Boasting stars like Leah Williamson, Alessia Russo and Lotte Wubben-Moy, Gunners boss Jonas Eidevall has plenty of quality to choose from
On Wednesday, Arsenal’s season begins as the Gunners take on Rangers in the first round of Women’s Champions League qualifying. Jonas Eidevall’s side have a tough draw as they look to exorcise the demons of last season, in which they fell at this stage. Fortunately, they have plenty of talent to call upon in their bid to do so after a strong transfer window.
The departure of Vivianne Miedema, and her subsequent signing with Women’s Super League rivals Manchester City, drew plenty of criticism earlier this summer and it could well come back to bite Arsenal, not least when they face the Cityzens on the opening weekend of the league season. However, there have been plenty of exciting incomings, too.
Mariona Caldentey, a quadruple-winner at Barcelona, arrives to bolster the front line, while youngster Rosa Kafaji has shown in pre-season that she can help make up for some of that attacking threat the Gunners have lost in Miedema. At the back, Eidevall appears to have finally got the No.1 goalkeeper he desires, too, in Daphne van Domselaar.
But these players join a squad that is already stacked with star talent, featuring huge names such as England Lionesses Beth Mead and Alessia Russo. So how will it all come together? GOAL takes a look at how Arsenal could line up this season…
Getty ImagesGK: Daphne van Domselaar
Arsenal fans have still to see Van Domselaar in action and yet it feels like the No.1 spot will be hers. The Gunners have been in the market for a new goalkeeper for a while now and the fact that they have signed one of Europe’s most promising shot-stoppers, after being heavily linked with Mary Earps for a long time before she joined Paris Saint-Germain, suggests that Eidevall hasn’t been searching for someone to simply provide depth behind Manuela Zinsberger.
The Austria international has been harshly criticised at times in her Arsenal career, with a shaky defence not helping her case, but the commanding of her box can be inconsistent and lead to errors. She still has a huge role to play at the club and will get chances to shine, but Van Domselaar is likely to receive the larger bulk of starts.
That might not be the case this week, with the Dutchwoman not featuring in pre-season as she works her way to full fitness, and Zinsberger will be keen to make a statement if she instead gets the nod in Arsenal’s European qualifiers. Over time, though, Van Domselaar looks set to come out on top in this positional battle.
AdvertisementGettyRB: Emily Fox
Emily Fox has been superb since arriving at the club in January and is one of the best in the world in her position, so should continue to keep her spot in Arsenal’s first choice XI locked down.
The United States star won’t play every game, especially when factoring in those trans-Atlantic flights for international duty, and that’s where Laura Wienroither will provide good depth and a more than capable option for rotation. But Fox is certainly on top in the pecking order.
Getty ImagesCB: Lotte Wubben-Moy
There are a few differences for Arsenal when it comes to their centre-back options this season. Leah Williamson is back to full fitness after an ACL injury, but Amanda Ilestedt will miss at least the majority of the campaign after announcing her pregnancy in March. That, then, gives promising teenager Katie Reid a chance to be in the picture for minutes when Arsenal rotate, the young defender having impressed plenty in pre-season.
However, when it comes to the regular starting roles, it’ll be Williamson, Laia Codina and Lotte Wubben-Moy battling it out, and the latter should rack up plenty of games as she looks to build on a fantastic 2023-24 campaign. In Williamson’s absence, the England defender was superb for the Gunners, showing her qualities as a footballer and a leader.
Getty ImagesCB: Leah Williamson
Williamson found things difficult upon her return from that devastating knee injury last season, but this pre-season campaign has allowed her to shake off any rust as she prepares to get stuck back into competitive action, a luxury she wasn’t afforded by her January comeback. As the summer has progressed, Williamson has looked sharper and sharper, which certainly bodes well for Arsenal moving into 2024-25.
Codina, also battling for minutes here, should improve this season after some tricky moments in her first year in England and she will hope to showcase her qualities in a bid for regular starts when given the chance. Still, it seems likely that Eidevall’s first choice centre-back pair will consist of Williamson and Wubben-Moy.