Arsenal Women History

The 2022/23 season marks the 35th anniversary of women’s football at Arsenal – and what a 35 years it’s been.

We were founded in 1987 by Vic Akers, who during a 22-year stint as manager led us to a stunning 33 major trophies and revolutionised the women’s game in this country.

We won our first trophy – the Premier League Cup – in 1992, and followed that up by winning a domestic treble the following season. 

Akers’ total haul included three domestic trebles, 12 Premier League titles, 10 FA Cups and 10 League Cups. There was also a historic campaign a decade ago in which we won an unprecedented quadruple, becoming the first – and so far only – British team to claim the UEFA Women’s Cup (before it was rebranded as the Women’s Champions League).

That was a truly unique season. We won all 22 of our league games, scoring 119 goals and conceding just ten, swept all before us in the cups and were crowned European champions after beating Swedish side Umea 1-0 in a two-legged final. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, we actually won another two trophies that season: the now-defunct Community Shield and London County FA Women’s Cup.

That historic campaign came in the middle of a spell of unprecedented success during which we won nine consecutive league titles. And although we haven’t won the league since 2012, we had until 2017 won a trophy every season since 2003. 

We did manage an unbeaten Spring Series campaign to finish third, one point behind champions Chelsea and Manchester City, and but for Liverpool’s late equaliser in a thrilling 4-4 draw would have taken the title. Even better, we have the Continental Cup back in the trophy cabinet after beating Manchester City 1-0 in the 2018 final.

The current squad is an exciting blend of youth and experience, featuring 8 different nationalities and young stars who have come through the ranks here.

On top of that we traditionally dominate the English game at youth level, and also have an FA WSL Development Squad and sides at U17, U15, U13, U11 and U9 levels.

Arsenal Women Information

INTERNATIONAL HONOURS

England

Jordan Nobbs

Beth Mead

Leah Williamson

Nikita Parris

Lotte Wubben-Moy

Republic of Ireland

Katie McCabe

Scotland

Kim Little

Jennifer Beattie

Netherlands

Vivianne Miedema

Austria

Manuela Zinzberger

Laura Wienroither

Japan

Mana Iwabuchi

Switzerland

Lia Walti

Noelle Maritz

Australia

Caitlin Foord

Steph Catley

Lydia Williams

Brazil 

Rafaelle Souza

Norway

Frida Maanum

Denmark

Simone Boye

Sweden

Stina Blackstenius

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