The 2017 season was Arsenal Ladies' 7th season in the Women's Super League, 25th season in the top flight, and the 30th season overall. The club participated in the WSL and the FA Cup. The 2017 WSL season covered only half of a normal season's length, following a reorganisation of top-level women's football in England to shift its schedule to a traditional autumn-to-spring calendar. For this reason there was no WSL Cup, Champions League qualification, or relegation to be competed for.
This was the club's final season known as Arsenal Ladies before rebranding to Arsenal Women in July 2017.
Review
Pre-season Before December, Arsenal acquired midfielder Kim Little from Seattle Reign. In January, Arsenal signed midfielder Heather O'Reilly from FC Kansas City, and Beth Mead from Sunderland. In February, Arsenal signed goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, from recently relegated Doncaster Rovers Belles.
It was also the end of an era at Arsenal, as both Rachel Yankey and Kelly Smith announced their retirement, whilst Emma Byrne ended a 17-year spell between the goalposts to play in the WSL 2 for Brighton & Hove Albion. Veteran defender Casey Stoney left to play for Liverpool, whilst Josephine Henning returned to Lyon after one season at the club. Also departing after one season was Asisat Oshoala, who moved to China to play for Dalian Quanjian.
Arsenal played a pre-season friendly against Bayern Munich in Andalusia, which they lost 3-1. There was also a testimonial to honour the retirement of Kelly Smith, held at Meadow Park.
March Arsenal's season began with two FA Cup ties. Firstly, they hosted Tottenham Hotspur at Meadow Park, which they won 10-0. Daniëlle van de Donk scored a hat-trick, Danielle Carter netted a brace, Dominique Janssen and Chloe Kelly both got on the scoresheet, Kim Little scored on her return, and there were first Arsenal goals for Beth Mead and Katie McCabe.
Arsenal were drawn away at Birmingham City in the quarter-finals. The goals that they had found so easy to come by in the previous round deserted them here, and Marisa Ewers's second half strike proved to be sufficient for the Blues to progress.
April Arsenal were intending to play against Notts County in their opening game to the Spring Series. However, this game was cancelled after Notts County collapsed two days before the new season kicked off. Instead, Arsenal's season began a week later, away at Sunderland, where they played out a 0–0 draw.
May Following the demise of Notts County, Arsenal signed Louise Quinn, although bizarrely, she made her debut for the club against Sunderland before being officially announced by the club. At The Hive, their home ground for the Spring Series, they played Liverpool in a thrilling 4–4 draw. Liverpool took the lead when Alex Greenwood scored an 'Olimpico' direct from a corner, only for Chloe Kelly to bundle in an equaliser. The Reds moved back ahead when Sari van Veenendaal's clearance ricocheted off Natasha Harding and into the net, and then seconds later, Caroline Weir made it 3–1 with a glancing header. In the second half, Arsenal roared back, thanks to a brace from Carter. With ten minutes to play, a stinging drive from range by Jordan Nobbs looked to have completed the comeback, only for Gemma Bonner's header from Greenwood's corner three minutes later to pull Liverpool level and ensure a share of the points.
Arsenal's first win in the Spring Series came when they travelled to Wordsworth Drive to play Yeovil Town. Jodie Taylor's early penalty was swiftly followed by an unfortunate own goal by Molly Clarke. Another from Taylor and a header from Carter made it 4-0 after just over 30 minutes. Yeovil Town were able to pull a goal back through Lucy Quinn after a defensive error by Alex Scott, but Heather O'Reilly's penalty in the second half concluded a comprehensive 5-1 win and moved the Gunners up the third in the table.
Ten days later and Arsenal were on the road again, this time to Wheatsheaf Park for a London Derby with Chelsea. With Arsenal only a point behind their London rivals, a win would allow them to move up to second and close in on league leaders Liverpool. And they made the perfect start when an error from Carly Telford led to her bringing down Carter in the penalty area. Taylor saw her penalty saved, but was able to convert the rebound. In the second half, Chelsea responded through Millie Bright's crashing header, and in injury time, Drew Spence looked to have won it for the Blues. However, there was to be a late twist, as in the sixth added minute, Carter's strike was flicked on by Nobbs and past the helpless Telford to tie the game at 2-2.
Back at home, Arsenal faced Birmingham City, and made a disastrous start when Rachel Williams thumped a header past Anna Moorhouse within the first minute. Both sides hit the crossbar through Emily Westwood and Fara Williams, but it was Arsenal who were able to find the next goal through Heather O'Reilly just before halftime, racing onto Daniëlle van de Donk's pass and placing it past Sophie Baggaley.
The second half saw Arsenal take the lead through Van de Donk, rounding Baggaley and slotting it into the net. The lead did not last however, as Birmingham City responded within minutes through another Rachel Williams header. Twenty minutes later, another header was scored, but this time, it was Arsenal who scored it, Louise Quinn with her first goal for the club. And it was Quinn who made the game safe in injury time, heading in Nobbs' corner.
Arsenal's win had briefly moved them up to second place, but wins for Chelsea and Manchester City in the following days saw them fall behind. Their title hopes spiralled further when Kim Little suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in training, ruling her out for a year. By the time they arrived at the Academy Stadium to face Manchester City, they had slipped to fourth place. Both sides came into the match unbeaten, but it was Arsenal were left triumphant, winning 1-0 thanks to an incredible free kick from Jordan Nobbs' late in the second half.
Arsenal's win saw them close the gap on Chelsea and Manchester City to just one point. A win over Reading, thanks to Carter's first half goal, saw them move up to third place going into the final round of fixtures.
June Arsenal ended their Spring Series with a trip to Bristol City. It was a routine win for the Gunners, with Quinn's first half header setting the tone. In the second half, Nobbs, Kelly and Van de Donk all got on the scoresheet, and the rout was rounded off with a first WSL goal in Arsenal colours for Beth Mead. Despite the comprehensive win, it would prove to be in vain, as Chelsea's win over Birmingham City and Manchester City's 3-1 victory over Liverpool meant the Gunners, despite going the season unbeaten, finished in third place once again. just one point off first place.
Squad information & statistics
First team squad Last updated on 2 May 2017 No. Name Date of Birth (Age)Since Signed From Goalkeepers1 Sari van Veenendaal 2015April 2016 FC Twente13 Anna Moorhouse 2017February 2017 Doncaster Rovers Belles27 Sian Rogers 2015 Birmingham City Defenders2 Alex Scott (c) 2012January 2014 Boston Breakers3 Emma Mitchell 2013August 2015 SGS Essen12 Vyan Sampson 2014January 2016 Arsenal Academy16 Louise Quinn 2017May 2017 Notts County19 Jemma Rose 2014December 2015 Bristol Academy24 Lotte Wubben-Moy 2015 Arsenal Academy32 Anna Patten 2017 Arsenal Academy34 Taylor Hinds 2016 Arsenal Academy Midfielders4 Fara Williams 2016January 2016 Liverpool6 Leah Williamson 2014July 2015 Arsenal Academy8 Jordan Nobbs 2010February 2016 Sunderland10 Kim Little 2016October 2016 Seattle Reign11 Carla Humphrey 2014February 2015 Arsenal Academy17 Heather O'Reilly 2017January 2017 Kansas City20 Dominique Janssen 2015April 2016 SGS Essen21 Daniëlle van de Donk 2015October 2016 Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC Forwards7 Chloe Kelly 2015February 2016 Arsenal Academy9 Danielle Carter 2009January 2016 Arsenal Academy14 Jodie Taylor 2016March 2016 Portland Thorns15 Katie McCabe 2015December 2015 Shelbourne23 Beth Mead 2017January 2017 Sunderland
