Arsenal Women
Full nameArsenal Women Football Club
Nickname(s)The Gunners, Arsenal
Founded1987; 37 years ago (1987) as Arsenal Ladies F.C.
GroundMeadow Park
Borehamwood, Hertfordshire
Capacity4,502 (600 seated)
ChairmanIvan Gazidis
General ManagerClare Wheatley
ManagerPedro Martínez Losa
LeagueFA WSL 1
20163rd
WebsiteClub website
Current season

Arsenal Women Football Club, formerly known as Arsenal Ladies Football Club, is an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal Football Club.[1][2] Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 43 major trophies to date; which are 2 FA WSL titles, 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 14 FA Women's Cups, ten Women's Premier League Cups, 4 FA WSL Continental Cups and one UEFA Women's Champions League (formerly the UEFA Women's Cup).

History

The club was founded in 1987 as Arsenal Ladies Football Club by Vic Akers,[3] the kit manager for the Arsenal men's team, who remained the club's manager until his retirement in 2009.[4] They won their first major honour, the Women's League Cup in 1991–92. Later in 1992 they won promotion to the FA Women's Premier League and won the title at the first time of asking. As of 2010 they have won 12 of the 17 League titles, finishing as runners–up three times[5] and won a record seven titles in a row between 2004 and 2010.[6]

As of 2016 Arsenal have won the FA Women's Cup fourteen times, and the Women's League Cup ten times.[5] This includes eight League and FA Women's Cup Doubles; in 1992–93, 1994–95, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09, and four domestic Trebles, in 1992–93, 2000–01 and 2006–07, 2008–09. Arsenal have represented England a total of seven times in the UEFA Women's Champions League (formerly the UEFA Women's Cup), and had previously reached the semi-finals twice (in 2002–03 and 2004–05).

The 2006–07 season was Arsenal's most successful ever, having won not just all three domestic trophies but also the 2006–07 UEFA Women's Champions League (then called the UEFA Women's Cup), beating Umeå IK in the final 1–0 on aggregate; this was the first time any British club won the competition. On top of that Arsenal won the FA Women's Community Shield as well as the local London County FA Women's Cup. The end result was that the team won every single competition available to them, earning a unique sextuple. The wins that year came against full-time professional players, whereas most of the Arsenal team had full-time jobs.[7] Additionally, Arsenal won all 22 games they played in the Premier League that season, scoring 119 goals and conceding just ten.[8] In recognition of the achievement, the team were honoured with The Committee Award by the Sports Journalists' Association in the 2007 Sports Journalists' Awards.[9]

Arsenal were unable to retain their European crown in 2007–08, after being knocked out by Olympique Lyonnais in the quarter-finals. The Premier League Cup final was lost to Everton. They ended the season on a high, winning the league for the fifth season in a row with 20 wins and two draws from their 22 games, and another FA Women's Cup, beating Leeds 4–1 in the final. Season 2008–09 saw the end of a record five year unbeaten run in the League; between 16 October 2003 (a defeat against Charlton Athletic)[10] and 29 March 2009 (a 0–3 defeat at home to Everton) Arsenal went 108 games without defeat. During that spell, Arsenal won a record 51 league games in a row, between November 2005 and April 2008.[3] Despite the defeat to Everton, Arsenal went on to complete a domestic treble in 2008–09, beating Everton 1–0 away on the final day of the league season and giving Vic Akers his eleventh title and fourth Treble. Akers retired in the 2009 close season, being succeeded by Tony Gervaise.[11] In February 2010, after eight months in charge, Gervaise resigned, suggesting his position had been undermined by outside interference.[11] In an unusual development, reserve coach Laura Harvey became first-team manager and Gervaise became reserve coach.[12]

The following month Arsenal were named as founder members of the FA WSL which commenced in the spring of 2011.[13] Arsenal won the inaugural season, the eighth consecutive English title, qualifying again to the UEFA Women's Champions League.[14]

Arsenal completed another domestic treble by becoming inaugural WSL champions, winning the FA Cup, and lifting the Continental Cup in 2011.

On 1 February 2013 Shelley Kerr was announced as Laura Harvey's successor as manager of Arsenal Women. The club under her management won the FA Women's Cup twice and Continental Cup and finish third in the league during the 2013 season.[15] After a poor run of form which saw the club gain only one point from the opening four league matches of the 2014 season, exit the Champions League to Birmingham and suffer a shock lose to Reading, Kerr decided to resign.

