Women’s football

KIRSTY HANSON says Aston Villa will not be pushovers for their opponents after their season-opening win against Manchester City.The midfield ace – on loan from Man United – praised the efforts of her team-mates who take on Leicester this Sunday.  
Villa loan ace Kirsty Hanson is targeting a defeat of Leicester at the King PowerCredit: Alamy
And getting a second win under their belts before the international break is the top priority for Carla Ward’s side who scored just once in their final four games last term.
Hanson, 24, said: “The (4-3) result against Man City shows we are not a team to be walked over.
“We’re not a team that’s just there in the league, we’re there to fight.
“We’re there to get points off the top three and if we keep going and take each game as it comes, I think we can do really well. 
“We’ve got to just keep working as a team, removing our errors and keep doing what we do best – scoring goals and working together as a team.”
On Villa’s performance and her contribution to the winning goal, Hanson added: “We stuck to the way Carla asked us to play and I think it really paid off. 
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“We didn’t give up even though we let some goals in we shouldn’t have, but we dug deep and we knew we could come back.
“Our link-up play was really good. I really enjoy playing with Kenza and Rach (Rachel Daly) and I saw Kenza and I thought she was going to shoot, but I said, ‘Kenza wait!’. 
“I didn’t really have a shot in the game so I thought I may as well try
“And although I fumbled luckily Rach was there and she was phenomenal. I’m so glad she was there to get her second goal.”
Villa were one of the busiest clubs in the summer transfer window following a number of departures and player injuries and the retirement of WSL heroine Anita Asante.
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The club started their season without the services of Remi Allen and summer signing Simone Magill with the duo currently out of action due to ligament injuries.
And Wales forward Tash Harding, who joined Villa from Reading in July, was unavailable due to illness.
Some shrewd business in the transfer market saw Carla Ward strengthen with the signings of Daly, ex-Everton aces Danielle Turner and Kenza Dali in addition to swoops for Harding and Magill
The clubs also sealed loan deals for the services of Arsenal defender Anna Patten and Hanson who has made 65 Red Devils appearances since her 2018 move from Doncaster Rovers Belles.
There are teams in this league competing for Champions League spots. They’re going to be difficult to play against and we beat oneRachel Daly
The moves are paying off with the team impressing against the Citizens.
And the high-scoring result against City was in stark contrast to the club’s 6-1 pre-season loss to Spanish side Sevilla.
Villa forward Rachel Daly said: “We didn’t get the results we wanted in pre-season but Villa are a great club, a great organisation, and they put money into the players that they wanted to get. 
Hanson impressed on her league debut in midfield for Carla Ward’s sideCredit: Getty
“There are teams in this league competing for Champions League spots.
“They’re going to be difficult to play against and we beat one.
“That’s a big win for us and a big win going into the Leicester game as well. It puts us in a positive mindset.”  More

RACHEL DALY is urging fans who flocked to the Lionesses’ Euros games to fill the stands at WSL clashes.The Aston Villa ace, 30, was speaking after her side stunned Manchester City on Sunday in front of a raucous Villa Park crowd.
Like her England team-mates Rachel Daly hopes match goers who watched the Lionesses will head to WSL gamesCredit: Getty
Fan showed up in record numbers to watch the Lionesses and other team competing at this year’s EurosCredit: Gary Stone
Daly was among the stars who dazzled as Carla Ward’s side clinched a memorable 4-3 win having lost the previous four league encounters against City.
The forward, who bagged a brace in front of a crowd of more than 6,000 said: “After the Euros I said I don’t want these fans to just come and show up for England.
“I’d like them to keep supporting the WSL and they (Villa fans) absolutely did that. 
“They were brilliant, the noise was wild and when the goals when in it was just a joke to hear them.
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“It was a real pleasure to play in front of them and meet a lot of them.”
Fan turnouts at top-flight games have been an ongoing talking point since the WSL’s creation in 2011.
On Sunday Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat of title-holders Chelsea attracted a record Prenton Park crowd of more than 3,000.
