Welcome back to Arsenal Women Trailblazers. This one is a short, breaking news style episode with two big bits of news and a couple of wider WSL storylines.
First up, I talk about Laia Codina’s move to West Ham. She stays in London on a three year deal after leaving Arsenal and I am genuinely happy for her. We look at why the Hammers project suits her, how her strengths in a low block might be a better fit there, and I go through her medals from Barcelona, Spain and Arsenal including the World Cup and that first ever Women’s Champions Cup. I also read some of her first words as a West Ham player and send her my best for this next chapter in East London.
I then zoom out to the wider WSL with the news that Mary Earps is back in England, signing for London City Lionesses after two years at PSG. I talk about why she is such a legend of the women’s game, the age profile of LCL’s “Galacticos” project under Michelle Kang and what it might mean for the league if they add players like Mapi León and maybe even Alexia Putellas in future.
Finally, we end on some really good Arsenal news. Alessia Russo has been voted Arsenal Women Fans’ Player of the Season after her best ever campaign for goals, with 24 in 40 games in all competitions. I go through the numbers, including her hat trick in the 5–2 derby win over Spurs and her record of scoring or assisting in six consecutive WSL away games, and I make the case for why she is already world class and will only get better with the right support around her. I also look ahead to how a midfield featuring names like Mariona, Kyra, Kim Little, plus potential arrivals like Georgia Stanway, Géraldine Reuteler, Selina Ciraci and Lisa Baum could unlock an even scarier version of Alessia next season.
If you have ideas for future player profiles or want to come to a game with me at the Emirates in club level, get in touch. This is your podcast and I want to build it with you.
Links:
Arsenal Women Trailblazers on Instagram: https://instagram.com/arsenalwomentrailblazers
Arsenal Women news section: https://www.arsenal.com/news
West Ham’s announcement of Laia Codina https://www.whufc.com/en/news/west-ham-united-sign-world-cup-winner-laia-codina
London City Lionesses announcement of Mary Earps https://www.londoncitylionesses.com/post/mary-earps-joins-london-city-lionesses
Camden New Journal piece by Steve Barnett on Alessia Russo’s Fans’ Player of the Season award https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/gunners-striker-russo-is-fans-player-of-the-year
Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women and AWFC. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.
Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers
Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay
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