Appearances and goals No.NameTotal Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Goalkeepers1 Sari van Veenendaal70209013 Anna Moorhouse10001027 Sian Rogers000000 Defenders2 Alex Scott (c)6000603 Emma Mitchell00000012 Vyan Sampson00000016 Louise Quinn3+20003+2319 Jemma Rose00000024 Lotte Wubben-Moy80008032 Anna Patten800+108+1034 Taylor Hinds000000 Midfielders4 Fara Williams3+40205+406 Leah Williamson7020908 Jordan Nobbs842010410 Kim Little00212111 Carla Humphrey0+20000+2017 Heather O'Reilly7+12209+1020 Dominique Janssen70209121 Daniëlle van de Donk7+12239+15 Forwards7 Chloe Kelly2+520+212+739 Dan Carter74229614 Jodie Taylor4+33206+3315 Katie McCabe0+30212+3123 Beth Mead3+210+113+32
Goalscorers PlayerTotal19 FW Danielle Carter42 6221 MF Daniëlle van de Donk 2 3 538MF Jordan Nobbs404414FW Jodie Taylor30316DF Louise Quinn3037 FW Chloe Kelly21 3717MF Heather O'Reilly20223 FW Beth Mead11 2 910 MF Kim Little01 115 FW Katie McCabe01 120 MF Dominique Janssen01 1Own goal101 Total221032
Disciplinary record RankNo. Position Name Total 120MF Dominique Janssen200020224DF Lotte Wubben-Moy10001027MF Heather O'Reilly100010Total400040
Clean sheets No.PlayerTotal11GK1 Sari van Veenendaal415Total415
Transfers, loans and other signings
Transfers in No.PositionPlayerFrom club17 October 201610MF Kim Little Seattle Reign FC18 January 201717MF Heather O'Reilly FC Kansas City24 January 201723FW Beth Mead Sunderland17 February 201713GK Anna Moorhouse Doncaster3 May 201716DF Louise Quinn Notts County
Transfers out No.PositionPlayerTo club9 November 20165DF Casey Stoney Liverpool15 December 201622DF Josephine Henning Lyon30 December 201611FW Rachel YankeyRetired30 December 20161GK Emma Byrne Brighton & Hove Albion11 January 201710FW Kelly SmithRetired15 February 201724FW Asisat Oshoala Dalian QuanjianMarch 201729DF Chiara Ritchie-Williams LSU Lady TigersJuly 201730MF Georgia Allen Syracuse Orange
Loans out No.PositionPlayerTo club31 March 201728MF Charlie Devlin Millwall Lionesses
Club
Kit (2016-17) Supplier: Puma / Sponsor: Fly Emirates
Kit information This is third consecutive season Puma has supplied Arsenal with kits.
Home: The home kit features Arsenal's traditional colours of red and white, with the addition of a dark trim around the lowered neck line, on the sleeve (hooped) and along the red stripe on the shorts. The distinguishing feature of the kit is the darkened, vertical, red stripe across the centre of the kit. It also features predominantly red socks for the first time since the 2004–05 season (as opposed to only featuring on the alternate kits). Away: The away kit is predominantly yellow following the trend of recent Arsenal away kits. The contrasting colour is "gunmetal grey" which appears on the collar (alongside a thin, centred, yellow line), as a trim on the v-shaped neck line and on the sleeve, separated by a large yellow strip across the shoulders and multiple hooped yellow lines across the bottom section of the sleeve. The shorts are predominantly gunmetal grey, with a yellow trim along the sides. The socks are yellow with multiple gunmetal grey hooped lines on the upper section. Third: The third kit is an abstraction from previous alternate kits for Arsenal as it predominantly features a single colour of dark blue. A vibrant neon yellow forms the detail across a wide strip on the shoulder and on the cuffs of the sleeves. The shorts are also dark blue with neon yellow detail along the sides and the kit is completed with single-colour neon yellow socks with a single dark blue hoop on the upper section.
Kit usage (2016-17) Kit Combination Usage Home Red body White sleeves White shorts Red socksWSL Liverpool (H) Yeovil Town (A) Chelsea (A) Birmingham City (H) Manchester City (A) Reading (H)FA Cup Tottenham Hotspur (H) Birmingham City (A) Away Yellow body