“You win trophies with a squad, not just a team of 11 players”, was the message from Arsenal Ladies boss Pedro Martinez Losa after the Gunners kick-started their 2015 campaign competitively, with a comprehensive 7-0 victory over WSL2 side Millwall Lionesses in the Women’s FA Cup fifth round almost ten days ago.
The North Londoners have been under Losa’s stewardship since his arrival midway through last season, in an unfamiliar, tumultuous campaign for the pre-WSL era’s dominant force.
The Gunners ended their 2014 WSL campaign with a disappointing fourth placed finish, although Losa did revive league efforts during the latter stages of the season; however, the competitive year as a whole was to culminate in further disappointment, as Arsenal were unable to win the WSL Continental Cup for a fourth successive year, with a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City Women in the competitions final.
Despite the playing-field being levelled across the women’s game since the inception of the WSL, the Gunners have maintained trophy success and for all the troubles of 2014, before Losa took over the Arsenal Ladies hotseat, ex-boss Shelley Kerr guided the North Londoners to their 13th FA Cup title with a 2-0 win against Everton Ladies in her final game in charge before the summer break.
With the 2015 WSL kicking off last week, as champions Liverpool Ladies lost to newly-promoted Sunderland Ladies, Arsenal start their proceedings at Notts County Ladies this Thursday evening, in a division which now appears as unpredictable as ever.
Losa will hope to find consistency from his current crop of players for the season ahead, and to back his comments of "winning trophies with a squad", the Spaniard has been busy during the winter off-season and spring pre-season by bringing in five new faces.
Defender Jemma Rose and Spanish striker Natalia Pablos Sanchon arrive from Bristol Academy, whilst, additional Spaniard, midfielder Vicky Losada and American striker Chioma Ubogagu arrive from the continent.
The biggest capture, or re-capture, however, is the signing of England international and former striker, Lianne Sanderson. The 27-year old has spent the last five years abroad, tasting challenges in Spain, Cyprus and America after being part of the most successful Arsenal Ladies side in their history during her first spell.
As well as adding in all departments to his squad, Losa has additionally promoted from within the Gunners academy, with midfielder Carla Humphrey signing her first professional contract during pre-season, and looking one of the North Londoners most promising prospects ahead of the new campaign.
Alongside the new young and experienced faces, Losa tied down club captain and assistant coach, Kelly Smith, to a new deal recently, and the Arsenal striker will continue to be a key member of the Gunners squad from a playing and coaching capacity this season, although there is much competition within the North London attack, which has already been potent throughout pre-season.
Five and three goal wins at Derby County Ladies and Millwall Lionesses respectively, followed up with the seven goal FA Cup starting win, again at Millwall, has given reasons for optimism within Losa’s squad and newly appointed England Women's vice-captain, Jordan Nobbs, could be set to play a pivotal role within a confident Gunners setup, after her free-scoring exploits during recent weeks.
The winter signings and schedule appears to have given a timely lift to the North London side heading into Thursday’s WSL kick-off, and England defender Alex Scott recently spoke of the feel-good factor around the ladies side and WSL as a whole, stating; “It’s a really strong league and everyone wants that title but I really think this season, with the players he’s [Losa] brought in, we can push on again."
"Every season I always say, ‘this is going to be the best season yet’, but I’m even more excited about this season. Every team in the league has star players, exciting players, and that makes it so interesting for the fans."
Scott also spoke highly of boss Losa, as he prepares for his first full-season in charge of Arsenal Ladies; the defender said: “He’s got new ideas, a new philosophy and he’s managed in America, He knows the standard that Arsenal Ladies have been at previously and the standard we need to be at now."
In a Women’s World Cup year, the first half of the WSL season, before the summer break for the international competition, will be eagerly contested as many players play for a place in their respective international squads for the mid-season trip to Canada.
Arsenal Ladies could potentially play eight games before breaking in May for the World Cup in June, as they’ll face almost all of their fellow WSL sides for the first time, and will hope to negotiate their way through to the FA Cup semi-finals, following the quarter-final draw in which they’ll play London and WSL rivals Chelsea Ladies, shortly after their league bow this Thursday.
The FA Cup holders will be even more eager to retain the title they’ve held for the past two seasons, as the final in August will be held at Wembley Stadium for the first time in its history, as the women’s game continues to progress at all levels and in all competitions.
With 2015 a big year ahead for ladies football domestically and internationally, the Gunners will most certainly have their eye on claiming the Women’s Super League title for the first time since 2012, as boss Pedro Martinez Losa begins his continental implementation of this Arsenal side, to take them back to the summit of women’s football.
Arsenal Ladies’ full 2015 fixture list can be found on the club’s website and the Gunners’ WSL bow this Thursday evening will also be live in front of the BT Sport cameras from 19:30.