2017 Arsenal L.F.C. season

The 2017 season was Arsenal Ladies' 7th season in the Women's Super League, 25th season in the top flight, and the 30th season overall. The club participated in the WSL and the FA Cup.

The 2017 WSL season covered only half of a normal season's length, following a reorganisation of top-level women's football in England to shift its schedule to a traditional autumn-to-spring calendar.^[1] For this reason there was no WSL Cup, Champions League qualification, or relegation to be competed for.

This was the club's final season known as Arsenal Ladies before rebranding to Arsenal Women in July 2017.^[2]

Before December, Arsenal secured the return of star midfielder Kim Little from Seattle Reign.^[3] Also arriving from the NWSL was Heather O'Reilly, brought in from FC Kansas City in January.^[4] Closer to home, Arsenal signed Beth Mead, one of the exciting young attacking talents in the WSL, from Sunderland.^[5] Another young English talent, goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, arrived from recently relegated Doncaster Rovers Belles.^[6]

It was also the end of an era at Arsenal, as both Rachel Yankey and Kelly Smith announced their retirement, whilst Emma Byrne ended a 17-year spell between the goalposts to play in the WSL 2 for Brighton & Hove Albion.^[7][8][9] Veteran defender Casey Stoney left to play for Liverpool, whilst Josephine Henning returned to Lyon after one season at the club.^[10][11] Also departing after one season was Asisat Oshoala, who moved to China to play for Dalian Quanjian.^[12]

Arsenal played a pre-season friendly against Bayern Munich in Andalusia, which they lost 3-1.^[13] There was also a testimonial to honour the retirement of Kelly Smith, held at Meadow Park.^[14]

Arsenal's season began with two FA Cup ties. Firstly, they hosted Tottenham Hotspur at Meadow Park, which they won 10-0. Daniëlle van de Donk scored a hat-trick, Danielle Carter netted a brace, Dominique Janssen and Chloe Kelly both got on the scoresheet, Kim Little scored on her return, and there were first Arsenal goals for Beth Mead and Katie McCabe.

Arsenal were drawn away at Birmingham City in the quarter-finals. The goals that they had found so easy to come by in the previous round deserted them here, and Marisa Ewers's second half strike proved to be sufficient for the Blues to progress.

Arsenal were intending to play against Notts County in their opening game to the Spring Series. However, this game was cancelled after Notts County collapsed two days before the new season kicked off.^[15] Instead, Arsenal's season began a week later, away at Sunderland, where they played out a 0–0 draw.^[16]

Following the demise of Notts County, Arsenal signed Louise Quinn, although bizarrely, she made her debut for the club against Sunderland before being officially announced by the club.^[17] At The Hive, their home ground for the Spring Series, they played Liverpool in a thrilling 4–4 draw. Liverpool took the lead when Alex Greenwood scored an 'Olimpico' direct from a corner, only for Chloe Kelly to bundle in an equaliser. The Reds moved back ahead when Sari van Veenendaal's clearance ricocheted off Natasha Harding and into the net, and then seconds later, Caroline Weir made it 3–1 with a glancing header. In the second half, Arsenal roared back, thanks to a brace from Carter. With ten minutes to play, a stinging drive from range by Jordan Nobbs looked to have completed the comeback, only for Gemma Bonner's header from Greenwood's corner three minutes later to pull Liverpool level and ensure a share of the points.^[18]

Arsenal's first win in the Spring Series came when they travelled to Wordsworth Drive to play Yeovil Town. Jodie Taylor's early penalty was swiftly followed by an unfortunate own goal by Molly Clarke. Another from Taylor and a header from Carter made it 4-0 after just over 30 minutes. Yeovil Town were able to pull a goal back through Lucy Quinn after a defensive error by Alex Scott, but Heather O'Reilly's penalty in the second half concluded a comprehensive 5-1 win and moved the Gunners up the third in the table.^[19]

