As the transfer window was closing, Arsenal Women decided to let two youngsters, who came through the ranks, join Everton Ladies.

It was not a surprise to see Chloe Kelly make her loan move permanent, but Taylor Hinds’ departure was certainly not expected considering her potential.

This again shows that the club struggle to retain home-grown players, or, more likely, does not rate them as good enough to make it to the big time – unless they are exceptional like Leah Williamson.

Jade Bailey, Carla Humphrey and Rianna Dean are typical examples of high potential players who were also let go.

Chloe Kelly went on loan for a second time at Everton and it is obvious she is enjoying getting playing time there. With her partner also based in Liverpool it makes sense for her to stay at Everton.

There is also no doubt that there are many available attacking options at Arsenal and with such a big squad, it would have been hard for her to get regular playing time at the end of her loan spell.

Taylor Hinds departure is really surprising, though.

We knew there were too many left footed players at the club and previously reported that Katie McCabe was set to join Liverpool. We aren’t in the habit of reporting gossip as ‘done’ without good reason (in this case, confirmed by two sources). That moved obviously collapsed for some reason and Liverpool signed Watford Ladies and England u20 left winger, Rinsola Babajide instead.

There is no doubt that Hinds was not getting enough playing time this season with the first team. She would have been warned by the England coaching staff that her place in the England u20 World Cup squad would be in peril if the same pattern repeated itself in the second half of the season.

This problem was highlighted last season when Rianna Dean missed out on a place in the u19 Euros in Northern Ireland as she got no first team game time at all, despite scoring bucket loads with the Development team.

There is so much competition on the left-side of the team at left-back and left-wing that it was very unlikely to see her get a run in the team unless Arsenal picked up a number of injuries.

It totally makes sense for her to go and get playing time at Everton, even though it is a big loss for Arsenal.

The lack of playing time was certainly not helping Taylor at an age when players need to play to carry on developing and improving. Training is definitely not enough, so the move makes sense and hopefully she will be a regular in Everton’s starting 11.

From a fan point of view, it is really disappointing to see 19-and-20-year-olds, who have been playing for the club for many years, move away and not be offered a real chance to make it at Arsenal.