Arsenal Women Football Club (Arsenal W.F.C.) is an English professional association football club based in Holloway, North London. It is in the women's team of Premier League side Arsenal Football Club, which was founded in 1886. [1] Originally formed as Arsenal Ladies in 1987, [2] the club became semi-professional in 2002, [3] and adopted its present name in 2017. [4] The team played regional football in London and South East England until the inception of the nationwide Women's Premier League in 1991 and joined the Women's Super League (WSL) upon its formation in 2011. The club have never been relegated and have never finished below fourth place whilst playing in either the Women's Premier League or the WSL. Arsenal is the most successful women' s team in England, having won 15 domestic league titles, and 14 FA Cups. [5]
Arsenal is the only English side to win Europe's women's football competition, the UEFA Women's Champions League, having defeated Swedish side Umeå in the 2007 final. [6] The club also have a successful record in England's main league cup, having won the FA Women's League Cup (formally FA WSL Cup) a record six times, and the FA Women's National League Cup (while it was England's main league cup) ten times. [7] Arsenal is also the most successful team in the now-defunct Women's FA Community Shield. [8]
League competitions:
Knock out competitions:
Abbreviations, colours and symbols
| League record:
| Cup record:
|
Season | League | FA Cup [upper-alpha 1] | League Cup [upper-alpha 2] | Comm. Shield [upper-alpha 3] | UWCL [upper-alpha 4] | Ref. | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pos | ||||||
1987–88 | HCL | Results unknown | R1 | NA | NA | NA | [15] | |||||||
1988–89 | HCL | R3 | [16] | |||||||||||
1989–90 | HCL | QF | [17] | |||||||||||
1990–91 | GLFLP | SF | [18] | |||||||||||
1991–92 | Prem South ↑ | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 99 | 11 | 25 | 1st | R4 | W | [19] | ||
1992–93 | Prem | 18 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 66 | 8 | 34 | 1st | W | W | [20] | ||
1993–94 | Prem | 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 85 | 15 | 45 | 2nd | QF | W | [21] | ||
1994–95 | Prem | 18 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 8 | 52 | 1st | W | NA [upper-alpha 5] | [23] | ||
1995–96 | Prem | 18 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 54 | 12 | 37 | 3rd | SF | SF | [24] | ||
1996–97 | Prem | 18 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 65 | 9 | 49 | 1st | SF | R2 | [25] | ||
1997–98 | Prem | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 55 | 22 | 40 | 2nd | W | W | [26] | ||
1998–99 | Prem | 18 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 59 | 15 | 43 | 2nd | W | W | [27] | ||
1999–2000 | Prem | 18 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 73 | 13 | 41 | 3rd | SF | W | [28] | ||
2000–01 | Prem | 18 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 88 | 9 | 52 | 1st | W | W | W | [29] | |
2001–02 | Prem | 18 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 60 | 15 | 49 | 1st | QF | SF | W | QF | [30] |
2002–03 | Prem | 18 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 53 | 21 | 40 | 3rd | SF | RU | RU | SF | [31] |
2003–04 | Prem | 18 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 65 | 11 | 47 | 1st | W | SF | — | — | [32] |
2004–05 | Prem | 18 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 57 | 13 | 48 | 1st | SF | W | RU | SF | [33] |
2005–06 | Prem | 18 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 83 | 20 | 50 | 1st | W | RU | W | QF | [34] |
2006–07 | Prem | 22 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 119 | 10 | 66 | 1st | W | W | W | W | [35] |
2007–08 | Prem | 22 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 85 | 15 | 62 | 1st | W | RU | NA [upper-alpha 6] | QF | [36] |
2008–09 | Prem | 22 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 89 | 14 | 61 | 1st | W | W | W | QF | [37] |
2009–10 | Prem | 22 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 79 | 19 | 61 | 1st | RU | SF | NA | QF | [38] |
2011 | WSL [upper-alpha 7] | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 9 | 32 | 1st | W | W | SF | [41] | |
2012 | WSL | 14 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 39 | 18 | 34 | 1st | SF | W | SF | [42] | |
2013 | WSL | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 31 | 11 | 30 | 3rd | W | W | SF | [43] | |
2014 | WSL | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 4th | W | RU | QF | [44] | |
2015 | WSL | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 8 | 27 | 3rd | QF | W | — | [45] | |
2016 | WSL | 16 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 33 | 14 | 32 | 3rd | W | SF | — | [46] | |
2017 | WSL | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 9 | 18 | 3rd | QF | NA [upper-alpha 8] | — | [47] | |
2017–18 | WSL | 18 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 38 | 18 | 37 | 3rd | RU | W | — | [48] | |
2018–19 | WSL | 20 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 70 | 13 | 54 | 1st | R5 | RU | — | [49] | |
2019–20 | WSL [upper-alpha 9] | 15 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 40 | 13 | 36 | 3rd | QF | RU | QF | [51] | |
2020–21 | WSL | 22 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 63 | 15 | 48 | 3rd | RU | GS | — | — | [52] |
2021–22 | WSL | 22 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 65 | 10 | 55 | 2nd | SF | QF | NA | QF | [53] |
2022–23 | WSL | 22 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 49 | 16 | 47 | 3rd | R5 | W | SF | [54] |
Arsenal Women Football Club, commonly referred to as just Arsenal, is an English professional women's football club based in Islington, London, England. The club plays in the Women's Super League, the top tier of English women's football. Arsenal were founded in 1987 following an initiative by Vic Akers, who became the club's first, longest-serving, and most successful manager. He guided Arsenal to continued success until his departure in 2009, winning the most top-flight matches in English football history. The club have sustained this record, and have won the most doubles and trebles in English football history. Arsenal have also completed a record seven unbeaten league seasons, setting a number of English records for longest top-flight unbeaten run, for goals scored, and points won.
