No other Arsenal player can boast a record like Carla Humphrey's this season. Every time she has started for the Gunners, she has scored and Arsenal have won.
This is nothing new for the 18-year-old, though. Humphrey scored a hat-trick in the 2012/13 FA Youth Cup final before ending the following campaign as top scorer in the FA WSL Development League, helping Arsenal win another double.
A Rushden & Diamonds Centre of Excellence graduate, Humphrey was only 16 when she scored on her first-team debut, and the teenager has started this season in similarly clinical fashion with goals against Millwall Lionesses and Bristol Academy.
Carla Humphrey opened the scoring
“I couldn’t wish for a better start,” Humphrey told Arsenal.com. “To get given the opportunity to start for the first team after working so hard in training is a reward in itself but to get a goal - you can’t ask for anything more.
“I was playing on the wing for the development team, sometimes centrally but mainly on the wing. You could say that I’m a goalscoring midfielder but I think I’m also good at quick combination play.”
One of the players who has benefited from Humphrey’s inclusion is Danielle Carter. The duo played a part in five goals during Arsenal’s seven-goal thrashing of Millwall, before Carter set up the teenager to open the scoring on Wednesday.
“We have a really good understanding with each other,” Humphrey said. “We’ve practised our combination play in training and movement off each other so we just try to get into the box at the right time.
Carla Humphrey celebrates with Danielle Carter
“You feel more comfortable because everyone gets on really well and we’re really close as a team. When you see youngsters coming through it pushes everyone on to keep working hard.
“I also love playing alongside Alex Scott because she talks to me throughout the whole game, makes me feel more comfortable and we have a good understanding. It’s really easy to play alongside her.
“We want to win the league,” Humphrey added. “We wanted to win everything at the start of the season but we’re out of the FA Cup now, so we’re going to do everything we can to push on and win the Women’s Super League.”
Arsenal Ladies face Manchester City at the Academy Stadium on Sunday. Kick-off is at 4pm and you can follow the game on @ArsenalLadies from 3.55pm.
Carla Humphrey with the Youth Cup in 2013
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