And more than 5,000 punters watched Manchester United trounce Reading 4-0 at Leigh Sports Village at this term’s curtain opener.
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On Saturday Arsenal are expecting more than 45,000 spectators for their Emirates derby battle with Tottenham.
This figure would see them shatter the record for the highest attended WSL match.
The record currently stands at 38,262 – the number who turned out to see the North London opponents at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in November 2019.
This Sunday Villa, currently third behind the Gunners and United, take on Leicester City at King Power Stadium.
Last term Villa sealed home and away wins against the Foxes registering 2-1 results in both matches.
Ward’s side will be pushing for three points following their efforts last time out.  
And the Villa boss is keeping her feet firmly on the ground in terms of the club’s league ambitions this term.
Ward, 38, said: “We don’t want to get carried away as this was the first game of the season.
“We turned up, we performed and got a result, but we have to focus on making sure that we continue to look for a top eight spot.
“If we finish above that, we’ll be delighted.
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“Everyone knows I’m ambitious and so are the players that we’ve brought in.
“We brought in experience that can allow our youngsters to step up and we want to keep improving.”
Aston Villa hope to finish in one of the WSL’s top eight spots this seasonCredit: Getty More

RACHEL DALY lauded Aston Villa’s big game mentality as they dealt an early blow to Manchester City’s title hunt in a seven-goal thriller.A classy brace from the WSL ace helped Carla Ward’s battlers seal a 4-3 win on a disappointing afternoon for City.
Rachel Daly got her Aston Villa career off to a stunner with two goals on her club debutCredit: Alamy
Kenza Dali also opened her account for the club during their home win against CityCredit: Alamy
Villa fans who followed the Lionesses’ Euros heroics and are used to seeing Daly as a full-back, were given a glimpse of her deadly prowess in attack.
And the former Houston Dash striker did not disappoint with Ward’s battlers on song as they dispatched giants City.
After the match, Daly said: “I’d have been happy to take the one goal but two was obviously nicer,
“Most importantly, we got the win on our home turf and defended the lead.
“It was a stressful bit of a period when we went down 3-2 but then we came back in a big game with a big win and that’s a difficult thing to do.
“It took strength and character and resilience to come back from going down after being ahead.
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“City are a fantastic team and we knew it wasn’t going be easy.
“But we wanted to be brave, take risks and make it a difficult place for them to play.”
Before the game, Villa had lost their four previous top-tier battles with City conceding 17 goals in total.
But this time around their team – which included summer signings Kenza Dali, Danielle Turner and loan aces Kirsty Hanson and Anna Patten – brought an end to that run.
Hanson, on loan from Manchester United, proved to be a problem for her markers with her powerful drives towards the box.
The Scotland ace’s seventh-minute drive on the counter led to Mayumi Pacheco’s cross finding Daly with the forward heading the ball off target.
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The deadlock was eventually broken when Alisha Lehmann, in one of her best shifts in a Villa shirt, fired the hosts in front in the 22nd minute.
Later Villa doubled their lead close to the half-hour mark with Daly curling in a superb top corner strike.
City looked to hit back with Chloe Kelly testing Hannah Hampton from distance in the 34th minute.
And skipper Steph Houghton, returning to WSL action after a lengthy injury absence, saw her shot saved moments later.
Laura Coombs gave the visitors hope pulling a goal back close to half-time after an error from keeper Hannah Hampton.
The second spell saw City take a dramatic 3-2 lead with two goals in two minutes.
Laura Coombs helped Gareth Taylor’s side mount a comeback with her brace for the visitorsCredit: Alamy
First with Khadija Shaw levelling proceedings in the 53rd minute before Coombs struck again powering a high shot home.
But Villa refused to give in with Dali latching on to a sloppy pass from Houghton and thumping in an equaliser.
And Daly wrapped up a dream debut and home win sealing her brace with a tap-in following a blistering counter.
Ward, whose side play Leicester next, said: “Rachel played as a nine at Houston.
“I’ve actually seen a bit of criticism with questions of can she play there? Absolutely she can.