A treble in association football is achieved when a club team wins three trophies in a single season. A continental treble involves winning the club's top-level domestic league competition, main domestic cup competition, and main continental trophy. Although winning a second-tier continental trophy has also been described as a continental treble, it is not as widely accepted. A domestic treble involves winning three national competitions—including the league title, the primary cup competition, and one secondary competition, such as a secondary cup or state-level league.
Chelsea Football Club Women, formerly known as Chelsea Ladies Football Club, are an English women's football club based in Kingston upon Thames, London. Founded in 1992, they compete in the Women's Super League, the top flight of women's football in England, and plays their home games at the Kingsmeadow with some select games at Stamford Bridge. Since 2004, the club has been affiliated with Chelsea F.C., the men's team in the Premier League. Chelsea Women were a founding member of the Super League in 2010. From 2005 to 2010, the side competed in the Premier League National Division, the top tier of women's football in England at the time.
Everton Football Club is an English women's association football team based in Liverpool, England, that competes in the FA Women's Super League, the top division of English women's football. Formed in 1983 as Hoylake W.F.C., it is now part of Everton F.C. and has played home games at Walton Hall Park in Walton since February 2020. The team has won the Premier League National Division once, the Premier League Cup once, and the Women's FA Cup twice.
Katie Sarah Chapman is an English former professional footballer who notably played for FA WSL clubs Arsenal Ladies and Chelsea Ladies and was a member of the England women's national team. She primarily played as a central midfielder, although she was also deployed in central defence while playing for England. Chapman was described as "a physical player who handles a brunt of the dirty work in the middle of the pitch." Her playing ability, profile and influence have drawn comparisons to former England captain David Beckham.
Eniola Aluko is a Nigerian-British football executive, football broadcaster and former professional player who played as a winger and striker. Aluko has been a regular broadcaster for live football on ITV, BT Sport, Amazon Prime and Fox Sports in the USA, including men's Premier League matches and Women's Super League since 2014. She was the first Sporting Director for Angel City FC of the American National women's soccer league and formerly held the position of Sporting Director at Aston Villa W.F.C. from January 2020 to June 2021.
Casey Jean Stoney is an English professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of San Diego Wave.
George Town SC is a football club based in George Town, Cayman Islands, which currently plays in the Cayman Premier League. Its home stadium is the 2,500-capacity T.E. McField Sports Centre.
Emma Carol Hayes is an English professional football manager who is the manager of FA WSL club Chelsea Women. She previously served as the head coach and director of football operations for Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer in the United States from 2008 until 24 May 2010. She will depart Chelsea at the end of the 2023–24 Women's Super League season as she is set to become the new manager of the United States women's national team after the WSL season is over.
Gemma Suzanne Davison is an English footballer who plays as a winger. She has previously played for Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Reading whom she joined from Chelsea in 2018. After joining Arsenal at youth team level from Watford Ladies, Davison became a regular player and won several trophies. She also spent time in the United States playing for various American clubs in three separate spells. Davison is a full senior international player for the England women's national football team.
Kim Alison Little is a Scottish footballer who plays as a midfielder for and captains Arsenal of the English FA WSL. Before her retirement from international duty in 2021, Little was vice-captain of the Scotland national team. She begun her senior career at Hibernian, winning the Scottish Premier League, Scottish Women's Cup and Scottish Premier League Cup with the club in the 2006–2007 season. With Arsenal, she is a two time Premier League National Division winner, five time League Cup winner, and three time WSL and FA Cup winner. During her time at Seattle Reign, Little won the Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player awards.
Ji So-yun is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Seattle Reign FC of the National Women's Soccer League and the South Korea national team.
The Tuvalu A-Division for women is the top level women's football league in Tuvalu. The league is organized by the Tuvalu National Football Association.
The Women's Super League (WSL), known as the Barclays Women's Super League (BWSL) for sponsorship reasons, is the highest league of women's football in England. Established in 2010, it is run by the Football Association and features twelve fully professional teams.
Millie Bright is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Women's Super League club Chelsea who she captains, and the England national team. She previously played for Doncaster Belles and Leeds Ladies, and represented England on the under-19 and under-23 national teams.
Bethany England is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women’s Super League club Tottenham Hotspur, whom she captains, and the England national team. She previously played for Doncaster Rovers Belles, Liverpool and Chelsea, and represented England on the U19 and U23 national teams.
Chloe Maggie Kelly is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Super League club Manchester City and the England national team. Kelly started her senior career at Arsenal, prior to going on loan to Everton, and joining the team permanently in 2018. With Manchester City, she is a 2019–20 FA Cup and 2021–22 League Cup winner, has twice been named in the PFA WSL Team of the Year, and was the joint top assist provider in the 2020–21 WSL season.
Alessia Mia Teresa Russo is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Super League club Arsenal and the England national team. She previously played club football for Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United, as well as college soccer for North Carolina Tar Heels. At United, Russo won awards from the club including Player of the Year and Goal of the Season, and was twice top scorer. She has also been awarded Player of the Month and Goal of the Month in the WSL.
Carlotte Mae Wubben-Moy is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Arsenal in the FA Women's Super League and the English national team. She previously played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels in the United States and has represented England at multiple youth levels from under-15 up to under-21. Wubben-Moy received her first England Women's Senior camp call up in September 2020. She made her debut for the England Women’s team in March 2021.