Hello, Arsenal Women aficionados!
This week’s Journal is very different from any other one, as I will take you all for a walk and introduce to you every single player included in the first team for season 2024/25!
Veterans, new arrivals, mainstays, up-and-coming stars…we have plenty of great profiles in our squad, so let’s go.
GOALKEEPERS
1 – Manuela ZINSBERGER (AUT, 29yo)
The Austrian shot-stopper is a fans’ favourite and is likely to start the season as the first-choice goalkeeper, but I am not sure she will still be it, when the campaign is over.
Since Jonas Eidevall took over, Manu fought off several rivals to keep her place in the starting XI, yet the head coach kept bringing in new goalkeepers or tried to do so (I’m looking at you, Mary Earps…): is it a way to keep her on her toes, or a lack of faith?
The newly signed Daphne van Domselaar looks to be by far the most threatening among the contenders she faced during her stay in London, let’s see if the former Bayern Munich penalty-saving machine will bench her, too.
14 – Daphen VAN DOMSELAAR (NED, 24yo)
Freshly arrived from Aston Villa and firmly established as the Netherlands’ first-choice goalkeeper, the Dutch will find it difficult to oust Manuela Zinsberger but seems to possess all the tools to succeed in this perilous mission.
Quick and agile, Daphne van Domselaar is obviously a very good shot-stopper, probably already on the same level as her teammate, but is more comfortable on the ball, compared to the Austrian. Will it be enough to become our number one? I say yes, but perhaps not straight away.
40 – Naomi WILLIAMS (ENG, 19yo)
One for the future, for sure. With no loan deal agreed in the summer, Naomi Williams is likely to watch and learn from her more experienced colleagues and possibly find a place on the bench, here and there.
DEFENDERS
2 – Emily FOX (USA, 25yo)
The US full-back just won the gold medal at the Olympics with the USWNT and quickly established herself as a starter in Jonas Eidevall’s ideal XI right upon arriving at the club, last winter. Powerful, energetic and technically adept, the former NC Courage right-back loves to drift inside from the right-flank and progress the play from infield. Already a mainstay in our defensive line, she will improve further as chemistry and understanding with the rest of the unit grow game after game
3 – Lotte WUBBEN-MOY (ENG, 25yo)
Lotte had a true breakthrough season, last term, and grew in stature when the team was in need of leadership: with Rafaelle gone, Leah Williamson injured and both Ilestedt and Codina failing to find consistency, she stepped up to become the bedrock of our defensive line. She has since become the ideal partner for Leah Williamson at the heart of our back line, defending with heart and composure, dominating aerially in both boxes and helping progress the ball with her trademark runs. A place in the PFA WSL team of the year was the right reward for her great season.
5 – Laia CODINA (ESP, 24yo)
Hopefully the change of shirt number will coincide with a change of fortune for the former Barcelona defender, who endured a stop-and-go debut season in North London. Several minor injuries prevented her from establishing herself in our starting XI, but overall, I felt she wasn’t truly settled in and struggled with the more physical demands of English football, compared to La Liga F.
A mere nine starts in all competitions under her name (and just three in the WSL) seem to confirm that, so hopefully those numbers will grow as this season goes, although she is a back-up option to Leah Williamson and Lotte Wubben-Moy.
6 – Leah WILLIAMSON (ENG, 27yo)
“19 years and counting” was the formula chosen by Arsenal.com to announce her latest contract, signed a few months ago, and the club could not choose better words to encapsulate what Leah Williamson is to the Arsenal, and what the Arsenal is to Leah Williamson. She will go down as “Ms. Arsenal” in the club’s history book, no doubts about it, and her outstanding tactical, mental and technical qualities will be key to achieve more trophies and more accolades, collective and individual.
Having her available from the go will be a big advantage for the coach and her teammates and could prove decisive to break through the group stage of the UWCL and mount a serious title challenge in the league.
7 – Steph CATLEY (AUS, 30yo)
Entering the prime of her career, the Australian lefty is among the best left-backs in the world and remains a reliable, tough-tackling and vastly experienced option for Jonas Eidevall for the role. Also deployed as a central defender in both back-four and back-three lines, Steph Catley showed great versatility and confirmed her status as an automatic starter for the club, allowing the coach and his staff to work on tactical tweaks and experiments.
