Following her release from Olympique Lyonnais, German centre-back Josephine Henning has returned to the Arsenal to bolster the injury-plagued backline.

She said to Arsenal.com following the move: “I’m very happy to be back at Arsenal. I have unfinished business here and I can’t wait to get started. As ever, we want to win trophies here and I’m going to work hard to help the club reach those goals.”

The fact that she is returning after a six-months hiatus is certainly puzzling and almost looks like she went on a  short-term loan with Olympique Lyonnais to win the treble – Champions League, French League and French Cup – before returning.

She had very limited playing time with OL, however, as they had many defensive options, while Kadeisha Buchanan also signed during the same transfer window. The theory making the rounds at the time of her move to Olympique Lyonnais in January is that she was part of a package containing Dzsenifer Marozsán, I believe.

It seems the German playmaker and the Arsenal defender are working with the same agent. Olympique Lyonnais gazumped Paris Saint-Germain last summer for the signing of the talented attacking-midfielder and I think there may have been some kind of agreement to sign Henning for six months.

With Lyon risking to lose Wendie Renard on a free this summer, it also looked liked a good idea to have someone ready who could cover for her.

In the end, Henning coming back is a good news as she brings experience and leadership in a defence that will be very different from the one we saw in the Spring Series.

Manager Pedro Martinez Losa said: “Josy is a true professional both on and off the pitch. She is an incredibly intelligent player who reads the game with precision. She brings so much to the squad and we are all delighted to have been able to bring her back to our club.”

Instead of Scott, Patten, Wubben-Moy and Janssen/Quinn, manager Pedro Losa could have the following back four: Samuelsson, Henning, Rose, Janssen /Quinn/ Mitchell. I believe there could be more signings in defence as the club are reportedly trying to bring in Maria Thorisdottir, the Norwegian centre-back from Klepp.