“If she can do that against Manchester City, she can do it against any team in the league.”
We’ve got to roll our sleeves up and go again because this will be nothing if we don’t go and get three points this weekendCarla Ward
Following the win, Ward added: “It will only be a statement victory if we can back it up.
“I said to the group at the end, I’ll give them the plaudits.
“But then I very quickly said, ‘look, you can enjoy it tonight. But Tuesday morning, we’ve got to roll the sleeves up and go again’.
“This will be nothing if we don’t go and get three points next week.
“We’ve got to make sure that it’s not just one big performance. We’ve got to continue to kick on.
“We’ve got to roll our sleeves up and go again because this will be nothing if we don’t go and get three points this coming weekend.”
Carla Ward wants Villa to capitalise on the win by defeating Leicester City who they play nextCredit: Getty
City, who are in transition with several new players arriving this summer, face a stiff test away against champions Chelsea this Sunday
Club boss Gareth Taylor said: “We know as a team we’ll score goals.
“To come away from a game after scoring three and not take anything is frustrating.
“But this is football, and it happens, you see results like this and it’s sometimes it’s difficult to control, but we need to be better in controlling those moments.” More

MARC SKINNER hopes WSL duels will ‘be sunshine in winter’ for fans tempted to swerve games in the season’s coldest periods.A record 6,500-plus crowd is set to watch the Manchester United gaffer’s stars take on Reading at Leigh Sports Village today.
Marc Skinner’s side are targeting a top-three finish this seasonCredit: Getty
Man United are due to play Reading in front of a record crowd of more than 6,500 at Leigh Sports VillageCredit: PA
And it will be the first league game for both sides following the Lionesses’ Euros triumph which was watched by a record 87,192-strong Wembley crowd.
But some of the game’s followers and influential figures fear high attendances at women’s games could dip.
They include Brighton chief Hope Powell, who spoke earlier this month of the challenge of sustaining high spectator numbers during the coldest times of the season.
The former Lionesses manager, 52, remembers how crowds rose when England hosted the 2005 Women’s Euros, but then dwindled during the domestic season.
Skinner, 39, admitted: “Weather can always have an impact.
“But I think once everybody realises from what they’ve watched over the summer, how strong our league is becoming, once they feel fully part of it, I believe attending won’t be a choice.
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“There’s a responsibility on the teams to produce and perform, to show high quality.
“And on the league to continue to grow and allow us to invest in talent, so that we have the best within this country, but also for us not to make excuses.
“What’s brilliant about our fans is that we will break our record this weekend.
“We’ve sold over 6,500 tickets already, so for us, we’ll break our own record in terms of a game at Leigh.
“I know we also have the responsibility to perform — our fans love what we do and keep coming back.
“Of course, we want to be very successful, so that also helps.
“With English winters, who knows how harsh it will be this year.
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“But let’s almost try to be the sunshine in the winter, to make sure people turn up and watch what we’re doing.”
United finished fourth last term, but go into the new season minus Jackie Groenen.
The Dutch midfielder, who made 16 WSL appearances last term, left on Thursday to join French side Paris Saint-Germain on a three-year deal.
The Netherlands international described it as a “big step” in her career.
The switch for a player with 92 international caps has left some Red Devils fans dismayed.
But Skinner insists his squad has the “numbers and qualities” to support their top three push.
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The United gaffer said: “What I’ll assure our fans is, even though Jackie has left, our plans are bigger than this moment.
“So, it feeds into the bigger and the broader plan going forwards.
“In midfield, we also have more controlling players like Katie Zelem, Hayley Ladd and Jade Moore.
“We also have expressive players like Lucy Staniforth, Vilde Boe Risa and Ella Toone.
“So, we can mix the way we build, the way we play, the way we progress — whether we play a traditional system, or whether we play a different shape altogether.
Skinner insists Man United have enough quality midfield players despite the departure of Jackie GroenenCredit: Alamy
“We have the numbers and the qualities that offer different variants so for us, we have always got that in mind.
