Arsenal completed a last-minute deal on deadline day, signing a player in a position where depth was lacking in central midfield.

Kyra Cooney-Cross after signing for Arsenal (Photo via Arsenal.com)
Kyra Cooney-Cross after signing for Arsenal (Photo via Arsenal.com)

In comes the young but already experienced Australian midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross. She will compete for a place in the heart of the team in our double pivot alongside Kim Little and Lia Wälti.

She is the perfect player in terms of succession planning too, as Little is 33 and Wälti is 30 and both missed games due to injuries in the last three seasons.

It concludes an excellent transfer window for the Gunners who have made top-quality additions.

Out: Rafaelle (Souza Orlando Pride), Fran Stenson (Sheffield United), Mana Iwabuchi (retired), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Jodie Taylor.

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In: Amanda Ilestedt (Paris SG), Cloé Lacasse (Benfica), Alessia Russo (Manchester United), Laia Codina (FC Barcelona), Kyra Cooney-Cross (Hammarby).

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA: Kyra Cooney-Cross of Australia warms up during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Third Place Match match between Sweden and Australia at Brisbane Stadium on August 19, 2023. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA: Kyra Cooney-Cross of Australia warms up during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Third Place Match match between Sweden and Australia at Brisbane Stadium on August 19, 2023. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

This means we have a very strong squad with all but one position double if not tripled-up.

GK: Manuela Zinsberger, Sabrina D’Angelo, Naomi Williams
RB: Noëlle Maritz, Laura Wienroither*
CB: Lotte Wubben-Moy, Laia Codina, Amanda Ilestedt, Jennifer Beattie, Leah Williamson*, Teyah Goldie*
LB: Katie McCabe, Steph Catley
DM: Kim Little, Lia Wälti, Kyra Cooney-Cross.
CM: Victoria Pelova, Kathrine Kühl
AM: Frida Maanum, Vivianne Miedema*
RW: Cloé Lacasse, Beth Mead, Gio Queiroz
CF: Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius
LW: Caitlin Foord, Lina Hurtig

*players rehabbing from ACL injuries

We have 27 players and only 25 can be registered. It is not a problem right now as four players are coming back from injury and only Miedema is close to being back having joined team training this week in Germany.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 05: Vivianne Miedema (L) and Beth Mead of Arsenal looks on prior to the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup Final match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on March 05, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Vivianne Miedema (L) and Beth Mead of Arsenal look on prior to the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup Final match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on March 05, 2023. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Regarding the WSL home-grown rule, if it has not changed, we do not have the minimum eight players requested, only seven. But as we saw last season, the club was not penalised as the FA confirmed the third place in the League and we did play in the Champions League this season.

With the Champions League now gone, this squad should mount a proper title challenge this season and definitely should be thereabouts by May, unless the injury curse hits the club again this season.

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