Carrying on our pre-season preview, we take a look at the Arsenal Ladies defenders

2. Alex Scott

The only specialist right-back in the squad, Alex is an experienced player who has been at the club for many season in three spells. She has probably lost a bit of pace but still brings a lot defensively and offensively.

3. Emma Mitchell

She missed a lot of the 2015 season and is the only left-footed specialist left-back. Hopefully she can stay injury free and have a consistent season as competition will come soon from the Development team left-back and the u17 left-back, maybe as soon as July when those teams finish their season.

5. Casey Stoney

The experienced centre-back was a first choice last season bringing all her knowledge and expertise to the team as well as her leadership. With three senior players vying for two places at centre-back, it will be interesting to see who will get the nod on regular basis or if Pedro Losa will rotate the three players throughout the season.

12. Vyan Sampson

The 20-year-old centre-back missed most of the 2015 season due to injury and played a few games towards the end of the season. She is likely to be fourth choice at centre-back at the start of the season.

19.Jemma Rose

She was recently capped at Senior level by England and it might be a big season for her as there is a lot of competition for her position in the squad. All the centre-backs will have to be on their toes and do well in training and in games to get the shirt. A strong one-v-one defender, she’s also an excellent header of the ball.

22. Josephine Henning

The newest signing (so far) is a world class centre-back with an honour list as big as you’d like. She is an experienced player at 26 and will certainly be one of the first names on the teamsheet. The big question is who will partner her from Rose, Stoney or the youngster Sampson?

Overall there are six defenders in the squad with two specialist full-backs and four centre-backs.

There is a lot of quality in the squad.

It is very interesting to note that one winger will be a back-up for both full-back positions and that there are two midfielders who can back-up the four defenders position’s if called upon, they were last season.