With Champions League now guaranteed for the time since 2013/14, it is time to look at potential reinforcements and the positions they might be needed.

Vivianne Miedema
Vivianne Miedema

The club will be involved in four competitions next season and players will also come back tired from the World Cup so squad rotation will be needed.

1Goalkeepers

France's goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (C) is stretched out due to an injury during the FIFA international friendly football match between France and Japan at the Abbe-Deschamps Stadium in Auxerre, on April 4, 2019. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
France’s goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (C) is stretched out due to an injury during the FIFA international friendly football match between France and Japan at the Abbe-Deschamps Stadium in Auxerre, on April 4, 2019. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, Sari Van Veenendaal

It will be interesting to see if the Dutch keeper will be happy to play second fiddle for another season, as she has become the second choice behind the Frenchwoman.

It looks like it has cost her the starting place with the National team as well so we can wonder if she will want to stay.

2Right-back

BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 13: Lisa Evans of Arsenal Women tackles with Ji So Yun of Chelsea Women during the FA WSL match between Arsenal Women and Chelsea Women at Meadow Park on January 13, 2019 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND – JANUARY 13: Lisa Evans of Arsenal Women tackles with Ji So Yun of Chelsea Women during the FA WSL match between Arsenal Women and Chelsea Women at Meadow Park on January 13, 2019 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)

Lisa Evans

Lisa Evans is obviously the first choice and her cover, Jessica Samuelsson, has gone back to Sweden.

Tabea Kemme could be her cover/compete for the place next season as she can play on both sides of the defence as well as in attack.

3Left-back

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: Danielle Van De Donk celebrates with Emma Mitchell after scoring her sides first goal during the Women's Super League 1 match between Arsenal and Bristol City at Meadow Park, Boreham Wood on October 8, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 08: Danielle Van De Donk celebrates with Emma Mitchell after scoring her sides first goal during the Women’s Super League 1 match between Arsenal and Bristol City at Meadow Park, Boreham Wood on October 8, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Emma Mitchell, Katrine Veje, Tabea Kemme

Due to injuries, Katie McCabe played in that position during the season but with three players vying for one place, there is no real need for recruitment here.

4Centre-backs

BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND, 13th January 2019: Leah Williamson of Arsenal thanking the fans postgame during the FA Women's Super league football match between Arsenal Women and Chelsea Women at Meadow Park on January 13th in Borehamwood, England. (DP)
BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND, 13th January 2019: Leah Williamson of Arsenal thanking the fans postgame
during the FA Women’s Super league football match between Arsenal Women and Chelsea Women at Meadow Park on January 13th in Borehamwood, England. (DP)

Leah Williamson, Louise Quinn, Janni Arnth

Would a fourth centre-back be needed? Yes, if the club wants to double up in every position to avoid the injury problems witnessed this season.

Alternatively, getting an Academy player to grow and be that fourth player would make sense.

5Defensive midfielders

BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Lia Walti of Arsenal warms up prior to the WSL match between Arsenal Women and Birmingham Ladies at Meadow Park on November 4, 2018 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)
BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 04: Lia Walti of Arsenal warms up prior to the WSL match between Arsenal Women and Birmingham Ladies at Meadow Park on November 4, 2018 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)

Lia Walti, Victoria Schnaderbeck

We still don’t know about our Austrian midfielder/defender.

As a back-up to Wälti, she is valuable. Bloodworth can also play in that position if needed.

It would be nice for Vicki get a full season with the club to see how good she is.

6Central midfielders

BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 07: Jordan Nobbs presents on BT Sport during the FA WSL Cup match between Arsenal Women and Manchester United Women at Meadow Park on February 07, 2019 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 07: Jordan Nobbs presents on BT Sport during the FA WSL Cup match between Arsenal Women and Manchester United Women at Meadow Park on February 07, 2019 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Jordan Nobbs, Dominique Bloodworth

Jordan is obviously the first choice there and once she is back from her ACL, she will go straight into the starting 11.

7Attacking midfielders

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 23: Leah Williamson and Kim Little of Arsenal look dejected following the FA Women's Continental League Cup Final between Arsenal and Manchester City Women at Bramall Lane on February 23, 2019 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 23: Leah Williamson and Kim Little of Arsenal look dejected following the FA Women’s Continental League Cup Final between Arsenal and Manchester City Women at Bramall Lane on February 23, 2019 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Kim Little, Danielle Van De Donk

Kim is first choice while Danielle has been superb this season.

It will be interesting to see next season where Joe can fit Danielle, Kim and Jordan alongside Lia.

8Wingers

BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Beth Mead of Arsenal looks on during the The Football Association Women's Super League match between Arsenal Women and Bristol City Women at Meadow Park on March 14, 2019 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)
BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND – MARCH 14: Beth Mead of Arsenal looks on during the The Football Association Women’s Super League match between Arsenal Women and Bristol City Women at Meadow Park on March 14, 2019 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)

Beth Mead, Katie McCabe, Danielle Carter

All three wingers should rotate next season with Veje also able to play on the wing.

9Centre forward

KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal shoots and scores her team's second goal during the FA WSL match between Chelsea Women and Arsenal at The Cherry Red Records Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Kingston upon Thames, England. (Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images)
KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 14: Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal shoots and scores her team’s second goal during the FA WSL match between Chelsea Women and Arsenal at The Cherry Red Records Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Kingston upon Thames, England. (Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images)

Anna Miedema

Interestingly there was no real back-up this season for Miedema this season. Mead and Carter still played as wingers while she was off the pitch and the team played with a false 9 like McCabe at times.

To be fair, who would like to be the understudy of a goalscoring machine who is guaranteed to start every game when she is fit?

10Verdict

So, adding a new player per line would make sense: one goalie, should Sari decide to leave, one defender to add depth to the squad, one defensive midfielder and one versatile forward to add more competition for the front four.

The alternative would be giving playing time to our Academy players who have done really well this season, integrating them fully to the first team.

You would not expect the team to suffer as many injuries as this season. Therefore, having one extra player to make a 20-player-squad plus four or five youngsters would make sense.