“I understand our fans’ frustration at this moment, but we have plenty of players that have the opportunity to step up and show their qualities.
“We were not expecting Jackie’s departure to happen — but it was good business for everyone involved.” More

EUROS heroine Beth Mead picked up right where she left off with a deadly double as Arsenal got off to a WSL flier.And a big finish from Kim Little gave the Gunners the perfect start as they trounced ten-player Brighton 4-0.
Beth Mead scored her first brace of the new WSL seasonCredit: Getty
Kim Little was on target with the first top-flight goal of this term as Arsenal knocked four past BrightonCredit: Reuters
Forward Mead was the top scorer during the Women’s Euros this summer as England famously lifted the trophy.
And despite netting twice during a crushing win over Albion, perfectionist Mead hoped to bag more goals.
The Arsenal ace told Sky Sports: “I’m disappointed with a few of my chances. I should have scored more, and we could have put a few more away as a team.
“But four goals and three points is what we wanted.
“We’ve set our standards now and we need to keep setting them higher.”
Kim Little got the Gunners up and running at a sold-out Meadow Park with the opener on 28 minutes and Stina Blackstenius’ thunderbolt made it 2-0 five minutes after the break.
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The Seagulls battled to stem the hosts’ pressing and shots on goal following Emma Kullberg’s seventh-minute sending-off.
She saw red for bringing down Blackstenius when through on goal.
Mead soon got in on the act as Arsenal sent out a Women’s Super League title warning on the opening night of the season.
And scorer Little reckons her three-month stint on loan at OL Reign in America’s top-tier has helped keep her razor-sharp.
The Scottish midfielder said: “I played six games out in America, so I was able to get that (fitness) in me before coming into the season here in the WSL.
“It has helped me because it was a long off-season of almost four months from our last game against West Ham.
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“It definitely put me in good stead to start the season here.”
Hope Powell, whose side finished seventh last term, gave a debut to Albion summer signing Elisabeth Terland.
But Kullberg’s red gave them a mountain to climb. Of the decision, Seagulls chief Powell said: “I thought it was offside at first and an accident. I was surprised but I will have to watch it again.”
The visitors defended bravely with Victoria Williams producing a well-timed block to stop Vivianne Miedema’s shot.
Brighton’s forays forward were few during the match.   
Emma Kullberg was sent off in the fifth minute following a foul on Stina BlacksteniusCredit: Alamy
But when they did get forward, they looked dangerous with new Seagull Terland firing wide of the far post moments before Little’s opener
But the visitors’ resistance was eventually broken when Little walloped an effort into the bottom corner.
The hosts almost doubled their lead in the 32nd minute with Blackstenius hitting the bar before Megan Walsh denied Miedema.
The second half saw Brighton attempt to battle back with Powell shuffling her deck with Katie Robinson coming on for Libby Bance.
And the midfielder fired a dangerous effort across the face of the goal in the 49th minute forcing keeper Manuela Zinsberger into action.
Arsenal will host Tottenham at the Emirates next in the WSL while Brighton will play Reading at homeCredit: Getty
Moments later, Arsenal doubled their lead with Blackstenius smashing the ball high into the net before Mead made it 3-0 on 63 minutes.
Jordan Nobbs hit the woodwork late on, then Mead bagged goal number four.
The in-form forward skipped past her marker to register a double as the Gunners sealed an impressive win before their clash with Ajax and an Emirates derby duel with Spurs. More

LEAH WILLIAMSON says the “pain” of Arsenal coming close to WSL title glory has put “fire” in her belly to help the club become champions.The history-making England skipper, 25, is ready to go through a rollercoaster of emotions following the highs of winning the Euros.
Leah Williamson and Arsenal take on Brighton in their first game of the new WSL seasonCredit: Getty
Arsenal are aiming to win the league title for the first time since 2019Credit: Getty – Contributor
This week Williamson and team-mates begin their quest to win more silverware for a club who were once the most dominant in the domestic game.
A total of 58 trophies have been lifted by Arsenal between 1992 and 2019.
These include 15 top-flight titles with the last of their three WSL crowns clinched in 2019.