On 1 June 2014, Arsenal Women won the 2014 FA Women's Cup 2 weeks after Arsenal won the 2014 FA Cup, completing a rare FA Cup double for the club.

In July 2017, the club rebranded as Arsenal Women Football Club.[4][1][2]

Players

Arsenal Ladies in 2009.

Founded as an amateur side, Arsenal Ladies turned semi-professional in 2002.[16] Three of the current first team were in the England squad for the 2005 European Championship. Former players Kelly Smith, Karen Carney and Alex Scott transferred to play for teams in the Women's Professional Soccer League in the USA. Smith and Scott moved to the Boston Breakers; Carney to Chicago Red Stars. The club contains internationals from England, Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and Holland, with a total of fourteen members of the current squad having represented their country.[17]

Arsenal Women also operate a reserve team, which is mainly formed from Academy players. The reserves have won four FA Women's Premier Reserve League titles and five FA Women's Premier Reserve League Cups in their history.

Current squad

As of 30 April 2017.[17]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Netherlands NED Sari van Veenendaal
2 DF England ENG Alex Scott
3 DF Scotland SCO Emma Mitchell
4 MF England ENG Fara Williams
6 MF England ENG Leah Williamson
7 FW England ENG Chloe Kelly
8 MF England ENG Jordan Nobbs
9 FW England ENG Danielle Carter
10 MF Scotland SCO Kim Little
12 DF England ENG Vyan Sampson
13 GK England ENG Anna Moorhouse
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 FW England ENG Jodie Taylor
15 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Katie McCabe
16 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Louise Quinn
17 MF United States USA Heather O'Reilly
19 DF England ENG Jemma Rose
20 MF Netherlands NED Dominique Janssen
21 MF Netherlands NED Daniëlle van de Donk
23 FW England ENG Beth Mead
24 DF England ENG Lotte Wubben-Moy
32 DF England ENG Anna Patten
— FW Scotland SCO Lisa Evans

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
28 MF England ENG Charlie Devlin (at Millwall Lionesses until June 2017)

Former players

For notable current and former players, see Category:Arsenal Women F.C. players.

Current technical staff

As of May 2015.[18]

Position Name
General Manager England Clare Wheatley
Honorary President England Vic Akers
Manager Spain Pedro Martinez Losa
Technical Director England John Bayer
Assistant Player-Coach England Kelly Smith
Lead physiotherapist Scotland Mary Shiels
Conditioning Coach Zimbabwe Irvin Mukandi
Goalkeeping Coach Wales Jason Brown
Development Officer England Ciara Allan
Marketing Officer England Faye White
Administrator and Under-17s head coach England Angela Cuerden

Stadium

Arsenal Women play most of their home matches at Meadow Park, home of Conference Premier side Boreham Wood, in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. It has a capacity of just over 4,000, although attendances for most league matches are in the hundreds. Arsenal's home UEFA Women's Champions League matches are also played here. However, due to the connection with Arsenal F.C., they are permitted to play in the Emirates Stadium on occasion.

Arsenal celebrate a Cup double in 1998.

Link with Arsenal F.C.

The women's side has the full backing and support of Arsenal Football Club. David Dein, former vice-chairman of Arsenal F.C., held the position of club President until he left the club on 18 April 2007, and was replaced by Keith Edelman, Arsenal's managing director, until his departure from the club on 1 May 2008. Ivan Gazidis, the chief executive of English Premier League club Arsenal Football Club, is currently the Chairman of Arsenal Women.

A number of the playing staff are employed by Arsenal to develop and co-ordinate the women's teams and club Academy. Ties between the two are close; sponsorship by Emirates and Puma (and Nike before that) is shared, and the women's club played at Arsenal's home stadium (Highbury until 2005–06 and Emirates Stadium since then).

