats I saw were 8 goals in 8 games in 2022 and her contract is up in 2023.
Just a thought!
Sounds a smart option, Peter, considering also the home grown quota.
Hope the injury that has plagued Gio this season is resolved. Interesting that Debinha turned down Champions League to continue playing in America when American fans forums were blaming NWSL salary cap for potentially losing her to Europe.
Looking forward to seeing you play, Gio!
I watched her play for a bit when they were showing an Everton game in the concourse at the Emirates. Certainly skillful but I did have worries that she might be a bit frail for women’s football today. (I think this is one reason why Jonas doesn’t have faith in Mana). Generally I’m now wondering whether the increase in physicality is affecting the large number of injuries we’re seeing. I always held up Sam Mewis as a perfect example of a modern footballer, skill and a great physical presence. However, she’s now been out injured for a very long time;… Read more »
As much as I appreciate Mana’s skill and technical ability I said before we signed her from Villa that she was too lightweight for the WSL even then so I can understand Jonas’ reservations. She simply gets shoved off the ball too easily. The league is only going to get more physical now the players are professional full time athletes building up their strength which does not deminish over the 90 minutes. This can be seen clearly when we take on lesser teams (no disrespect to them) when they run out of puff in the second half and we appear… Read more »
I believe Gio developed against girls more than boys growing up so it will be interesting to see where she ends up physically at a time when the most hyped female players played against boys. Oberdorf has credited playing against boys growing up until she was 16 years old as a big part of why she is so dominant physically and the big new star in America, Alyssa Thompson, played against semipro U-19 men as a 17 year old as the only female in that league. The growing emphasis on the physical side of the women’s game will be interesting… Read more »