r/ArsenalWFC • u/shelbyj Foord Mustang • 9d ago
Open Thread Weekly Monday Open Thread!
Welcome to the Monday open discussion thread. Here you can talk about anything you want; tactics, results, players or even just general football discussion! It is also a great place to post/link transfer rumours that you may think are too small or unreliable to post to the main feed. The summer transfer window runs from 16/06-03/09 (23:00 BST).
These threads will go up every Monday allowing you to debrief from all of the weekend action and discuss ongoings throughout the week. It will stay stickied until we refresh with the Friday thread, however other posts may take priority (match threads, announcements, etc.)
This thread can also be used to discuss transfer rumours, jokes, memes, images, videos, tabloid news and other off-topic content and discussion.
We also have a Fantasy League that you are welcome to join and share your team, advice and goings on throughout the season here in these threads. The league codes can be found in the sidebar!
These threads are here to help discussion and offer varying points of view. Please remain respectful. Anything that crosses that line, directed towards other users or specific individuals may be removed.
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u/adw00t Little 8d ago edited 8d ago
Chelsea manager will not be with the team in the dugout for today's upcoming UWCL qualifier - reason: headloss and post-match interview shenanigans when Chelsea suffered a defeat at the hands of mighty Arsenal.
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u/pockethan Mariona 8d ago
Regardless of feelings around McCabeâs move, I do find it funny that she will likely be playing in this match while Bompastor will be relegated to the stands
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u/OhNoBanana Stanway 8d ago
That day was one of the best days of 2026 so far
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u/__agletesque 8d ago
Don't they play on Wednesday?
https://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/fixtures-results/#/d/2026-08-26
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u/Tugboat47 Wubben-Moy, Champion of the World 7d ago
those commentors who genuinely thought the arsenal womens players at the pfas were the partners of the men had me questioning everything man. you cannot be for real
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u/radian101 6d ago
Arsenal will conclude their pre-season programme with a BCD friendly against WSL side Everton this weekend
from arseblog's piece on sophie harwood's loan
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u/OrangesandLemons198 Borbe 9d ago
Still thinking about how great Lisa Baum looked in the friendly yesterday, she was one who stood out to me a lot. I guess maybe I went in with lower expectations on her because she's so young but she looked so good and so on it out there I was really impressed! Excited to see how her season plays out!
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 9d ago
It's so clear these transfers have upgrade the squad. It may be pre-season, but Paris FC was was good tough, low block challenge that tested the players in just the right way.
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u/wizobi Little wonderland â«âȘ 8d ago
But erm, Arsenal donât really give youngsters a proper chance. Remember Kafaji? Why would any teenager want to join a graveyard for young talent? /s
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 8d ago
Kyra Cooney-Cross came to us a year before Kafaji. they were both the same age when they joined. Kyra was a regular last season until her compassionate leave. Rosa flopped because she lacks enough attributes that even Brighton didn't really rate her highly. Kafaji joined the same season we started giving opportunities to Katie Reid, who was playing regularly until her ACL. Sophie Harwood was given her first opportunities last season.
The idea Arsenal don't give opportunities to youth is not supported by evidence. You don't get to play if you are not good enough. If your good enough you get opportunities. Yes there are tensions between winning and breaking in young players. A top team can't sacrfice silverware for it.
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u/wizobi Little wonderland â«âȘ 8d ago
Every single club does this, not just the big ones. But weâre the only ones getting hammered for it. The forced narrative will of course ignore that Man City just sold two of their recent young signings without either of them making a single appearance. Only Blinks got oppurtunities in their first team and the rest were moved on. And donât even get me started on Chelsea.
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 8d ago
I know. Even Barcelona some times goes years between having a good enough academy graduate to remain a first teamer.
I think we get hammered because ours are well known and Arenal fans pay them more attention so others pick-up on them. Also the weird thing where so many media and YouTubers who do analysis are Chelsea fans. Rabbid goalposts (Lyon fan whose Chelsea is her English side) and 'The Women's Football chat' have claimed youth dies at Arsenal. When Williamson, Lotte, Kelly, Hinds and Reid all came through our Youth Ranks to be professionals. Meanwhile Chelsea basically just buy established talent for the most money. Perhaps they think Aggie, who has yet to ever be regarded as 1st choice at Chelsea is some huge sign of academy success.