Ten days later and Arsenal were on the road again, this time to Wheatsheaf Park for a London Derby with Chelsea. With Arsenal only a point behind their London rivals, a win would allow them to move up to second and close in on league leaders Liverpool. And they made the perfect start when an error from Carly Telford led to her bringing down Carter in the penalty area. Taylor saw her penalty saved, but was able to convert the rebound. In the second half, Chelsea responded through Millie Bright's crashing header, and in injury time, Drew Spence looked to have won it for the Blues. However, there was to be a late twist, as in the sixth added minute, Carter's strike was flicked on by Nobbs and past the helpless Telford to tie the game at 2-2.^[20]

Back at home, Arsenal faced Birmingham City, and made a disastrous start when Rachel Williams thumped a header past Anna Moorhouse within the first minute. Both sides hit the crossbar through Emily Westwood and Fara Williams, but it was Arsenal who were able to find the next goal through Heather O'Reilly just before halftime, racing onto Daniëlle van de Donk's pass and placing it past Sophie Baggaley.

The second half saw Arsenal take the lead through Van de Donk, rounding Baggaley and slotting it into the net. The lead did not last however, as Birmingham City responded within minutes through another Rachel Williams header. Twenty minutes later, another header was scored, but this time, it was Arsenal who scored it, Louise Quinn with her first goal for the club. And it was Quinn who made the game safe in injury time, heading in Nobbs' corner.^[21]

Arsenal's win had briefly moved them up to second place, but wins for Chelsea and Manchester City in the following days saw them fall behind. By the time, they arrived at the Academy Stadium to face Manchester City, they had slipped to fourth place. Both sides came into the match unbeaten, but it was Arsenal were left triumphant, winning 1-0 thanks to an incredible free kick from Jordan Nobbs' late in the second half.^[22]

Arsenal's win saw them close the gap on Chelsea and Manchester City to just one point. A win over Reading, thanks to Carter's first half goal, saw them move up to third place going into the final round of fixtures.^[23]

Arsenal ended their Spring Series with a trip to Bristol City. It was a routine win for the Gunners, with Quinn's first half header setting the tone. In the second half, Nobbs, Kelly and Van de Donk all got on the scoresheet, and the rout was rounded off with a first WSL goal in Arsenal colours for Beth Mead.^[24] Despite the comprehensive win, it would prove to be in vain, as Chelsea's win over Birmingham City and Manchester City's 3-1 victory over Liverpool meant the Gunners, despite going the season unbeaten, finished in third place once again. just one point off first place.

Last updated on 2 May 2017^[25]

Includes all competitive matches. The list is sorted by squad number when total goals are equal.

As of 2 May 2017

Includes all competitive matches. The list is sorted by squad number when total clean sheets are equal.

As of 2 May 2017

Supplier: Puma / Sponsor: Fly Emirates

This is third consecutive season Puma has supplied Arsenal with kits.

• Home: The home kit features Arsenal's traditional colours of red and white, with the addition of a dark trim around the lowered neck line, on the sleeve (hooped) and along the red stripe on the shorts. The distinguishing feature of the kit is the darkened, vertical, red stripe across the centre of the kit. It also features predominantly red socks for the first time since the 2004–05 season (as opposed to only featuring on the alternate kits).
• Away: The away kit is predominantly yellow following the trend of recent Arsenal away kits. The contrasting colour is "gunmetal grey"^[63] which appears on the collar (alongside a thin, centred, yellow line), as a trim on the v-shaped neck line and on the sleeve, separated by a large yellow strip across the shoulders and multiple hooped yellow lines across the bottom section of the sleeve. The shorts are predominantly gunmetal grey, with a yellow trim along the sides. The socks are yellow with multiple gunmetal grey hooped lines on the upper section.
• Third: The third kit is an abstraction from previous alternate kits for Arsenal as it predominantly features a single colour of dark blue. A vibrant neon yellow forms the detail across a wide strip on the shoulder and on the cuffs of the sleeves. The shorts are also dark blue with neon yellow detail along the sides and the kit is completed with single-colour neon yellow socks with a single dark blue hoop on the upper section.

• PFA Special Achievement Award: Kelly Smith^[64]
• 2016–17 PFA Team of the Year: Jordan Nobbs^[65]

• List of Arsenal W.F.C. seasons
• 2016–17 in English football

• Official website