Arsenal Women are closing in on a deal worth around £80,000 for Gotham FC and USWNT left-back Jenna Nighswonger per Meg Linehan of the Athletic. With Steph Catley now viewed as a centre-half, Katie McCabe has started Arsenal’s last 28 games at left-back.
The addition of Nighswonger gives Arsenal greater depth at left-back while it can also free McCabe to play higher up the pitch and bolster Arsenal’s wide forward options. Nighswonger can play further forward too and it a very attacking left-back. Arsenal finished the game on Sunday with Alessia Russo on the wing. It is also expected that some of Arsenal’s squad options in defence will begin to pare down by the summer with some departures likely.
Nighswonger is a US international, the 24-year-old California native played soccer at Florida State before signing for Gotham FC in 2023, at that point she had already considered a move to Europe and has always had an ambition to do so. She has 18 caps for the USA.
Honestly, we had some information that Arsenal were potentially interested in a full-back but given that Laura Wienroither has played so few minutes in recent weeks, we were focusing our attention investigating a different side of the defence!
And as if by magic…..
And what a name! I can’t wait to hear her chant…
Versatile player. Sounds great so I hope they get the deal over the line.
Nice 💸 ……the mind boggles!
I see what you did there… 😆
So what does this mean for our pursuit of Rodman, predominantly a RW but also very capable playing in LW. I like the idea of having Catley at LCB and how it helps our shape going forward, kinda like having Gabriel in the mens team. That leaves us with McCabe as the only LB available and that doesn’t help with rotation and squad balance so another LB is a welcome, more so an American/NWSL player. They’re more agile, intense and physically fit. The American game is fast, intense and combative compared to the more tactical, soft, slow European game, helps… Read more »
Been saying for seasons that Meado should play to her number and get younger legs on the wing
Agree with the points made here. Glad to see someone else who likes Vivien Endemann!
Good player.
New York Times says agreement reached for $100,000
They’ll still be negative comments that we are still searching in Poundland unlike our Harrods shopping Chavski neighbours.
Nice Wonger 💸 though if we just payout what we got for Ke Kuhl and a real bargain if she gives us anything close to Foxy performance wise.
Pah! 😁
Other people can say what they like. This is a good signing in a position that has suddenly become an emergency because of Katie’s suspension. The cost is irrelevant, IMO. I’m just hoping nothing goes wrong at the last minute.
Price doesn’t matter it’s performance that counts. Foxy and Mariona did not cost the earth but what shrewd acquisitions they were! How many times have we seen these big ticket players (men’s game admittedly) under perform and get moved on at a loss just a few seasons later?
Mariona was on a free, no ?
Just confirms you don’t need to break records by spending $1m to bring excellent players into the squad. I’m glad we didn’t waste that on Mary Earps, the Doomslayer is going to be a much better keeper and humble with it!
Very well summarised in both comments, Peter.
Free is very cheap 😁
About time the women have at least half as many left backs as the men. If she signs they should make a poster for her introduction ripping off the Knight Rider poster but with her head photoshopped onto David Hasselhof’s body.
WTF?
Yikes
The Guardian had a piece that said that unlike Chelsea, Arsenal lacked ambition. That is, they’re not willing to go after what they need regardless of cost. There is some truth to that statement. Nonetheless, this signing looks promising.
Tim said similar
Very, very good player. Love watching her play for the USWNT.
Good to hear. I vaguely remember the name (how could I forget it!) from the Olympics but don’t know anything about her.
Its nigh on time we got a wonger 😉
We need a right winger who takes on the opposing defence, someone like Cascarino, or Diani, both French internationals,
Disappointed at the lack of Batman puns.
Looks like a good signing and not all such players have to cost record fees.
Hope she settles well in the UK, that’s important.