Danielle Carter: Arsenal Ladies sensational young striker

Speed. Pace. Unique technical abilities.
She’s a goal hunter that makes any midfielder’s job easier. Her huge potential it’s not difficult to be noticed every time she is on the pitch.
It didn’t take much for the 20-year old to be transformed into the fans little talisman.
That way she continued the golden tradition of a series of great and gifted strikers wearing the club’s red/white shirt.
The stunning Danielle Carter is a technically gifted forward who is capable of unlocking the strongest of defenses. Her speed and the great positioning give her quite an advantage whenever she’s near the box, always ready to cause some real trouble to the opposition defense.
She broke into the Gunners’ first-team during 2009/10, having joined from Leyton Orient’s Centre of Excellence and made her first debut with Arsenal Ladies on November 11, 2009.
Danielle was principally deployed on the wing last season before she made it to become the spearhead of the Ladies attack.
In the first couple of matches, she featured as a substitute to eventually become an established first-squad member. Her faith and patience paid off, but Kerr’s support and faith in her played a vital role as well in her development as a player.
“It is very reassuring that she feels I can play in big games – not only on the wing but centrally.
It’s good to have that versatility.” – said Carter
“I started off playing as a No 9 then got moved out on the wing. I think I prefer playing centrally.”

Last season she has been in a devastating form, impressively netting a total of 16 goals in 14 games, including five against WFC SSHVSM Kairat in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Her performance cannot exclude the double she scored against Glasgow City, and again a brace against Doncaster Belles, with the match ending 6-0 to Arsenal.
She was a strong element of Kerr’s squad in Champions League, scoring a brace against FC Bobruichanka before adding another against Rayo Vallecano the following round.
Danielle fired home her seventh goal of the season from  inside the six-yard box against the rival Chelsea, that way scoring the one and only goal, good enough to close the gap between Arsenal and the last-year champions Liverpool to two points.

The highlight of the pre-season friendlies for the youngster is the hat-trick she scored against Derby County, just to warn us about the spectacular season in front of us and her continuing form.
You simply cannot expect Danielle to score less than 2 goals, she’s a terrific goal hunter and the fact she’s only 20-years-old makes even more special and promising prospect for the future.
Her development into a precise and effective clinical finisher is impressive and admirable, a nightmare for every goalkeeper and a difficult task for every defender to keep an eye on her.
I can swear I don’t see any difference between Danielle Carter and a male striker playing in BPL. She automatically provides sensation, comfort and pleasure when watching her perform.

The debut in Champions League dates from September 11, 2009 (Round of 16) in a 2-0 win for Arsenal against Sparta Praha, while her international debut dates earlier in 2008, featuring in UEFA European Women’s Under-17 Championship (Second qualifying round), March, 25, helping England win against Czech Republic by 4-0.
An England U-23 international, Danielle has been called up to the Three Lionesses squad for the first time, for World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Turkey in September.
Previously she has featured for England at Under-17 and Under-20 level (World Cup)  scoring 12 goals in 39 youth internationals.
My expectations are high for this remarkable youngster and in my opinion she is the typical Arsenal striker, completed in every aspect, ready to carry the cannon and lead the team up front.
In the following 2-3 years she will transform into a key player for Shelley’s squad.
The understanding and the partnership that exists among the girls in midfield and the forward line will be the key to this season’s success.
The new contract she signed in November, 2013 keeps us satisfied of course, and bounds her with a long-term stay to the best club ever featuring in the Woman’s football.
We wish Danielle good luck on the new season, and a collection of 20 exquisite goals, scored Danielle style.

Thank you for reading!

Anouk Hoogendijk: The sweet no.6

Arriving as the first ever overseas signing, Hoogendijk has raised the fans expectations for the new season.
The departure of key players as Kim Little, Stephanie Houghton, Gemma Davison or Ciara Grant, raised many question marks on whether Arsenal Ladies will continue with the same dynamics and intensity as before.
Arsenal Ladies responded quickly by signing 6 players, lately two experienced Japanese internationals Yukari Kinga (INAC Kobe) and  Shinji Ohno (Sayama FC), both silver medalists of London 2012.
However, the signing that thrilled all of us, no doubt it was Noukie. She didn’t fail to get the attention of our manager, Arsene, as he immediately asked if she was special.
Well, Mr. Wenger, eyes can give you a fully vivid picture on that how special she is.
Our stunning defender Thomas Vermaelen  also posed with her, holding the Arsenal shirt in front of the lens.
The 28-year-old Dutch arrived from Ajax this transfer window, completing 27 appearances for the Dutch side.
It’s not the first time Anouk features in England. She has experience formerly playing for Bristol Academy, an eight-month spell in 2011, appearing in 13 matches.
She’s an experienced player in an international level as well, having 94 appearances for Netherlands and scoring 8 goals. She played in every single match for Netherlands national team during UEFA Women’s Euro 2009, scoring the final penalty in the semis against France.
Her natural position is central defense, but she can play as a defensive midfielder as well.
Surprisingly, in the early years Anouk’s playing position was a striker/right wing. Her strong point were the dribbling abilities, she dribbled past many players and scored a lot of goals.
After that, she admits she switched to a number 10 position, then eventually turning into a controlling midfielder.
Her first coach names her as one of the most talented players she have worked with.

The WSL fixtures have been announced already, and Shelley Kerr’s side will face Notts County away, on Wednesday, April 16.
But, fortunately, for the impatient fans to see Noukie in action, will take only two days, as Arsenal Ladies play Derby County in pre-season friendlies, February 18.
Currently having our no. 6 at men’s side on fire, we all hope this number will carry the same consistency, solidness and bossing to our stunner new signing.
Apart from her immense passion for football and her talent, obviously she has another ability; hypnotize us with her exquisite hazel/green eyes, and force us drool over her athletic in-shape body.
A dream for every striker to be a target for the new Dutch goonerette. Hopefully she gets to celebrate the new season in London with a trophy.
Expecting the attendance to quadruple, Arsenal better get the ticket prices high.

Welcome to Arsenal, Anouk!

Thank you for reading.