I won’t be surprised to see her feature as a hybrid centre-back in a back-three alongside Lotte Wubben-Moy and Leah Williamson, with the latter pushing into midfield when in possession.
11 – Katie MCCABE (IRL, 28yo)
The big question is: will she still be around when the transfers window closes? Lyon are pushing hard to have her, but the club seem determined to keep her and the player is not agitating for a move. A natural leader and a vocal presence on and off the pitch, the Republic of Ireland captain is the embodiment of passion and brings some street skills to an otherwise “we’re good girls” group of players. There is more to that, though: her left-foot is a wonder, her engine never stops, and she has developed a trademark jaw-dropping shot from distance that inevitably hits the top corner. Her ability to play in any position on the left-hand side or as an inverted wing on the opposite flank is a great asset to Jonas Eidevall, who is tasked with getting the most out of her outstanding skills set.
26 – Laura WIENROITHER (AUT, 25yo)
Another player who was hit by the ACL curse, the Austrian is facing a big competition to claim back the right-back spot she previously won over Noëlle Maritz, now at Aston Villa. Having recently signed a contract extension, Laura Wienroither has the full support of the club, the staff and the fans to get back to the heights she hit before rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament against Wolfsuring, during the return leg of 2022/23 UWCL semifinals.
Emily Fox is the nailed-on starter in Jonas Eidevall’s ideal XI, but so was Noëlle Maritz when Laura Wienroither joined from Hoffenheim…
28 – Amanda ILESTEDT (SWE, 32yo)
Her pregnancy has been one of the feel-good stories of last season, with her unavailability initially brushed off as a discomfort, or illness before the player and the club announced the news. Before that, the former PSG defender showed the aerial abilities that put her up there with the best goal scorers during the 2023 World Cup and the leadership and calmness that convinced the club to bring her in as a replacement for the departing Rafaelle.
It remains to be seen if and when the Swede will come back, as the club is yet to announce her squad number for this season.
MIDFIELDERS
8 – Mariona CALDENTEY (ESP, 28yo)
A statement signing for the club, the former Barcelona player and Spain international comes to bring experience, winning-mentality, technique, creativity and goals to a midfield in desperate need of a bit of magic. Extremely gifted and versatile, Mariona can play as an attacking midfielder or as a forward and will provide Jonas Eidevall with plenty of options to strike the perfect attacking setup, although I suspect she will be used as the main creative hub in midfield, especially with Victoria Pelova sidelined for several months.
After winning pretty much everything while at Barcelona and with the Spain national team, the Catalan embraced a far bigger challenge in restoring Arsenal at the top of English and European football. Excitement doesn’t truly cut it to explain the anticipation among Arsenal fans to see her in action in her new home.
10 – Kim LITTLE (SCO, 34yo)
Oh captain, my captain! 339 appearances and 176 goals later, Kim Little is still the midfield maestro who sets the tempo and a pure joy to watch. Time is a b***h though, and some niggles here and there hampered her chances to influence the course of the season in her typical way. Uncharacteristically restricted to just fourteen stars and one goal in the WSL, the former Hibernian wonderkid found herself on the sidelines, unable to help her teammates challenge Chelsea and Manchester City to the title.
Her leadership, experience, technical skills and vision remain vital to drive the team towards new heights and bring home the first major trophy since 2019.
Future may belong to Frida Maanum, Rosa Kafaji and others, but the present is still hers.
12 – Frida MAANUM (NOR, 25yo)
Has anyone found Frida’s scoring boots? The Norwegian enjoyed a stellar 2022/23 campaign but struggled to replicate it into last season, when goals dried up a bit and she could not pick up a real momentum. Mostly used off the bench, the former Linköpings star looks determined to change Jonas Eidevall’s mind a win her place back into the starting XI, although competition is very strong there.
Her unique ability to drive forward with the ball and see opponents bounce off her sets her apart from her teammates and could prove decisive in making one of the attacking midfielder spots hers.