Over the years, the women's team has been lauded by and done promotional work with counterparts from the men's team such as Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira. Ahead of a 2008 North London men's derby against Tottenham Hotspur, Cesc Fàbregas (then Arsenal's men's captain) told Loaded that he didn't believe that Arsenal Women would lose to the Tottenham men, saying, "They would do really well. I'm sure they would get a point!"[19]

Honours

[20]

2006–07
2011, 2012
1992–93, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10
1992–93, 1994–95, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16
2011, 2012, 2013, 2015
1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2008–09
2000 (shared), 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008
1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1999–00, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11

Seasons

Key

Champions Runners-up Promoted Relegated

Division shown in bold when it changes due to promotion or relegation. Top scorer shown in bold when they set or equalled a club record.

All club honour's confirmed by official club website[21]

Season League Cup Top scorer
Division P W D L F A GD Pts Pos FA Cup[22] London Cup[23] WPL Cup WSL Cup[24] Community Shield UWCL[25]
1987–88 no data
1988–89 no data
1989–90 no data
1990–91 no data
1991–92 PL S 1st CH N/a N/a
1992–93 PL Na[26] 18 17 0 1 66 8 58 52 1st CH CH N/a N/a
1993–94 PL Na[26] 18 14 3 1 85 15 70 45 2nd CH N/a N/a
1994–95 PL Na[26] 18 17 1 0 60 8 52 52 1st CH CH N/a N/a
1995–96 PL Na[26] 18 11 4 3 54 12 42 37 3rd CH N/a N/a
1996–97 PL Na[26] 18 16 1 1 65 9 56 49 1st CH N/a N/a
1997–98 PL Na 18 2nd CH CH N/a N/a
1998–99 PL Na[26] 18 13 4 1 59 15 44 43 2nd CH CH N/a N/a
1999-2000 PL Na[27] 18 13 2 3 73 13 60 41 3rd CH CH N/a CH N/a
2000–01 PL Na[28] 18 17 1 0 88 9 79 52 1st CH CH N/a N/a
2001–02 PL Na[29] 18 16 1 1 60 15 45 49 1st N/a CH QF
2002–03 PL Na[30] 18 13 1 4 53 21 32 40 3rd N/a SF
2003–04 PL Na[31] 18 15 2 1 65 11 54 47 1st CH CH N/a
2004–05 PL Na[32] 18 15 3 0 57 13 44 48 1st CH N/a SF
2005–06 PL Na[33] 18 16 2 0 83 20 63 50 1st CH N/a CH QF
2006–07 PL Na[34] 22 22 0 0 119 10 109 66 1st CH CH CH N/a CH CH Scotland Julie Fleeting 17[35]
2007–08 PL Na[36] 22 20 2 0 85 15 70 62 1st CH CH N/a CH QF England Lianne Sanderson 26[35]
2008–09 PL Na[37] 22 20 1 1 89 14 75 61 1st CH CH CH N/a QF Scotland Kim Little 14[35]
2009–10 PL Na[38] 22 20 1 1 79 19 60 61 1st RU CH N/a N/a QF Scotland Kim Little 24[35]
2010–11 N/a* CH RU N/a N/a N/a SF England Ellen White 11[35]
2011 WSL[39] 14 10 2 2 29 9 20 32 1st SF QF N/a CH N/a SF Scotland Kim Little 17[35]
2012 WSL[39] 14 10 4 0 39 18 21 34 1st CH RU N/a CH N/a SF Scotland Kim Little 23[35]
2013 WSL[39] 14 10 3 1 31 11 20 30 3rd CH N/a N/a CH N/a QF England Danielle Carter 14 [35]
2014 WSL 1[39] 14 6 3 5 24 21 3 21 4th QF N/a N/a RU N/a N/a England Danielle Carter
England Kelly Smith 		7 [35]
2015 WSL 1[39] 14 8 3 3 21 8 13 27 3rd CH N/a N/a CH N/a N/a Spain Natalia Pablos 10 [35]
2016 WSL 1[39] 16 10 2 4 33 14 19 32 3rd N/a
2017 WSL 1[39]
2017–18 WSL 1[39]
Season Division P W D L F A GD Pts Pos FA Cup[22] London Cup[23] WPL Cup WSL Cup[24] Community Shield UWCL[25] Top scorer
League Cup

*The WSL was due to start in 2010 but was deferred for a year due to the global economic downturn.[40]

UEFA Competition Record

Main article: English women's football clubs in international competitions
Season Competition Stage Result Opponent Scorers
2001–02 UEFA Women's Cup Group Stage 4–0 Switzerland Bern Banks 2, Grant, Ludlow
7–0 Israel Hapoel Tel Aviv Ludlow 3, Coss, Grant, Moore, Ogawa
2–1 Poland Wroclaw Banks, Spacey
Quarter-finals 1–1 1–2 France Toulouse Grant, Maggs
2002–03 UEFA Women's Cup Group Stage 6–0 Azerbaijan Gömrükçü Baku Banks 2, Wheatley 2, Grant, Ludlow
2–1 Spain Levante Maggs, F. White
7–0 Belgium Eendracht Aalst Ludlow 3, Maggs 2, Grant, Scott
Quarter-finals 2–0 1–1 Russia CSK VVS Samara MacDonald, Maggs + 1 o.g.
Semifinals 1–3 1–5 Denmark Fortuna Hjørring Banks 2
2004–05 UEFA Women's Cup Group Stage 2–2 Spain Athletic Bilbao Grant, F. White
7–1 Greece Aegina Fleeting 2, Banks, Grant, Ludlow, Wheatley, F. White
1–0 Sweden Djurgården Kemp
Quarter-finals 0–2 4–1 Italy Torres Banks, Fleeting, Ludlow + 1 o.g.
Semifinals 1–1 0–1 Sweden Djurgården Fleeting
2005–06 UEFA Women's Cup Group Stage 3–1 Poland Wroclaw Ludlow, McArthur, Sanderson
1–0 Russia Lada Togliatti Ludlow
0–1 Denmark Brøndby
Quarter-finals 1–1 1–3 Germany Frankfurt Grant, Sanderson
2006–07 UEFA Women's Cup Group Stage 5–4 Russia Rossiyanka Fleeting 5
6–0 Hungary Femina Budapest Ludlow 2, Chapman, Davison, Yankey + 1 o.g.
1–0 Denmark Brøndby Sanderson
Quarter-finals 5–0 4–1 Iceland Breiðablik Fleeting 3, Smith 3, Carney, Sanderson, Yankey
Semifinals 2–2 3–0 Denmark Brøndby Smith 2, Carney, Fleeting, Yankey
Final 1–0 0–0 Sweden Umeå IK Scott
2007–08 UEFA Women's Cup Group Stage 4–0 Kazakhstan Alma KTZh Carney 2, Chapman, Sanderson
7–0 Austria Neulengbach Fleeting 2, Ludlow 2, Carney, Chapman, Grant
3–3 Italy Bardolino Fleeting, Grant, Smith
Quarter-finals 0–0 2–3 France Olympique Lyonnais Smith, Yankey
2008–09 UEFA Women's Cup Group Stage 7–2 Switzerland Zürich Little 3, Ludlow 2, Davison, Smith
6–0 Austria Neulengbach Carney 2, Davison, Fleeting, Little, Tracy
0–3 France Olympique Lyonnais
Quarter-finals 3–2 0–6 Sweden Umeå Fleeting, Little, Ludlow
2009–10 Champions League Round of 32 9–0 9–0 Greece PAOK Little 7, Lander 2, Yankey 2, Beattie, Bruton, Chapman, Coombs, Davison, Ludlow + 1 o.g.
Round of 16 3–0 2–0 Czech Republic Sparta Prague Little 2, Flaherty, Grant + 1 o.g.
Quarter-finals 1–2 0–2 Germany Duisburg 1 o.g.
2010–11 Champions League Round of 32 3–1 9–0 Serbia Mašinac Niš Carter 2, Little 2, Davison, Flaherty, Ludlow, Nobbs, F. White, Yankey + 1 o.g.
Round of 16 0–2 4–1 Spain Rayo Vallecano Chapman, Fleeting, Grant, Yankey
Quarter-finals 1–1 2–2 Sweden Linköping Chapman, E. White, Yankey
Semifinals 0–2 2–3 France Olympique Lyonnais Fleeting, E. White
2011–12 Champions League Round of 32 4–0 6–0 Belarus Bobruichanka Beattie 3, Carter 2, Chapman 2, Nobbs 2, E. White
Round of 16 1–1 5–1 Spain Rayo Vallecano Little 2, Danielle Carter, Ludlow, Nobbs, Yankey
Quarter-finals 3–1 0–1 Sweden Göteborg Little, Nobbs, Yankey
Semifinals 1–2 0–2 Germany Frankfurt Grant
2012–13 Champions League Round of 32 3–0 4–0 Spain Barcelona Beattie 4, Chapman, Little, Nobbs
Round of 16 2–1 4–3 Germany Turbine Potsdam Smith 3, E. White 2, Chapman
Quarter-finals 3–1 1–0 Italy Torres Smith, Little, Nobbs, Fahey
Semi-finals 0–2 1–2 Germany Wolfsburg Little
2013–14 Champions League Round of 32 7–1 11–1 Kazakhstan CSHVSM Kairat Little 5,Carter 5, Nobbs 3, Chapman, Yankey, Ayisi, Weir, White
Round of 16 3–0 3–2 Scotland Glasgow City Houghton, 3 Carter, Yankey, Nobbs
Quarter-finals 0–1 0–2 England Birmingham City

