The Arsenal squad is taking shape with four more players leaving the club on season-long loans.

KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 26: Arsenal Manager, Jonas Eidevall during the Vitality Women's FA Cup Fifth Round match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Kingsmeadow on February 26, 2023 in Kingston upon Thames, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND: Arsenal Manager, Jonas Eidevall during the Vitality Women’s FA Cup Fifth Round match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Kingsmeadow on February 26, 2023. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Arsenal Women have made four new moves, in addition to Freya Godfrey going on a season loan to Charlton earlier last week.

First up, third-choice goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese is going to spend the season in the WSL on loan at Bristol City.

https://twitter.com/ArsenalWFC/status/1686768952926449664

This was expected as the number one shirt will see a competition between Manuela Zinsberger and Sabrina D’Angelo. The fact that youngster Naomi Williams has signed a professional contract also means we need to send at least one goalie on loan.

Latest Arsenal injury updates and news

In terms of homegrown players, it is better for Arsenal to have Williams as their goalkeeper.

Arsenal youth trio Michelle Agyemang, Laila Harbert, and Katie Reid (Photo via Arsenal.com)
Arsenal youth trio Michelle Agyemang, Laila Harbert, and Katie Reid (Photo via Arsenal.com)

Then, three youngsters who were involved in England’s u-17 Euros campaign and spent a lot of time on the first-team bench – despite their young age – are going on loan to Championship side Watford Women.

The trio are dual-signed and therefore can carry on playing for the u-21 Academy side in their midweek games as well as Watford at the week-end.

Katie Reid is a tall ball-playing centre-back, Leila Harbert is a very strong technical deep playmaker and Michelle Agyemang is a top-class goalscorer who has already scored for the first team last season in the FA Women’s Cup.

The five departures leave the club with a 25-player squad right now, which is the squad cap limit allowed by the FA to be registered in the Barclays WSL.

It means the club will have to not register some of our players with ACL injuries, who are not ready to play for a long while anyway, if they want to register the incoming signings.

We have currently four players recovering from ACL injuries: Mead, Miedema, Williamson, and Wienroither.

Arsenal Women’s Squad

MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Alessia Russo of England looks on during the Women's International Friendly match between England and Portugal at Stadium mk on July 01, 2023 in Milton Keynes, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND: Alessia Russo of England looks on during the Women’s International Friendly match between England and Portugal at Stadium MK on July 01, 2023. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
  • Three goalkeepers: Zinsberger, D’Angelo, Williams
  • Seven defenders: Wubben-moy, Beattie, Catley, McCabe, Maritz, Goldie, Ilestedt
  • Five midfielders: Little, Maanum, Wälti, Pelova, Kühl
  • Six forwards: Hurtig, Foord, Gio, Russo, Blackstenius, Lacasse

At least one defender and one midfielder should be signed to balance the squad and provide cover giving us two players per position in the 4-3-3 system.

Once the injured players return, they can be reintegrated and registered for the second half of the season, while some players can be sent on loan or sold in the January window if needed.

Latest Arsenal injury updates and news