Having tasted glory with England this summer, the Milton Keynes-born central defender is hungry to help the Gunners return to the top.  
Williamson, whose team play Brighton at home on Friday night, said: “At the end of last season because it came down to the wire.
“We missed out by the finest of margins, it hurt me a lot and I think it tired me.
“Going to the Euros, the closer you get to the final the more you realise if it’s not successful you have to do that all again to even have a shot at winning.
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“To be successful has given me a bit of fire back in my belly before the season and now I’m looking forward to starting a new journey so to speak.
“I’ve definitely got my motivation back and once you get a taste of winning you obviously want more.”
Arsenal’s clash with Albion will see Williamson, Beth Mead and Lotte Wubben-Moy back in WSL action for the first time since England’s Euros win in July.
A 2-1 defeat of Germany at Wembley saw Williamson enter the history books as the first player to skipper a Lionesses side to European Championship triumph.
And the versatile defender jokingly admits to dreading the moment when she does not reflect on that win at least once during the day.
The WSL star added: “I’m a big softy. I like fairytale endings.
“It was very fitting for that tournament on home soil at Wembley so you couldn’t have really written it much better.”
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When Per Mertesacker won the 2014 World Cup with Germany, the former Gunners defender admitted it was hard to come down from the elation of winning the tournament.
On whether she has experienced similar feelings following the Euros, Williamson said: “I did have a conversation with Jonas Eidevall about it and where I was at with returning.
“As much as coming out of a tournament early and underachieving, going from the highest of highs and going back into normal life regardless of football, is still hard.
England’s Euros win has made Williamson hungrier for more success at club levelCredit: AFP
“I was expecting that. I had plans in place to deal with my own emotions around it.
“I’m very lucky that I play for a club that I love so it doesn’t feel like a day of work.
“I’m expecting some emotions so I’m expecting a little bit of a rollercoaster of them at some points.”
Arsenal’s season-opener comes four days before their Champions League second-round duel with Ajax
Being so close to (winning) the league last season, obviously, we are chasing that, and the Champions League is the big one. It’s a different game.Leah Williamson
Both clubs battling for a place in the contest’s group stages.
The experience of winning a major trophy on the international has given Williamson more belief in the Gunners’ potential in the contest this term.
The club is currently the only English side to win the tournament when Vic Akers guided them to victory against Swedish outfit Umea in April 2007.
The centre-back said: “We want to be winning things.
Jonas Eidevall’s stars will face Ajax in the Champions League on TuesdayCredit: Getty
“Being so close to (winning) the league last season, obviously, we are chasing that, and the Champions League is the big one. It’s a different game.
“We weren’t in it for so many years but now we have players who have been in it and are ready.
“We want to see how far we can go in that so that motivates me a lot.” More

JONAS EIDEVALL wants more WSL games hosted at bigger stadiums with surging fan interest in matches following the Euros.The Arsenal chief, 39, hopes postponed top-tier fixtures can take place on the same rescheduled date with the FA in talks with clubs.
Jonas Eidevall has called for more WSL games to be held at larger stadiumsCredit: Getty
Arsenal take on Brighton at Meadow Park before an Emirates clash with Tottenham with 40,000 tickets sold ahead of the derbyCredit: Getty
The Gunners’ home duel with Brighton on Friday kicks off the new WSL term with Eidevall’s side targeting a first title win since 2019.
The 7:30 pm Meadow Park fixture will be the first top-tier game held following the death of Queen Elizabeth II last Thursday at Balmoral
Matches were postponed last week in honour of the passing of the nation’s longest-serving monarch.
The clash comes eight days before Arsenal play Tottenham at the Emirates with a WSL record-breaking crowd expected with 40,000 tickets sold.
When asked how players will react to ramped-up interest in the league, Eidevall, said: “I’m sure players will respond in a way that will be excellent because the quality (of the game) on the pitch is there.
“We just need to make sure we find stadiums that allow more attendees to come in and watch.
