Arsenal Women are 13 days away from starting the 2022/23 season and the summer transfer window has been really quiet on the signings side.

This mainly due to the winter window being quite busy last January.

Let’s have a look at how the squad is shaping up.

• Goalkeeper (2): Manuela Zinsberger, Kaylan Marchese
• Defenders (9): Rafaelle Souza, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Jennifer Beattie, Leah Williamson, Stephanie Catley, Noëlle Maritz, Teyah Goldie, Katie McCabe, Laura Wienroither
• Midfielders (6): Jordan Nobbs, Kim Little, Frida Maanum, Lia Walti, Mana Iwabuchi, Vivianne Miedema
• Forwards(4): Beth Mead, Caitlin Foord, Stina Blackstenius, Lina Hurtig
• On loan (2): Anna Patten, Fran Stenson

A quick look shows that we are ok in terms of defenders.

Teyah Goldie is not fit due to a long term injury, but all positions are doubled and therefore there is no need for an extra defender.

In midfield, there is a need for an extra defensive midfielder, a number 6 to help Lia Wälti.

Rotating in the double pivot alongside Kim Little, we could use a number 8, either Jordan Nobbs or Frida Maanuum. That option was not used very often in the second half of the season, when Vivianne Miedema went from the number 9 to number 10.

Jonas Eidevall used the double pivot rather than the 6-8-10 combination he used earlier in the season and it resulted in Nobbs and Maanum getting limited game time post January.

To be fair, he found the right balance with a midfield three of Wälti, Little and Miedema, so why change a winning formula?

In attack, we have four forwards.

They can all play in the three positions, although I think having a second attacking forwards on the bench would be great. Last season has shown us that a fifth forward would get a limited game time as seen with Nikita Parris, who ended up leaving to play for United. Finding a player happy to sit on the bench and getting the occasional start is not easy.

The transfer window closes in about a week’s time, and adding an extra player in midfield would be a good thing. But, provided that we don’t get many injuries, the squad as it is should be good enough, especially if rotation is managed the same way as last season.

We can’t really have too many frustrated players sitting on the bench waiting for a chance to show they are good enough and wondering why they don’t get a chance.