Feature

Arsenal Ladies: Season so far

Arsenal Ladies head into the World Cup break in second place and unbeaten in the Women’s Super League.

Despite an FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Chelsea, it has been a positive opening to the season for Pedro Martinez Losa’s side. Here we take a look at the Gunners’ first eight games of 2015.

Millwall 0-7 Arsenal
Sunday, March 22
FA Women’s Cup
Having gone unbeaten in pre-season, Arsenal approached their FA Women’s Cup opener with a new-look squad containing winter signings Jemma Rose, Natalia Pablos Sanchon and Vicky Losada. There was also a welcome return for Lianne Sanderson, back home after a seven-year absence, in Pedro Martinez Losa’s first game in the competition. Danielle Carter scored a hat-trick while Natalia, Sanderson and Carla Humphrey all struck on their debuts as the Gunners cruised into the quarter-finals.

 

14/15 Ladies: Millwall Lionesses 0-7 Arsenal

 

Notts County 1-1 Arsenal
Thursday, April 2
Women’s Super League
Losa’s side would face a more difficult task in their first WSL game, against a Notts County team containing a host of England internationals. Former Arsenal striker White proved to be the thorn in their side throughout, and smashed in a clever free-kick before sending a penalty wide. The Gunners looked to be heading towards a disappointing defeat before Chioma Ubogagu salvaged a point with an 86th-minute debut strike on her debut.

 

Chioma Ubogagu celebrates with Jordan Nobbs

 

Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea
Sunday, April 12
FA Women’s Cup
Arsenal’s defence of the FA Women’s Cup came to a frustrating end in the quarter-finals. The Gunners struggled to play with their usual fluency against Emma Hayes’ physical side. Emma Mitchell scored an early goal-of-the-season contender from 30 yards but even her moment of magic could not help Arsenal turn around the two-goal lead that former team-mates Katie Chapman and Gemma Davison had given the visitors.

 

Kelly Smith

Kelly Smith

 

Arsenal 2-0 Bristol Academy
Wednesday, April 15
Women’s Super League
Just three days after their cup exit, the Gunners had the chance to bounce back against the league’s bottom side at Meadow Park. Eighteen-year-old Humphrey was rewarded with her first league start of the season and she repaid Losa’s faith by sweeping in from close range to open the scoring. Vicky Losada then claimed her first Arsenal goal, volleying into the top corner to secure the Gunners’ first WSL win of the season.

 

Vicky Losada scores

 

Manchester City 0-1 Arsenal
Sunday, April 19
Women’s Super League
In their third game in seven days, Arsenal were handed their biggest league test against Manchester City at their new Academy Stadium. It was the Gunners’ first chance to get revenge for last season’s Continental Cup final defeat and Losa’s side did not disappoint. Despite Jordan Nobbs and Casey Stoney missing out, Arsenal’s new signings rose to the occasion and Ubogagu capped her first start with the winner as the Gunners established themselves as Chelsea’s main title contenders.

 

Chioma Ubogagu scores the winner

 

Arsenal 4-1 Sunderland
Sunday, April 26
Women’s Super League
Full of momentum after that impressive win, Arsenal welcomed the league's newest side Sunderland to Meadow Park. The Black Cats had already beaten Liverpool on the opening day of the season and were on course for another memorable result when Beth Mead cancelled out Natalia’s early strike. However, Natalia scored again from the spot before Humphrey and Danielle Carter secured the win on a bittersweet afternoon for the Gunners, after Kelly Smith hobbled off with a bad injury,

 

Natalia Pablos Sanchon

 

Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
Thursday, April 30
Women’s Super League
After struggling to cope with Chelsea’s physicality in the FA Women’s Cup defeat, Losa adopted a different approach for this clash. Arsenal took the game to the hosts, not allowing PFA Women’s Player of the Year Ji So Yun any space to pick a pass. The Gunners did enough to win the game, with Ubogagu forcing Hedvig Lindahl into a fine save, and would have been disappointed not to return to north London with three points. But Losa was pleased with the statement his side had made.

 

Vicky Losada

 

Bristol Academy 1-1 Arsenal
Saturday, May 9
Women’s Super League
Arsenal’s final game before the World Cup break and a first return to Stoke Gifford Stadium for winter signings Natalia and Rose. Ubogagu gave the Gunners an early lead against the league’s bottom side but Nikki Watts equalised with 20 minutes left, before the Gunners held off a late onslaught to maintain their unbeaten league run.

 

Chioma Ubogagu

Chioma Ubogagu