Ludlow looks forward to ‘new era’ for Ladies

By Declan Taylor
 
Jayne Ludlow will sorely miss the recently-departed Arsenal Ladies stars but is excited by the “new era” underway at the Club.
 
Ludlow skippered Vic Akers’ side to their first silverware of the season last week with an explosive 5-0 victory against Doncaster Rovers Belles at Glanford Park.
 
Of course the evening was punctuated by the departures of Kelly Smith and Alex Scott, who along with the already departed Karen Carney, will join the Women’s Professional Soccer league in the States that kicks off in April.
 
However, the Welsh midfielder has been impressed with the burgeoning talent on show among Arsenal’s young Ladies and is ready to fight for her place in the new-look Gunners’ engine room.
 
“We’re talking about three of the best players in the country so any team who says they wouldn’t miss them are lying,” she told Arsenal.com. “We still have a great team spirit and some good youngsters so we’re looking forward to a new era in a way.

“We’re friends as well team mates and I think people will be missed on a personal level as well as a playing one because the girls who are leaving us have been around for longer than a decade I think.

“It is a bit of a new era coming. It’s not in anyway daunting for us and I think it’s quite exciting for the youngsters coming through. There are places up for grabs and it’s interesting to see which girls come to the fore and perform.
 
“We’ve got a lot of good midfielders coming through which puts a bit of pressure on me but it’s exciting at the same time. There are different types of players and technically these days the girls are much better.

“People will start hearing new names and hopefully their talent will be appreciated. I have every confidence they can help us push on for titles and cups.”

[Wednesday, March 04, 2009]

• Match Schedule
• Listen LIVE!

• 
• 
• 

• Malaysia XI v Arsenal

• Pre-season Friendly, Bukit Jalil Stadium

• Tuesday, July 24, 2012 4:45 PM (ET)

• Watch on: