# 2011 Arsenal L.F.C. season

The 2011 season was Arsenal Ladies Football Club's 24th season since forming in 1987. The club participated in the first edition of the FA WSL, England's new top flight for women's football. In April, Arsenal played in the first ever WSL match, defeating Chelsea 1–0 at Imperial Fields, thanks to a goal from Gilly Flaherty, the first goal in WSL history. Arsenal won the inaugural title, and also played in the FA Women's Cup, and the FA WSL Cup, winning the former against Bristol Academy in May and the latter against Birmingham City in September. They also competed in the UEFA Women's Champions League, losing at the Semi Final stage to Lyon.
As this season bridged the gap between the Men's Team's 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, the team wore two different sets of kits during each half of the season.

## Squad statistics
### First team squad

Squad statistics correct as of May 2018
| Squad No. | Name | Date of Birth (Age) | Since | Last Contract | Signed From |
| Goalkeepers ||||||
| 1 | Emma Byrne | (1979-06-14) 14 June 1979 (age 45) | 2000 | | Fortuna Hjørring |
| 13 | Rebecca Spencer | (1991-02-22) 22 February 1991 (age 34) | 2013 | | Birmingham City |
| 31 | Sophie Harris | (1994-08-25) 25 August 1994 (age 30) | 2010 | | Lincoln City |
| Defenders ||||||
| 2 | Steph Houghton | (1988-04-23) 23 April 1988 (age 36) | 2010 | August 2010 | Leeds Carnegie |
| 3 | Yvonne Tracy | (1981-02-27) 27 February 1981 (age 44) | 2000 | | St Patrick's Athletic |
| 5 | Gilly Flaherty | (1991-08-24) 24 August 1991 (age 33) | 2003 | | Millwall Lionesses |
| 6 | Faye White (captain) | (1978-02-02) 2 February 1978 (age 47) | 1996 | | Horsham Ladies |
| 19 | Niamh Fahey | (1987-10-13) 13 October 1987 (age 37) | 2008 | | Salthill Devon |
| 21 | Lara Fay | (1993-08-09) 9 August 1993 (age 31) | | | Homegrown |
| 25 | Hayley Ladd | (1993-10-06) 6 October 1993 (age 31) | 2009 | | St Albans City |
| Midfielders ||||||
| 4 | Jayne Ludlow | (1979-01-07) 7 January 1979 (age 46) | 2000 | | Southampton Saints |
| 7 | Ciara Grant | (1978-05-17) 17 May 1978 (age 46) | 1998 | | St Patrick's Athletic |
| 8 | Jordan Nobbs | (1992-12-08) 8 December 1992 (age 32) | 2010 | August 2010 | Sunderland |
| 16 | Kim Little | (1990-09-26) 26 September 1990 (age 34) | 2008 | | Hibernian |
| 17 | Katie Chapman | (1982-06-15) 15 June 1982 (age 42) | 2010 | November 2010 | Chicago Red Stars |
| 28 | Brooke Nunn | (1993-02-04) 4 February 1993 (age 32) | | | Homegrown |
| 29 | Laura Coombs | (1991-01-29) 29 January 1991 (age 34) | | | Charlton Athletic |
| 30 | Bianca Bragg | (1994-01-14) 14 January 1994 (age 31) | | | Homegrown |
| Forwards ||||||
| 9 | Ellen White | (1989-05-09) 9 May 1989 (age 35) | 2010 | July 2010 | Leeds Carnegie |
| 10 | Julie Fleeting | (1980-12-18) 18 December 1980 (age 44) | 2004 | | Ross County |
| 11 | Rachel Yankey | (1979-11-01) 1 November 1979 (age 45) | 2005 | | New Jersey Wildcats |
| 12 | Gemma Davison | (1987-04-17) 17 April 1987 (age 37) | 2012 | | Sky Blue FC |
| 14 | Jen Beattie | (1991-05-13) 13 May 1991 (age 33) | 2009 | | Celtic |
| 15 | Danielle Carter | (1993-05-18) 18 May 1993 (age 31) | 2009 | | Homegrown |
| 20 | Lauren Bruton | (1992-11-22) 22 November 1992 (age 32) | 2008 | | Luton Town |
Italic indicates an academy player.
‡ = Player played in the earlier rounds of the UEFA Women's Champions League, but departed Arsenal before the start of the WSL Season

