Jonas Eidevall's team is stacked with talent, but so are Emma Hayes' champions…
After an incredible summer of football in England saw the Lionesses bring football home, the Women's Super League returns this weekend and it promises to pick up the Euros' baton and provide plenty of drama and entertainment.
Arsenal get the campaign underway on Friday night at home to Brighton, looking to start a season they will hope ends in style – with some silverware.
Last year was the Gunners' first under head coach Jonas Eidevall and the big positive is that they finished just one point behind champions Chelsea despite it feeling like they can go up another level.
With Eidevall's January signings having had more time to settle in now and the squad as a whole having got a proper grasp on his ideas, Arsenal should be even better this time around. But will it be enough to win the title?
GettyThe Squad
A quick glance at the ins and outs at Arsenal this summer and some might be concerned.
They've seen six regular first team players leave while only bringing three in, one of whom – Gio Queiroz, the Brazilian teen who ranked at No.10 in this year's NXGN list – has immediately joined Everton on loan. Their other signings have been Kaylan Marckese, a back-up goalkeeper, and Lina Hurtig, the energetic Swedish forward who arrives from Juventus.
However, the Gunners did a lot of good business in the January window, with striker Stina Blackstenius and centre-back Rafaelle immediately becoming key figures in the starting XI. Moreover, their most important move this summer was to keep a certain Vivianne Miedema, the WSL's all-time top goal-scorer signing a new contract amid interest from Barcelona.
With star names like England captain Leah Williamson and Euros hero Beth Mead, this is a strong squad with a lot of depth across different areas. In midfield and attack in particular, those options are varied and will all bring different things to the team when Arsenal face different challenges in the opposition.
AdvertisementGettyThe Hopes
Silverware. Arsenal is the most decorated team in English women's football and has an incredible history that includes winning the quadruple in 2007. However, they've not won a trophy since lifting the WSL title in 2019.
Chelsea have won every league title since and the Gunners would certainly love to end their dominance, particularly after coming so close last year. Had they not lost 2-0 to eventually-relegated Birmingham in January, a win that was the Blues' first in the league for over a year and one of just three they got all season, they would've pipped Emma Hayes' side to top spot.
It's not just about winning the league though. Fans would love to see a good showing in the Champions League, too, and there are two cup competitions for them to have a real go at to bring that winning culture back.
GettyThe Fears
This is a strong squad. It's a squad with lots of different midfield options and a variety in profiles across the forward line, but that doesn't mean there are not players that would struggle to be replaced should injury strike them down.
That can apply to names like Williamson, one of the best centre-backs in the WSL who captained England to glory at the Euros this summer, and Miedema, who is one of the best players on the planet.
Yet, it's Lia Walti, their holding midfielder, that most Arsenal fans will be focusing their hopes and prayers on when it comes to staying fit. The Swiss international missed a number of games last season and there is no natural replacement for the important role she performs.
Eidevall believes there are several players in his squad that can adapt to play in that position but excellent, natural No.6s like Walti are at a premium in the women's game – there's a reason that Barcelona just set a new transfer record for Keira Walsh, after all.
GettyThe Hero
Beth Mead's past 12 months have been quite remarkable. After the disappointment of being left out of Team GB's Olympic squad last summer, the Arsenal winger had her best season yet, scoring 11 goals and providing a league-best eight assists in 22 games.
She backed that up with an heroic tournament for England, winning the Euros, the golden boot and the best player award. It's a summer that plunged her into the mainstream. In fact, when the women's squad were at the Emirates for the men's game against Fulham earlier this season, even the away fans wanted pictures with Mead.
She returns to north London as a national hero and it's difficult to imagine her not continuing this momentum to try and bring a trophy to her club this season, just as she helped bring one home for her country.