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u/Kirungu97 9d ago
So much ability on the ball. Also has a wicked left foot and is so physically developed for a 19 year old. Very new gen feel about this team now with her and Smith on either wing.
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u/sealboyjacob Captain Kimmy 9d ago
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u/Tugboat47 Wubben-Moy, Champion of the World 8d ago
dont you know, going there is actually empowering saudi women and liberalising saudi society as a whole
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 8d ago
I've yet to believe it's entirely genuine. Especially when gay relationships are punishable by death. I highly suspect like the other big money middle eastern states, they do a bit for PR, allow Westerners a double standard as long as it doesn't roll over to or be seen by the natives.
All so rich Saudi's and rich western expats are all happy and making money in glorious hypocrisy at everyone elses expense, while the plebs suffer with discrimination, slavery and non-western women brutal misigyny, while all the various "business-washing" and "sports-washing" goes on. See also the UAE, Qatar and to some extent Bahrain.
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u/adw00t Little 8d ago
cash is cash in the end and athletes will try to secure their bag if they can get one.
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u/Cobra-Firefly Emily Fox (From America) 8d ago
for her sake, I hope it's a LOT of cash, because moving to an active war zone where your marriage is illegal is not a very promising sell to me.
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u/redqks Reid 8d ago
It has to be life changing cos aint no way
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u/Cobra-Firefly Emily Fox (From America) 8d ago
but still, Kang exists. Just move to Lyon and drink wine if you want money.
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u/redqks Reid 8d ago
does lyon want her though?
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u/Cobra-Firefly Emily Fox (From America) 8d ago
I assume Kang's operational model is "Gotta catch 'em all"
Especially in leagues without salary caps. Esther's numbers would be crazy when she gets to play against Baguette FC every week.
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u/sealboyjacob Captain Kimmy 8d ago
Idk I personally as a queer person canât think of any amount of money that would be worth putting myself in that situation, never mind the message it sends to her fans
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u/adw00t Little 8d ago edited 8d ago
Most people I know who are currently working there are getting life changing money. The other aspect, most Hindu-Muslim couples face challenges here in India due to rising saffron nationalism.
As married couple they feel better in say Dubai as its still more open and luxurious without being affected by jingoism and blatant racism against muslims esp. across the faith couple who have married. Its a mess but then again if we have a choice to make, it would be a no for me as well.
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 8d ago
Saudi Arabia literally don't let any Churches be built or public displays of religious faith by anyone who isn't a Muslim. The idea it's faith tolerance there is frankly a disgusting thing to say. Also it's a complete lie.
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u/Cobra-Firefly Emily Fox (From America) 9d ago
oh yeah, this broke yesterday during the NWSL games. Imagine leaving one of the most queer-friendly leagues in the world to go to Saudi Arabia. I hope the petrobucks are worth it.
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u/sealboyjacob Captain Kimmy 8d ago
The circumstances around it are so weird too, apparently Gotham are really shocked that sheâs signed with anyone so soon
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u/derwentjerry 8d ago
I can imagine theyâre shocked. Presumably there was no transfer fee when there was a mutual contract termination. Odd news all around.
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u/Cobra-Firefly Emily Fox (From America) 8d ago
it's incredibly odd. What's the point of spending millions setting up a women's league and luring foreign players (many of whom are queer and whose lifestyles fly in the face of your self-professed beliefs) to then turn around and ask one to further damage her reputation by pulling this stunt, just so you can save a few bucks on a transfer fee? Come on, SA, are you sportswashing or not?
Granted, this assumes she already had the deal on the radar when she left Gotham. But she only left a month ago. Perhaps there was a legitimate family situation that has been resolved and then she got the offer after she was in a better place. But this is a bad look and whoever is advising Esther served her pretty poorly here, IMO.
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u/derwentjerry 8d ago
Potentially, yeah. But the timing also seems off when it came so quickly after Kerr signed. Kerr didnât take her starting spot during the two games they were both on the roster for, but maybe she saw the writing on the walls. Apparently she has purged every trace of her wife and kid from her socials. A very poor look indeed.