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Name | Super League | Super League | FA Cup | FA Cup | WSL Cup | WSL Cup | UWCL | UWCL | Total | Total |
| No. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||
| 1 | Emma Byrne | 14 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| 13 | Rebecca Spencer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 31 | Sophie Harris | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||
| 2 | Steph Houghton | 9+5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 24+5 | 2 |
| 3 | Yvonne Tracy | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 |
| 5 | Gilly Flaherty | 13+1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 25+1 | 2 |
| 6 | Faye White (captain) | 5+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 13+1 | 0 |
| 19 | Niamh Fahey | 12 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 24+1 | 0 |
| 21 | Lara Fay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Hayley Ladd | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||
| 4 | Jayne Ludlow | 4+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 11+4 | 2 |
| 7 | Ciara Grant | 14 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 | 7+1 | 1 | 27+2 | 2 |
| 8 | Jordan Nobbs | 9+3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 5+3 | 1 | 20+7 | 2 |
| 16 | Kim Little | 12+1 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 26+1 | 14 |
| 17 | Katie Chapman | 14 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 26+1 | 2 |
| 28 | Brooke Nunn | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 29 | Laura Coombs | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 |
| 30 | Bianca Bragg | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||
| 9 | Ellen White | 11+3 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 7+1 | 3 | 25+4 | 16 |
| 10 | Julie Fleeting | 7+4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0+4 | 2 | 9+8 | 6 |
| 11 | Rachel Yankey | 14 | 5 | 3+1 | 2 | 2+1 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 27+2 | 13 |
| 12 | Gemma Davison | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 14 | Jen Beattie | 6+3 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 | 0+3 | 2 | 3+4 | 1 | 11+11 | 4 |
| 15 | Danielle Carter | 10+4 | 3 | 2+2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3+4 | 2 | 18+10 | 6 |
| 20 | Lauren Bruton | 0+2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 |
Italic indicates an academy player.

### Goalscorers

| Rank | No. | Position | Name | Super League | FA Cup | WSL Cup | UWCL | Total |
| 1 | 9 | FW | Ellen White | 6 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 16 |
| 2 | 16 | MF | Kim Little | 9 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 14 |
| 3 | 11 | FW | Rachel Yankey | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 13 |
| 4 | 10 | FW | Julie Fleeting | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 4 | 15 | FW | Danielle Carter | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | 14 | FW | Jen Beattie | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | 4 | MF | Jayne Ludlow | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | 7 | MF | Ciara Grant | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | 8 | MF | Jordan Nobbs | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | 17 | MF | Katie Chapman | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | 2 | DF | Steph Houghton | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | 5 | DF | Gilly Flaherty | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 7 | 12 | FW | Gemma Davison | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 29 | 12 | 11 | 20 | 72 |

### Disciplinary record

| Rank | No. | Position | Name | Super League | Super League | FA Cup | FA Cup | WSL Cup | WSL Cup | UWCL | UWCL | Total | Total |
| 1 | 5 | DF | Gilly Flaherty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | 11 | FW | Rachel Yankey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2 | 19 | DF | Niamh Fahey | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | 10 | FW | Julie Fleeting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | 2 | DF | Steph Houghton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | 12 | FW | Gemma Davison | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | 7 | MF | Ciara Grant | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | 17 | MF | Katie Chapman | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | 6 | DF | Faye White (captain) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | 9 | FW | Ellen White | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 1 |

### Clean sheets

| Rank | No. | Name | Super League | FA Cup | WSL Cup | UWCL | Total |
| 1 | 1 | Emma Byrne | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| 2 | 13 | Rebecca Spencer | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 14 |

## Transfers, loans and other signings
### Transfers in

| Announcement date | No. | Position | Player | From club |
| 13 July 2010 | 9 | FW | Ellen White | Leeds United |
| 10 August 2010 | 2 | DF | Steph Houghton | Leeds United |
| 10 August 2010 | 8 | MF | Jordan Nobbs | Sunderland |
| October 2010 | 17 | MF | Katie Chapman | Chicago Red Stars |

### Transfers out

| Announcement date | No. | Position | Player | To club |
| 2 September 2010 | 20 | FW | Helen Lander | Chelsea |
| 2010 | | FW | Ruesha Littlejohn | Glasgow City |
| 2010 | 21 | FW | Lara Fay | Chelsea |
| 2010 | 23 | MF | Abbie Prosser | Barnet |
| 2010 | 27 | MF | Naomi Cole | Chelsea |
| January 2011 | | GK | Sarah Quantrill | Chelsea |
| 1st February 2011 | 12 | FW | Gemma Davison | Western New York Flash |
| 2011 | 29 | MF | Laura Coombs | Chelsea |

### Loans out

| Announcement date | No. | Position | Player | To club |
| 2011 | 29 | MF | Laura Coombs | Los Angeles Strikers |

## Club
### Kit (2010-11)

Supplier: Nike / Sponsor: Fly Emirates
| Home | Away | Goalkeeper 1 | Goalkeeper 2 | Goalkeeper 3 | Goalkeeper 4 |

### Kit information

Nike released a new set of kits for the 2010–11 season.
* Home: After the controversial home kit of the last two seasons which ditched Arsenal's iconic white sleeves, the club returned to their traditional design. The kit was inspired by the home kits used in 1970s, which featured a white round neck collar.
* Away: Arsenal's away kit combined the club's traditional yellow away colour with maroon, a shade similar to the club's original kits. The kit featured maroon pinstripes and V-neck with maroon shorts and hooped socks.
* Keeper: Arsenal goalkeepers wore four different kits throughout the season. The most conspicuous feature of the kits were the black zig-zags on the arms, based on the template Nike used in 2010 for its main clubs. The primary kit was grey, while the alternatives were black, turquoise and pink.

