Our women's team is the most successful in English history - and that played a key role in tempting Heather O'Reilly to the club.
The three-time Olympic champion and World Cup winner signed on Wednesday in a move that sees her venture away from her native America for the first time.
"I’m thrilled to be here," O'Reilly told Arsenal Player. "This is an amazing, amazing club with a history of winning, of doing things the right way, of excellence. So I’m really happy to be here and everybody’s been really welcoming and I am excited to be a Gunner.
"I think in evaluating places that I wanted to be and to play and to spend my time, certainly I wanted to play at the best. Arsenal has proven itself for decades of being a club that has a rich history, that has a tradition of winning.
"I know a lot of players on the women’s side, such as Kelly Smith, that have been here for a long time and I know they have enjoyed their experience with Arsenal. I knew that its reputation was strong and it was a place that I wanted to come and continue my career."
O'Reilly's attention has now firmly turned to the season ahead, with the FA Cup proving of particular interest to the American, who has been capped 231 times.
"I’m really looking forward to the Spring Series," O'Reilly added. "I think that it’ll be a good experience for me to be able to see each team in the league for one game and of course I can’t wait for the FA Cup to kick off.
"We have a title to regain. So I’m looking forward to that and it’ll just be great for me to see the talent that’s in the league, to see the level, to experience every team in the league in a competitive match will be great."
Heather at Arsenal Training Centre
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