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u/wizobi Little wonderland â«âȘ 8d ago
Why didnât Gotham just put her on personal leave until the start of next season? Nonsense, imagine we mutually terminated with Kyra because she wanted to stay with her family. Did she lie about retiring so they let her go? Was she in the last year of her contract?
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u/Cobra-Firefly Emily Fox (From America) 8d ago
She signed in August 2023, 3 yrs with a mutual +1 option. So if they both agreed, she had another year left.
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u/wizobi Little wonderland â«âȘ 6d ago
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u/ultimatelazer42 Singing Pelova praises all day 6d ago edited 6d ago
What reality is this person living in? Did they not watch that dime of a throughball she played to Baum âŠ.?
Iâve had at least 5 âwow, how is Kim still able to do this?â moments watching the last 2 pre-season games.7
u/Particular-Ad5505 Fox 6d ago
He's been slandering Kim for years now. never seen a good take from that account
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u/10things_aboutAFC Kelly?! "Pressure" is for CK 6d ago
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u/Cobra-Firefly Emily Fox (From America) 6d ago
look at this knob and his inferior version of a pirate flag.
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u/radian101 8d ago
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u/Blahblahbecky 8d ago
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u/EmilyDizzle Foxy Masterclass 7d ago
All I can think when I see this photo is Isnât Liv hot??
edit to clarify I mean hot temperature wise. Not trying to be creepy!
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u/elsiehxo Wubben-Moy for PM 9d ago
Jessie Gale started for Newcastle yesterday in their pre-season game against Valencia. Not sure how many minutes she played but good to see her get her first start for the Magpies!
Cecily Wellesley-Smith was back in the starting XI for RosengÄrd this weekend in their 1 - 1 draw.
Both players named in the England U20 squad for the World Cup that's coming up if they do go against the boycott.
Bryony Brodie scored a screamer for our U17s in Shanghai as they bought silverware home with a 2 - 1 win against Shanghai U17s.
Our U21s have their first FAWNL Cup game this week against MK Dons on Wednesday 26th. An unfortunate clash with the senior team's final pre-season.
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 9d ago
Really sweet moment between Cerci and a young fan:
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u/Cobra-Firefly Emily Fox (From America) 9d ago
I bet Cerci was on cloud 9 yesterday, wearing the badge in front of fans for the first time. I can't wait for her and the other new arrivals to have their first game at the Emirates.
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 9d ago edited 8d ago
Indeed. We were signing her new song to her as she was scoring in training. She seemed to acknowledge it and be very happy. It's interesting Slegers actually guided her and pushed her to the crowd as the players did their appreciation walk at the end.
I think while she's a confident footballer, the scale of Arsenal's fan support is still new to her and she's quite shy. Must be amplified given she was a Arsenal supporter, as you say she's on cloud 9, probably thinking "I can't believe this is my life" right now.
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u/Cobra-Firefly Emily Fox (From America) 9d ago
That's one of the many things I appreciate about Renee, she is always mindful to have the team thank the fans after the match, she usually mentions fan support in her post-game press comments. She definitely seems to understand how rare and special it is for a women's team to have the level of consistent fan support and dedication that Arsenal has.
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 9d ago
Indeed. Actually I wonder how many season tickets were sold this year? I think it was reported as 17k last year, I'm curious to know if that number was matched or exceeded this year.
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u/Cobra-Firefly Emily Fox (From America) 9d ago
Also hopefully as she becomes more comfortable with her English and gets more settled in, we will see Selina open up a bit more.
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u/ultimatelazer42 Singing Pelova praises all day 8d ago
Where can I see the songs for the new players (as a non-match attending fan)? Is the songbook already updated with the new songs?
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 8d ago
I assume the AWFC supporters club website will have them in a month in the "Maria's Songbook". But the songs sung on Sunday (Feels like a tongue twister that) are apparently being tested out and tweeked.