#### Kit usage (2010-11)

| Kit | Combination | Usage | Usage |
| Home | Red body White sleeves White shorts White socks. | WSL | Chelsea (A) Bristol Academy (H) Birmingham City (H) Bristol Academy (A) |
| Home | Red body White sleeves White shorts White socks. | FA Cup | Barnet (A) Bristol Academy (N) |
| Home | Red body White sleeves White shorts White socks. | UWCL | Masinac (H) Rayo Vallecano (H) Linköping (H) Linköping (A) Lyon (A) Lyon (H) |
| Away | Yellow body Yellow sleeves Maroon shorts Yellow socks | WSL | Lincoln (A) Doncaster Rovers Belles (A) |
| Away | Yellow body Yellow sleeves Maroon shorts Yellow socks | FA Cup | Everton (A) Sunderland (A) |
| Away | Yellow body Yellow sleeves Maroon shorts Yellow socks | UWCL | Masinac (A) Rayo Vallecano (A) |

### Kit (2011-12)

Supplier: Nike / Sponsor: Fly Emirates
| Home alt. | Away | Goalkeeper 1 | Goalkeeper 2 | Goalkeeper 3 |

### Kit information

Arsenal's home, away, third and goalkeeper outfits featured an anniversary crest to mark the club's 125th anniversary. The crest featured 15 laurel leaves on the left side of the crest to reflect the detail on the reverse of the sixpence pieces paid by 15 men to establish the Club in Woolwich in 1886. The 15 oak leaves to the right of the crest paid tribute to the founders who would meet in the local Royal Oak pub. Underneath the crest was one of the club's first recorded mottos – "Forward" – with the anniversary dates of 1886 and 2011 either side.
* Home: The home kit was based on Nike Classic 2011 template in the club's traditional red and white colours, with red trim on the arms.
* Away: The away kit was based on Nike Harlequin 2011 template. The front of the away kit was divided into two-halves in navy blue and one turquoise, inspired by some of the away kits in the 1990s which featured the same colour scheme. The diagonal design represented the gnomon (the pointer) which casts the shadow on a sundial – to commemorate the original Dial Square sundial on the site of the Arsenal munitions factory in Woolwich, where the club was founded in 1886. The back of the shirt was entirely navy blue, with one sleeve navy and the other turquoise. A stripe runs down each sleeves, broken into three parts to further represent the Dial Square sundial. The away shorts were navy blue, as were the socks
* Third: The yellow/maroon away kit from last season was retained as a third kit with 125th anniversary celebratory maroon badge.
* Keeper: The goalkeeper kits featured a stunning graphic running down from the bottom of the arms to the side of the shirt, which was part of Nike's 2011 goalkeeper template also worn by other clubs as well. The first-choice kit was mainly navy with orange detailing. The alternative kits were dark green with yellow detailing and grey with turquoise detailing, respectively.

#### Kit usage (2011-12)

| Kit | Combination | Usage | Usage |
| Home alt. | Red body White sleeves White shorts Red socks. | WSL | Liverpool (H), Chelsea (H) Everton (A) Lincoln (H) Birmingham City (A) Doncaster Rovers Belles (H) Everton (H) |
| Home alt. | Red body White sleeves White shorts Red socks. | WSL Cup | Lincoln (H) Birmingham City (N) |
| Away | Blue and navy body Blue and navy sleeves Navy shorts Navy socks. | WSL | Liverpool (A) |
| Away | Blue and navy body Blue and navy sleeves Navy shorts Navy socks. | WSL Cup | Liverpool (A) |

## Competitions
### FA WSL
#### Partial league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Arsenal (C) | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 9 | +20 | 32 | Qualification to Champions League |
| 2 | Birmingham City | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 29 | 13 | +16 | 29 | Qualification to Champions League |
| 3 | Everton | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 13 | +6 | 25 | |
| 4 | Lincoln Ladies | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 16 | +2 | 21 | |
| 5 | Bristol Academy | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 20 | −6 | 16 | |

#### Results Summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |

#### Results by matchday

| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| Ground | A | H | H | A | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A |
| Result | W | W | L | W | W | D | W | W | L | W | D | W | W | W |
| Position | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |