The mixed bag news of last week continues.
Unfortunately the Lionesses were unable to put up any resistance against group
leaders and projected contenders France and a 0-3 loss meant that Hope Powell’s
side got knocked out of the tournament.
They finished
bottom of the group without a win in three games but their coach of 15 years
insists that it was more the struggling form during the course of this Euros
than any broad indication regarding their squad quality of depth.
The team who
arrived in Sweden with an 11-game unbeaten run were unable to click for one
reason or another, and Arsenal’s Kelly Smith acknowledges a need to reflect and
learn from the mistakes so that they can begin the upcoming World Cup
qualifications with the kind of form they know they are capable of.
Rachel Yankey, a
mere spectator in that final game through injury, echoes the same feelings in
her final Euro Championship diary entry for the Arsenal website. She also
highlights the importance of re-focusing on their domestic and club
requirements and hitting the ground running.
This also means
that Gunners Fair will be back on its regular duty from next week. The Arsenal
Ladies play league leaders Liverpool (15 points after six games with a goal difference
of +11) on August 3, 2013 in a crucial, must-win away game. The Gunners have two
games in hand and currently lie fifth in the WSL table with 7 points and a goal
difference of -2. The Ladies are used to being top or nearer to the top of the
summit than they are at the moment and the team will be eager to get a result
in the first game back after the summer break. The squad will see two new faces
with Scottish pair, Emma Mitchell and Caroline Weir. Mitchell is only 20 and
yet the age belies her experience and her versatility (comfortable both in
defence and midfield). Made a first-team regular at Glasgow City (where she
came through the ranks) at the age of 17, she spent 4 successful years before
moving to Germany’s SGS Essen. She also has senior level experience with the
Scottish team (22 caps) and was captain for their U-19s. Caroline Weir joins
from Hibernian where she has been touted as a very exciting prospect. The 18
year old attacking midfielder has represented Scotland at every youth level and
was given her first senior cap last month.
Manager Shelley
Kerr has worked with both of them when she was with the Scottish FA and is sure
of a good fit with the current Arsenal squad, citing them as having
‘outstanding quality.’
Off the field,
the Arsenal Ladies will be participating in a collaborative event with the Hertfordshire
Mavericks Netball Club and Saracens Women’s Rugby Club at the Hertfordshire
Sports Village. The event titled ‘Girls Get Sporty’ will take place on
Saturday, August 17 between 11-3pm and will allow girls aged between 7-15 the
chance to try out new sports and learn from the professionals. Here is the link
for those readers who will be interested in taking their daughters or sisters
down for this event.
Until next week.
Clear Eyes. Full
Hearts. Can’t Lose.
Anushree Nande
Born and brought up in Mumbai, India. An eternally optimistic and fiercely loyal Gooner Girl for life. Bachelors and Masters degrees in Creative Writing (with Media Studies) from Edge Hill University, England. Passionate about words, sports, music, tv, movies, travel and art. Columnist, editor, writer and guest writer for many online publications on different topics.
Anushree has three published short stories, including one on Amazon: “L’Effet De Papillon“. She is working on her first novel.
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