13 – Lia WÄLTI (SWI, 31yo)
One of the four players aged 30 or more, the Swiss veteran remains the undisputed starter in midfield, either as a lone six in a standard 4-3-3 formation behind two more creative and attacking players, or as the left-sided number six in a more fluid 4-2-3-1 setup.
Whatever the formation, you can bet Lia Wälti will be at the heart of it, evading tackles with her silky moves (I see you, Snake Hips) and setting the tempo through her control and sharp passes. Her experience will be very helpful for a team still seeking balance and positional awareness, both on and off the ball.
21 – Victoria Pelova (NED, 25yo)
The latest (and hopefully last) victim of an ACL rupture will be sidelined for most of the season, if not all of it. We will be missing her ability to play between the lines and her eye for a pass. I feel robbed of a chance to see her and Mariona Caldentey play together, but luckily it is only a matter of time.
22 – Kathrine Kühl (DEN, 21yo)
Surprisingly enough, the young Dane didn’t get a loan move before the end of the transfers window, which I believe would have been highly effective for her continuous development. I reckon we couldn’t take the risk, after the injury occurred to Victoria Pelova, but that means that Kathrine Kühl will find it hard to get valuable minutes as she sits at the bottom of the pecking order for any of the midfield positions. The talent is clearly there, but opportunities are getting slimmer, and I fear she is drifting away from the project.
32 – Kyra Cooney-Cross (AUS, 22yo)
Here’s another young prospect but, unlike Kathrine Kühl, she is taking every little opportunity to impress Jonas Eidevall, his staff and the supporters. The Australian has become Lia Wälti deputy in midfield and has shown great distribution, although she looks still a bit off the standards, on the defensive side. Her contribution during the preliminary round of the UWCL qualifiers was impressive, and she will surely play a big part in the two-legged playoff tie against Häcken. With games piling up, Jonas Eidevall knows he has a very valuable option in KCC.
FORWARDS
9 – Beth Mead (ENG, 29yo)
Yet to feature due to a minor injury suffered during pre-season, Beth Mead is ready to make her mark on the team, starting from the away game at Häcken. On the long-term, she might be the one who will benefit the most from the arrival of Mariona Caldentey, as the recipient of the back-post crosses and switches of play once the Spaniard creates overloads from the opposite wing. Perhaps our biggest goal-threat, the England forward will be instrumental for our success as the main instigator and finisher in the team’s attacking setup.
After the “Revenge Tour” and “The Comeback”, how should we name the season ahead, for Beth Mead?
16 – Rosa Kafaji (SWE, 21yo)
Mercurial. Unpredictable. Flashy. These are just some adjectives used to describe Rosa Kafaji, the latest addition to the Arsenal squad. Officially listed as a forward on the club’s website, the former Häcken player is more likely to play as an attacking midfielder, tasked to link-up with the forwards and create moments of magic in tiny spaces. She might not be an automatic starter, but more of an ace up Jonas Eidevall’s sleeve – and a very powerful one.
Her high-risk/high-reward approach will often result in turnovers, but the upside is way too big to be contained or even slightly limited to safer, more conservative passes and choices.
Of all our players, she will definitely be the one having us on the edge of our seats.
17 – Lina Hurtig (SWE, 28yo)
The Sweden international and former Juventus forward is entering her third season at the Arsenal, but she is still like a new signing, to some extent. With only eleven appearances under her name, of which only two were starts, Lina Hurtig seems to be finally back with the team after a long spell away from football in its entirety, for what the player herself described as “personal issues”.
The hope of course is that she can put injuries and personal issues behind her and show what she is capable of, when attacking down the flanks. She can be a threat at the far post, especially with her aerial ability, and she can dribble forward in a very direct way, so we all hope to see her back on the pitch, this season.
The path leading to a starting spot is extremely busy though, with Mariona Caldentey, Caitlin Foord, Beth Mead and Katie McCabe all ahead of her in Jonas Eidevall pecking order.
19 – Caitlin Foord (AUS, 29yo)
The Australian has been one of the most impressive players so far, this season: she scored four goals against Rangers and played a role in Frida Maanum winning goal against Rosenborg, all while playing off the right flank, as opposed to her favorite left-wing position.