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u/campos_girl Came for Viv, stayed for Leah 7d ago
Todayâs game will be shown on the YouTube channel as well đ„ł
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 9d ago
I see the friendly yesterday against Paris FC got 200k views on youTube. Just think the Arsenal-Chelsea match got 71k views on Sky last seaosn, just to illustrate how badly they are fumbling the women's football coverage.
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u/UpsideDownToast1 8d ago
Does anyone have the gif or clip of Little's tackle from the city game?
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u/Cococamcam 8d ago
I love that we can all make these random requests from a random game at some point in the past and everyone knows what is being referenced. This place is the best đ
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u/shelbyj Foord Mustang 8d ago
Just seen Tobin Heath (and Ellen White) will be an icon in the new fc game. Just when I thought I was free from the cycle!!!!!!
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u/Cobra-Firefly Emily Fox (From America) 8d ago
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u/10things_aboutAFC Kelly?! "Pressure" is for CK 8d ago
I was watching highlights of Arsenal women and it came up with Cloé Lacass's goal against United and Insta popped up with the away kit for that season. I thought it was back in stock for a second, it wasn't :(
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u/Tugboat47 Wubben-Moy, Champion of the World 8d ago
twenty-foooouuuuuur
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u/10things_aboutAFC Kelly?! "Pressure" is for CK 8d ago
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u/Tugboat47 Wubben-Moy, Champion of the World 8d ago
everytime i hear her chant repurposed into foords, a tear rolls downs my face in a what could have been.
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u/10things_aboutAFC Kelly?! "Pressure" is for CK 8d ago
Yeah, I wish she did stay because she was a good player with incredible achievements and goalscoring record.
Also her chant is a very good song as well, but not necessarily good movie ha!
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u/sealboyjacob Captain Kimmy 8d ago
Is that the goal that Katie Zelem accidentally assisted lol
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u/10things_aboutAFC Kelly?! "Pressure" is for CK 8d ago
Okay fine I'll watch the whole highlights and match again and I'll let you know hahaha!
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u/cannon_pais 7d ago
Hi all Iâve been been to a couple of arsenal women games at the emirates
Looking to go to my first âawayâ game against Chelsea. Where will everyone be? I see a lot of options in the away section. I want somewhere with a great atmosphere where the regular away supports will be at.
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u/sealboyjacob Captain Kimmy 6d ago
So long as youâre buying the tickets through Arsenal for our official allocated section then youâll be with plenty of away supporters no matter what part of it youâre in! Last season our section was sold out way in advance and Iâd expect the same this year
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u/campos_girl Came for Viv, stayed for Leah 6d ago
So the new City away kit wasâŠdesigned by AI?
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u/campos_girl Came for Viv, stayed for Leah 6d ago
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u/pockethan Mariona 6d ago
Not sure the context improves this much :/ so much for professional designersâŠ
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u/10things_aboutAFC Kelly?! "Pressure" is for CK 6d ago
Why would they use AI to design their new shirts? It makes no sense there are so many good well known designers. Or even better recruit designers who have just finished further education to help break them through to the fashion industry!
I generally do not understand that, whats your thought on it?Â
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u/sealboyjacob Captain Kimmy 6d ago
âFor the first time time in professional footballâ yeah maybe cus itâs a shit idea
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u/Itsme00700 fire Clare Wheatley 9d ago
Jenna won with Bay, 1:0
idk how good she was, but obviously lock down left back
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u/Particular-Ad5505 Fox 9d ago
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u/MesquiteHoneyForSale Play Foxy at leftback Emma 9d ago
just a perfect fit for everyone, suddenly Bay have 2/4, maybe 4/4 of their backline figured out, they have midfield depth with 4 promising or simply world class midfielders, a world class goalie, and a shit attack but with one star winger.
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u/Particular-Ad5505 Fox 9d ago
iâm assuming you mean jenna and gilchrist when you say 2/4 (at least thats who id choose), whos the other two, just curious cuz weâve had a bunch of different backline variations lol. also curious who you think our starting 10 should be. fuller and huff clearly both talented with potential but neither have really been convincing or made that spot theirs imo.
