One player in (Little) and three out (Losada, Natalia and Corredera) already, we are looking at a busy transfer window for the Arsenal Ladies.
In fact, we are looking at two transfer windows before the 2017/18 season starts in September 2017.
Things will get interesting very soon because the three-month-long window, January to March, and the month-long one, in June, could be reversed by the FA.
Now that the FA WSL is moving to a winter schedule, it should align its window with the men’s ones. If you consider that many contracts will expire in November, there are going to be a lot of free agents around this winter.
So where are Arsenal now in term of squad size? Let’s have a look position by position.
Goalkeeper
Sari Van Vaneendaa,l the number one, and veteran Emma Byrne as back-up
Right back
Alex Scott, no specialist back-up
Left back
Emma Mitchell, no specialist back-up
Center back
Casey Stoney, Josephine Henning, Jemma Rose and Vyan Sampson
Right winger
None
Left winger
Katie McCabe and veteran Rachel Yankey
Defensive midfielder
Dominique Janssen and veteran Fara Williams
Central midfielder
Jordan Nobbs and Leah Williamson
Attacking midfielder
Kim Little, veteran Kelly Smith, Charlotte Devlin, Carla Humphrey (on loan)
Centre forward
Jodie Taylor, Danielle Carter, Danielle Van De Donk, Asisat Oshoala, Chloe Kelly
Some positions are short stacked and players end up playing out of position on a regular basis. For example, Corredera was the only specialist right-winger after Davison left at the end of the 2013 season, and we ended up with playing Carter or Oshoala there. With the Spanish winger gone, someone should get signed in that position.
It is important to note that the coach has to get the balance right.
In 2015, the team was decimated by the post-World Cup injuries and fell short in the title race. In 2016, the squad was too big, was rotated too often and out of the title race by matchday 3.
2017 has to be the year when the team properly challenges for the title and a Champions League place.