With Beth Mead injured, she was tasked with replacing her and stretching the field when Mariona Caldentey drifted inside, and she excelled at that. It will be difficult for Jonas Eidevall to keep her out of the starting XI, but through the season she might become our 12th player and the first replacement for any of Mariona Caldentey or Beth Mead in the attacking line. Caitlin Foord will surely keep both on their toes and will be ready to pounce, if anyone’s performances drop, which is very important for the whole team.
Having such a great option off the bench and a versatile player available will make our attacking play more unpredictable and more dangerous.
23 – Alessia Russo (ENG, 25yo)
At 25yo, Lessi is ready to take on more responsibilities and become central to the project. When deciding against offering a new contract to Vivianne Miedema, the club made it clear that they considered the former Manchester United striker as fulcrum of the squad, the player to lead the line – and the team.
Equally good at creating and finishing chances, Alessia Russo will bring midfielders and wingers into play before applying the finishing touches, hopefully to a higher rate compared to last season. Jonas Eidevall repeatedly said that he would like the player to become more of a traditional nine, and that includes taking up dangerous positions in the penalty box, and not exclusively around it. Luckily, she will be able to work with Kelly Smith, a player who knows a thing or two about scoring.
Most of our chances of a successful season will go through Alessia Russo’s ability to convert the chances she will be presented with, so a big season lies ahead for the England international.
25 – Stina Blackstenius (SWE, 28yo)
Who said back-up striker? Of course, Stina is much more than that and ended the last two seasons as our most prolific player with 18 goals under her name. Her powerful runs in-behind remain a big asset for the team and she will play a big role this season, either alongside Alessia Russo or in place of the England international.
Another player who benefitted from the departure of Vivianne Miedema, Stina Blackstenius is hitting her peak years and remains the only traditional centre-forward available to Jonas Eidevall, which makes her a vital cog in the Arsenal engine.
So far, she only played twenty minutes against Rangers, replacing Alessia Russo, and another twenty minutes against Rosenborg, with Frida Maanum making way, but I suspect she will start more games than she will be subbed-in, especially if we make it through the UWCL group stage.
LOANEES
29 – Teyah Goldie (ENG, 20yo)
To be honest, I was expecting her to be part of the first team setup, this season. After recovering from her ACL rupture and featuring on the bench in the final handful of games last season, I thought she would be our fourth-choice centre-back going into this campaign, at least until Amanda Ilestedt returns. Instead, she will be getting regular game-time at the London City Lionesses in the Championship.
59 – Michelle Agyemang (ENG, 18yo)
The talented striker will play in the WSL next season, although at Brighton rather than for us. The move makes a whole lot of sense for her development and hopefully will serve as a platform for fast-tracking her into the first team, although the competition in the south will be very tough. At Brighton, Michelle Agyemang will find former Gunners Vicky Losada and Nikita Parris and will be part of a very ambitious project that aims at making Brighton a top-four team.
ONES TO WATCH
62 – Katie Reid (ENG, 17yo)
After making her senior debut back in May, the towering defender made a great impression while on tour with the first team in the US and caught the eye with her calmness, reading of the game and composure. Allowing Teyah Goldie to leave on loan means that the club and the staff have great faith in Katie Reid, who will de facto be our fourth-choice centre-back behind Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Laia Codina.
56 – Freya Godfrey (ENG, 19yo)
Another one who impressed while on tour with the senior team, the 19 years-old forward offers depth in the attacking unit, although she might find it hard to get minutes. She will probably leave on loan in January, but if Lina Hurtig doesn’t rediscover some form and fitness, she could well usurp the Swede as a left-wing option for Jonas Eidevall.
That’s it for today, I hope this long-read helped easing the nerves ahead of the first leg of the UWCL playoffs and the league opener against Manchester City, on Sunday.
We will speak again after the weekend, and comment together on what I hope will be a great start to the season.
Speak to you soon!
Italian living in Switzerland, Gooner since mid-nineties, when the Gunners defeated my hometown team, in Copenhagen. I started my own blog and podcast (www.clockenditalia.com) after after some experiences with Italian websites and football magazines. Covering Arsenal Women with the occasional rant about the boys.
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