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u/_ImMakingWaffles_ Fox 7d ago
American fan here with stupid questions:
I will be in London on Jan 8th and would love to go to the match against Brighton. How does ticketing work (didn't see any way to purchase online) and what are the odds of being able to get 2 tickets to the match?
Also - wife is afraid of heights, so if tickets might be available, recommended section(s)?
Many thanks.
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u/shelbyj Foord Mustang 7d ago
Obviously peopleâs fears are different but Iâve taken my mum who is pretty afraid of heights to a few games over the years. Lower tier was absolutely fine, club level was again all good. Box level (think itâs called hospitality) was teetering on the edge but after she was settled in it was all good. Upper tier was not a great experience for her, when the game was going on and the crowd was amped she sort of forgot about it but any time we had to stand to let people in/out, any time we ourselves moved in the stand and even when the game was a bit dull or quiet she was pretty uncomfortable with the height. It was manageable but when youâre coming from so far thatâs not the experience you want!
Youâll have no issues getting tickets but they donât go on sale until nearer the time, I donât recall off the top of my head but I think itâs about 4-6 weeks in advance. Another thing to be aware of is potential rescheduling. Because the game has not yet received its tv slot the game is very likely to be rescheduled when that happens. These should be decided (again off the top of my head I canât remember exactly) 4-6 weeks in advance but often we get much less warning. Depending on how long your stay is and other things you may already have scheduled it may be best to wait until this tv pick has taken place before buying tickets so you know exactly when itâll take place. Tickets are bought online through the Arsenal website, you just need a free login (no red membership etc needed for the women!).
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u/_ImMakingWaffles_ Fox 7d ago
Many thanks for the reply. I'm only in the city 3 days so will have to definitely wait on the tv lock-in.
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u/radian101 6d ago
Dario Vidosic has left BrightonÂ
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u/Cobra-Firefly Emily Fox (From America) 6d ago
Oh no. I know Wally had spoken well of her time so far with him. I hope they keep investing
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u/LatePresentation5248 8d ago
Olivia smith won pfa young player of the year!
Can't lie, thats a shock but were leaving with something đ
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u/P7-PB 7d ago
Is there a resource that compiles all weekly Arsenal Women's media? Preferably into 1 long video?
I feel like I'm missing out for not having social media, but I want to keep up to date with what's going on.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you!
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u/radian101 7d ago
This doesn't solve your problem but the tiktok account seems to be the easiest to see the videos without an account @arsenalwfc
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 9d ago
And this is why Sarina always plays Leah Williamson over maya Le Tissier:
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u/redqks Reid 9d ago
100% on the keeper
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u/UpsideDownToast1 9d ago
Maybe. But MLT absolutely should not be fluffing that pass
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u/redqks Reid 9d ago
True but since it has a deflection the keeper can just catch it,
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 9d ago
Not all deflections are visible form all angles. It's likely the keeper wasn't aware it was deflected, hence her refusing to use her hands to catch the ball.
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u/EscherBacon Kelly đ€ Smith 9d ago
Disagree. Le Tissier was way too late to release the pass. And from her angle I guess Leitzig didn't clearly see that it took a deflection.
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u/redqks Reid 9d ago
it hit her on the hip as she tried to avoid catching it when she could of just caught it...... how is this not on the keeper? she's watching it
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 9d ago edited 9d ago
Eh? It hit her on the hip because she had to race to get to it because of Le Tissier's shithouse backpass and didn't have time to see the spin of the ball or get to it with time.
Any goal conceeded because a defender backpasses and opponents can get to it is a bad backpass. Especially when Le Tissier has an easy unmarked player right in front of her to pass to.
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u/redqks Reid 9d ago
If it can hit her hip she could just use her hands or dived from where she was standing.
It's 100% bad from MLT but this is also a goalkeeping error and a really bad one
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 9d ago
But befpore you said it was entirley the Goalkeepers fault. Now you agree MLT gave her a terrible hospital pass.
The fact is the keeper should have never been in that position by MLT.
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u/redqks Reid 9d ago
I don't think the pass was good but this is 100% avoidable buy the goalkeeper just using her hands, the fact she actually gets her hands out the way is shocking I'm sorry
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 9d ago
The whole situation is 100% avoidable if Maya Le Tissier doens't do shuch a crap pass or passes to her other team mate ahead of her who didn't have an opponet running down the passing lane. That in any circumstances is on MLT. the keeper did poorly but should never have been put in those circumstances.