“The problem will be where we see we have a very low number of medium-sized stadiums in the country, so you either have smaller stadiums or really big ones.
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“Our postponed game against Manchester City is a perfect example of that.
“These are two good teams and with interest from the Euros, of course, that’s going to be a sell-out that at their Academy Stadium.
“The question is when so many more people want to watch the game, where do we play it so all those who want to come to a game and watch have access?”
Man City sold more than 6,000 tickets for their Sunday night home duel with Arsenal – one of six postponed WSL fixtures due to be rescheduled.  
An FA spokesperson told SunSport: “Women’s Super League clubs have been given some flexibility to rearrange their postponed matches.
“This is to ensure they are able to find a date and time that overcomes the various challenges they have to navigate such as stadium availability.”
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The FA says rescheduled dates are in the process of being finalised with clubs with new timings to be announced in due course.
Eidevall added: “My opinion is that in the WSL, you would play all the postponed games from this round on the same date.
“That’s so you don’t create a league table where some teams have, for example, played ten (matches) and some teams have played 11 and they play on different sides of the transfer window.
“I don’t think anyone will take that into account.
“But for me when I look at trying to make it fair – and it’s really important the competition is fair to all teams – I would do it that way.”
Friday night’s match will see Arsenal’s Euros and Copa America Feminina winners back in league action.
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Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, Lotte Wubben-Moy claimed tournament medals following England’s Euros triumph.
And Rafaelle Souza skippered Brazil to a fourth consecutive Copa America crown.
Eidevall wants Arsenal to leverage their mental strength after finishing a point behind champions Chelsea last term.
And the Gunners gaffer highlighted some of England’s Euros winning exploits involving Arsenal aces as examples.
Eidevall said: “With mental strength, it starts with believing because if you concede a goal, you will have different emotions going through your body and you can let those emotions take over and influence your actions.
Eidevall reckons Arsenal can harness the trophy-winning experiences of their Euros and Copa America winnersCredit: Getty
“You can give up or think it’s going to be one of those days where we’re going to concede another goal. Or you can remember and say ‘now, wait a minute’.
“For example, the English players who went 1-0 down against Spain at (at the Euros), they have the memory now that says, ‘No, it doesn’t have to be that way’.
“It can be one of those days as well where we score in the 80th minute and then we get an overtime goal.
It’s about creating a product that means so much to people that they go and watch (a game) even if there’s a snowstorm.Jonas Eidevall
“So of course, I think positive experiences help a lot in order to deal with adverse situations.”
With rising post-Euros interest in the women’s game, WSL followers hope there are no knock-on effects on fan attendance following last week’s match postponements.
Before games were postponed Albion boss Hope Powell talked of the need to prevent crowd numbers from dwindling during winter.
On avoiding attendance dips, Eidevall added: “In the end, it’s about creating a product that means so much to people that they go and watch (a game) even if there’s a snowstorm.
Arsenal have sold more than 2,720 tickets for their duel with Brighton at their 3,200-capacity Meadow Park homeCredit: Getty
“You go and watch even when it’s not convenient because you care so much about the team.
“If I talk about Arsenal as a club (we’re) trying to work together with all departments so we can reach potential audiences and bring them to stadiums.
“But that’s not a quick fix, it’s about making that connection with people so they feel they have to go.” More

HOPE POWELL is unsurprised by Graham Potter becoming Chelsea boss with the Blues due to play their first game under the ex-Albion gaffer.And the Brighton manager is looking at strengthening her side in the winter transfer window after a busy summer of player arrivals and exits.
Hope Powell says Brighton’s Prem stars have had an excellent start to their season under former boss Graham PotterCredit: Reuters
Chelsea will play RB Salzburg in the Champions League in their first home game under their new bossCredit: Getty
Wednesday night will see Powell’s former Seagulls counterpart in the Stamford Bridge dugout for the first time since his appointment last Thursday.
The Blues take on RB Salzburg in a Champions League encounter at home after falling to a surprise 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb on the road in their first group stage game this term.
Brighton Women’s chief Powell said: “He’s had an excellent start to the season.