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Important update from our women's team". Arsenal F.C. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Women's Super League One : Arsenal drop 'Ladies' from name". BBC Sport. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  3. ^ a b Kessel, Anna (4 May 2008). "The invincibles". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  4. ^ a b Trehan, Dev (28 July 2017). "Arsenal Ladies renamed Arsenal Women". Sky Sports. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Arsenal Ladies Honours". Arsenal.com. Retrieved 21 May 2007.
  6. ^ "Arsenal Ladies 4–1 Chelsea". Arsenal.com. 28 April 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2008.
  7. ^ Tony Leighton (29 April 2007). "Arsenal boss hails Uefa Cup win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2007.
  8. ^ "FA Women's Premier League". The FA. Retrieved 28 September 2007.
  9. ^ "Sports Journalists' Awards 2007". sportsjournalists.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 December 2007. Retrieved 2008-02-06. ((cite web)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "Ladies complete unbeaten League century". Arsenal.com.
  11. ^ a b Tony Leighton (20 February 2010). "Arsenal Ladies boss Tony Gervaise reveals reasons behind shock exit". BBC. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  12. ^ "Laura Harvey becomes Arsenal Ladies manager". Arsenal.com. 11 February 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  13. ^ "Lincoln Ladies FA Women's Super League bid success". BBC. 22 March 2010. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2010. ((cite web)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ "Arsenal take English WSL title". UEFA. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  15. ^ Arsenal miss Champions League next season fitaa.com. 18-09-2013. Retrieved 19-10-2013.
  16. ^ Tony Leighton (15 May 2002). "Banks stays with semi-pro Gunners". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  17. ^ a b "Ladies Players". Arsenal.com. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  18. ^ "Staff". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  19. ^ [1] Daily Mail October 29th, 2008 - "Fabregas claims Spurs would struggle to beat Arsenal's ladies side!"
  20. ^ https://www.arsenal.com/ladies/honours
  21. ^ "Arsenal L.F.C. Honours". Arsenal.com. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  22. ^ a b "The FA Women's Cup - Past Results". TheFA.com. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  23. ^ a b "London FA - Cups". LondonFA.com. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  24. ^ a b "FA WSL Continental Cup". FAWSL.com. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  25. ^ a b "UEFA Women's Champions League". UEFA.com. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  26. ^ a b c d e f "FA Women's Premier League 1998-99". ilsonfootbal.co.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  27. ^ "FA Women's Premier League 1999-2000". archive.is. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2013. ((cite web)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ "FA Women's Premier League 2000-01". rsssf.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2013. ((cite web)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ "FA Women's Premier League 2001-02". rsssf.com. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  30. ^ "FA Women's Premier League 2002-03". rsssf.com. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  31. ^ "FA Women's Premier League 2003-04". TheFA.com. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  32. ^ "FA Women's Premier League 2004-05". TheFA.com. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  33. ^ "FA Women's Premier League 2005-06". TheFA.com. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  34. ^ "FA Women's Premier League 2006-07". TheFA.com. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Arsenal L.F.C. Statistics". Arsenal.com. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  36. ^ "FA Women's Premier League 2007-08". TheFA.com. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  37. ^ "FA Women's Premier League 2008-09". TheFA.com. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  38. ^ "FA Women's Premier League 2009-10". TheFA.com. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  39. ^ a b c d e f g h "FA Women's Super League". FAWSL.com. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  40. ^ Tony Leighton (6 April 2009). "Anger at delay of women's summer Super League". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 March 2010.

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