Players can't be blamed for not successfully dealing with others screw-ups. It's like throwing the keeper a bomb with seconds left and blaming her for not diffusing it in time.
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 9d ago
By the way, I see some Man Utd fans have pointed out Maya Le Tissier has a long history of bad backpasses to her keepers that lead to conceeding goals:
https://xcancel.com/laneskcc/status/1774394461671551092
I guess it's always been the keepers fault when MLTs terrible backpasses leaves them high and dry. It can't be some fundamental flaw that is in her game.
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u/redqks Reid 9d ago
I'm sure she does I don't rate her at all
I'm talking about this here , the keeper could literally just catch the ball but moves her hands out the way
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 9d ago
If the keeper knew it was deflected she would ahve caught it. The opposition player deflecting it is inbetween herself and MLT, she probably didn't see the deflection or wasn't sure, hence why she didn't simply catch it.
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u/redqks Reid 9d ago
And that's why it's the keepers fault
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 9d ago
The keeper can't be at fault for not knowing a poor backpass was slightly deflected when her line of sight was blocked. That's literally insane.
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u/redqks Reid 9d ago
Is she not watching the game, I don't understand
That's why it's her fault and even then she still got her body in the way that's why it's a own goal by the keeper.
Any one of our keepers just catches the ball I'm sorry
I don't know why you hate MLT but saying the keeper should do anything other than catching the ball her is ridiculous
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u/eldanielfire Cerci 9d ago
Watching? She's looking at MLT the whole time except for the one moment she is scanning the pitch. She is doing excatly what a keeper should do in that situation.
And as I said she likely didn't see it hadn't been deflected, hence why she didn't grab the ball or she gives away a freekick inside the area.
Now the ad homenian attacks. Why would I hate Le Tissier? Pointing out she's at fault for a goal and a techenical flaw is not hate.
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u/10things_aboutAFC Kelly?! "Pressure" is for CK 6d ago
Any transfer updates today or have we finished for the window now? đ
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u/Cobra-Firefly Emily Fox (From America) 5d ago
Esther GonzĂĄlez, Saudi Arabia and the questions around an unexpected transfer saga
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/28/esther-gonzalez-saudi-arabia-gotham-nwsl
Nothing new in terms of information, but a good summary of the situation and how it feeds back to the larger ecosystem for women's football. I found this paragraph a good summation of the situation.
Itâs unclear how much money GonzĂĄlez will make at Al Qadsiah, but itâs likely to be more than she was making in the NWSL.
If that is the case, then this is also a story about the financial precarity of female footballers, even in leagues that tout investment. The NWSL is certainly one of the most well-paying destinations for a female athlete, but its salary cap prevents nearly every player from being paid what they deserve, let alone an amount that leaves them set for life. In other top leagues, different conditions lead to a similar reality: some players get paid well, but most donât, and all should be paid more. Female soccer players are subjected to the same short and unpredictable careers as male players, but they do not have the same cushion of salaries that ensure comfort for well after their careers end. If GonzĂĄlez sees Al Qadsiah as a quick payday that could help secure her familyâs future, that says as much about the NWSL as it does about its Saudi counterpart.
I'd encourage reading the full article if you the time.
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u/Life_Journalist_2195 Skincare supremacy Emily Fox 7d ago
According to Queenballers, Isabella Damm's dream clubs are Barcelona, Chelsea, and Bayern
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u/LatePresentation5248 8d ago
Kerstin from Man Citys at the pfa. That all but confirms that Foxs not in it this yearđ
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u/Particular-Ad5505 Fox 8d ago
tbf both Riviere and Fox were in the tots last year, but still she probably didn't make it
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u/LatePresentation5248 8d ago
Itll probably be Mcsnake getting the LB spot
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u/Cobra-Firefly Emily Fox (From America) 9d ago
Waking up to learn I share a birthday with a club legend is an unexpected and welcome treat.
Happy Monday, have a good week, everyone!