“I think it was muted last year (there was interest in him) when Tottenham had a vacancy. 
“It just shows that everybody recognises the good work he’s done with the resources that we have as a club in terms of players and the calibre of players (at the club). 
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“The fact that Chelsea has come in for him, am I surprised? Absolutely not. I think he deserves everything he gets and good luck to him.”
Powell and her team – who finished seventh in the top tier last season – travel to Arsenal’s Meadow Park home on Friday.
The 7:30 pm evening clash will be the first game of the 2022-23 WSL term following the postponement of last weekend’s opening fixtures following the death of Her Majesty The Queen.
On Monday, the FA announced WSL and Women’s Championship games would resume this week.
Powell’s side will take on the Gunners following the departures of seven senior figures and rising stars.
Players who left in the summer transfer window include Maya Le Tissier, 20, Ellie Brazil and Emma Koivisto, both 23.
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The Lionesses Under-23 aces and Finland full-back joined Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool.
Inessa Kaagman and Danique Kerkdijk sealed summer moves to Dutch clubs PSV Eindhoven and FC Twente.
And Dani Bowman, 33, joined West Ham’s coaching staff following her retirement after a five-year Seagulls spell.  
Meanwhile, Aileen Whelan, 31, joined Leicester on a free transfer in July following a
And her old team-mates Fliss Gibbons, 28, and Emily Simpkins, 32, sealed transfers to Championship sides Crystal Palace and Charlton.
This was probably the toughest transfer window yet.Hope Powell
Powell added: “Players leave for all sorts of reasons. With Inessa and Danique I think Covid had a massive part to play in that.
“Danique been away from home for five years and they told me very early on, that they will be going home so we expected that.
“With Maya, we did well to keep her last season.
“Chelsea came in for her back then and she was committed to the club, so it was no surprise that another club came in for her.
“Her head was turned with the prospect perhaps of Champions League and everything else that goes around with that.
“We did well to keep her last term. We are disappointed for ourselves but I’m pleased for her. She’s such a nice kid.
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“With Emma Koivisto – we didn’t see that coming. We wanted to engage (with her) and we engaged very early.
“She didn’t give much away so her move was a big surprise for us.
“We were sad to see them go, but this is football and some players will come, some will go.
“Now it’s just about now rebuilding and going again.”
Powell reckons this summer’s transfer window has been the toughest yet recruitment-wise with competition to sign emerging talent becoming more intense.
The Seagulls chief said: “It is really challenging. This was probably the toughest transfer window yet.
Maya Le Tissier is among the players who left Brighton this summerCredit: Getty
“There is a lot of young talent out there, not just in this country but abroad.
“But if they don’t meet certain GBE (government body endorsement from the FA) requirements, they can’t come in.
“They can’t get a work permit so it’s quite difficult.
“But it’s the same for everybody and it kind of narrows (the market).
“The biggest clubs can just buy and cherry pick so that talent pool kind of narrows down somewhat.
“But it is what it is, we can only control what we can control.
“There’s another winter transfer window and we’ll be looking again, but that’s the life of football.”
Brighton have bolstered their squad with five players joining the side before their Arsenal trip and first home game of the season against Reading.
Norway forward Elisabeth Terland is among the new players who joined Albion in the summer transfer windowCredit: Reuters
New arrivals include Poppy Pattinson signed from Everton and South Korea midfielder Yeeun Park, 25.
Norway striker Elisabeth Terland, 21, joined from her country’s top tier with a tally of 10 goals in 14 games for former club SK Brann this year.
And the Seagulls also welcome the return of Rebekah Stott following her recovery from stage 3 Hodgkin lymphoma.
The New Zealand international defender, who was diagnosed with blood cancer in March 2021, has been in remission for a year.
Powell is delighted to have Rebekah Stott return to BrightonCredit: Getty
Powell added: “It’s so lovely to have her back just because of who is first and foremost.
“When we talk about someone having cancer (and recovering) the football just pales into significance.
“The fact that she’s still with us she’s healthy, she’s happy to be back is the most important.” More