Arsenal Women 2022/23 mid-season review: Standout performer, best signing & more
By Ali Rampling
Arsenal have reached the WSL winter break in a strong position domestically and in Europe, topping their tough Champions League group and with the WSL title race still in their hands.
The Gunners sit second in the top flight with eight wins from nine, three points behind leaders Chelsea but with a game in hand over their London rivals. Arsenal still have to play Chelsea home and away this season, meaning plenty more twists and turns can be expected in the WSL before the campaign is out.
Arsenal have successfully navigated the first half of the season while contending with series of key injury problems, but have since been dealt fresh blows as the winter break drew closer, with both Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema rupturing their ACLs within a month of each other. How they can cope without the pivotal forward pair will be key in 2023.
Background
Arsenal headed into the 2022/23 season off the back of an uncharacteristic three-year trophy drought, having not lifted a major trophy since winning the 2018/19 WSL title.
The Gunners had been pipped to the WSL title on the final day of the 2021/22 season - Jonas Eidevall's first term in charge - missing out on being crowned champions of England by just a single point.
Arsenal had been in the driving seat to claim the WSL title this time last year, but injuries to key players derailed their title charge, as they picked up just one win in five over the course of January and February. A depleted Gunners side were beaten 2-0 by a rock bottom, winless Birmingham - Arsenal's only league defeat of the season - and Chelsea eventually overhauled them.
Arsenal began the 2022/23 season in flying form, taking all three points in their first six matches to set a new WSL winning streak record of 13 successive victories, a run dating back to March 2022.
Fans feared for the worst when history started to repeat itself injury-wise, with first choice centre back pairing Leah Williamson and Rafaelle falling foul to foot injuries within weeks of each other just two league games into the new season. Instrumental midfielder Kim Little was next on the casualty list, followed by Lina Hurtig, while Miedema took a leave of absence for rest and recovery purposes.
But the Gunners adapted. Steph Catley moving from left back to centre back, Lotte Wubben-Moy stepping up alongside her and Frida Maanum excelled.
"We want to be 100%, we want to be fearless in our approach and we want to put the team first," said Eidevall. "None of that changes if we get one, two, three, four injuries or have unavailable players.
"I learned something from that period last year: when we are playing with different players, we might need to tweak some of our priorities to play to these players' strengths."
Williamson, Rafaelle, Little and Hurtig have all returned, and the Gunners remain in contention in the WSL and Champions League. However, Mead and Miedema have both since been ruled out for the season, and Eidevall has labelled January 'a pretty important transfer window for us'.
Highlight
Arsenal's second match with their makeshift backline following Williamson and Rafaelle's injuries saw them travel to all-conquering European champions Lyon in their opening Champions League group stage fixture.
Supporters were surprised to see talisman Miedema's name omitted from the team sheet, with Maanum - yet to start for the Gunners during the 2022/23 campaign - preferred in the number 10 role. It proved to be a masterstroke.
An injury hit Lyon could not handle Maanum's relentless energy and bursting runs forward from midfield. Arsenal ran riot and stormed to a 5-1 victory, having a field day in behind the Lyon backline.
"It has been a bit of a surprise for people who have been following Lyon since pre-season and the first couple of games this season, they have been a little bit exposed in the space behind their defensive line," said Eidevall. "But I am pleased that we did it in different ways because it’s not easy that you just play long balls into that space. We prepared with patience and good positions and drew them out and played the passes at the right time. I was really pleased with that."
Maanum was on the scoresheet and Mead and Caitlin Foord both netted a brace. It was the first time Lyon had ever conceded five goals at home in the Champions League.
The emphatic victory was instrumental in Arsenal topping their group, meaning they will be seeded and should be handed a kinder quarter final draw.
Lowlight
Arsenal's perfect start to the 2022/23 WSL season was ended by Manchester United in November - and in the most dramatic, heartbreaking of circumstances.
The Gunners had come from a goal down to lead 2-1 with 17 minutes remaining, Laura Wienroither netting her first goal for the club with a really well-taken volley to put Arsenal ahead.
However, the visitor's levelled with five minutes remaining through a Millie Turner header, before Alessia Russo punished Arsenal from another set piece in stoppage time, condemning the Gunners to a 3-2 defeat. The loss also saw Mead - Arsenal's player of the season last term - sustain an ACL injury in the latter stages.
Eidevall labelled the Gunners' first half performance 'disconnected' and admitted he 'didn't recognise us as a team'.
"I told the players that I understand that we can win or lose football games but I don’t think anyone here should accept that we can lose not looking like Arsenal," the Gunners boss said.
Standout performer
There have been impressive performances all over this term for Arsenal.
Coming off the back of a superb Euro 2022, Wienroither has made the right back spot her own, having largely been restricted to substitute appearances last term following her January switch from Hoffenheim. Maanum has also seized her opportunity since being thrust into the starting XI against Lyon. The 23-year-old has eight goals in 15 appearances in all competitions, and signed off for the year with a hat-trick against Zurich.
Katie McCabe has also been vital with her versatility, causing problems from left back and right wing, while Foord is playing the football of her life.
But Arsenal's standout, consistently excellent performer this season has been Lia Walti. Her absence during last season's shock defeat to Birmingham was particularly pivotal, and she has continued to demonstrate her importance this term with her composure, reading of the game, ability to break up play and passing range. Her swivel of the hips to get the Gunners out of trouble when she has her back to goal is somewhat of a trademark.
The Swiss midfielder's performance against Aston Villa in December was particularly imperious, but she's just very quietly brilliant most weeks.
While the Gunners have suffered a series of injuries this season, you fear the one player they simply cannot afford to lose is Walti, as they do not anyone who can play that holding midfield role quite like her.
Best signing
Arsenal did their most important recent business in last season's January window with the signings of Rafaelle, Laura Wienroither and Stina Blackstenius, all of whom have been important this term.
The Gunners had a quiet transfer window in the summer with just three additions - Kaylan Marckese, who has played once, Gio Queiroz, who was immediately sent on loan to Everton, and Lina Hurtig. Jonas Eidevall had admitted that he would have liked 'one more player' ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Best signing therefore goes to Hurtig, despite seeing injuries disrupt the first half of her debut season in north London and largely being restricted to substitute appearances. The forward joined from Juventus, and has two goals - a brace against Zurich in the Champions League - to her name in her nine outings thus far.
With fellow forward Mead set to be out for the season, the addition of Hurtig and the extra strength in depth that this offers Arsenal in wide areas could become more telling in the second half of the campaign.
Best goal
Jordan Nobbs is no stranger to a spectacular solo goal - and she added another to her collection with her sublime finish to open the scoring against Zurich in October.
The midfielder's run into the box was picked out by a floated Steph Catley cross, Nobbs watched the ball onto her foot, before sending a superb side-footed volley in off the underside of the bar. The technique and composure were superb, the finish outrageous - and Nobbs made it look effortless.
Predicted finish
Arsenal have left themselves in a really strong position heading into 2023 - seeded for the Champions League quarter final draw and with their WSL title destiny in their own hands.
How much they are able to strengthen in January will go a long way to determining the Gunners' ceiling this term, as it is a big ask for a team missing both Mead and Miedema to continue being competitive in both Europe and the WSL.
Chelsea's additional squad depth could just prove decisive as the women's game continues to be ravaged by injuries. The title race will likely go down to the wire once more, but Arsenal may have to settle for second again.
Predicted finish: 2nd