The story of Arsenal Women is not just a tale of success, but a chronicle of pioneering spirit, unmatched domestic dominance, and a seamless transition between generations of greatness. From its humble, groundbreaking founding to its status as a European powerhouse, the club embodies the very progress and professionalism of the women’s game in England.
The Architect: Vic Akers’ foundational legacy and culture
The emotional and professional heart of Arsenal Women for two decades was Vic Akers OBE. As the team’s founder in 1987, Akers, who simultaneously served as the men’s team kit man, devoted himself fully to building a professional culture in an amateur era. He guided the side to an astonishing 33 major trophies, setting a benchmark for the entire sport.
Akers’ legacy is built not only on silverware but on mentorship. As Arsenal legend Alex Scott once reflected: “He was always on his phone, 24/7… He was that second father figure to me.” To help his players commit to the club, Akers even sourced jobs for them within the wider Arsenal structure—in the club shop, marketing, or laundry—allowing them to maintain their football careers. This commitment to player well-being established the core principle: excellence is non-negotiable, and the players must represent the club with discipline and class. This focus on homegrown talent remains the bedrock of the Arsenal DNA.
The unrepeatable zenith: The quadruple invincibles of 2006/07
The pinnacle of Akers’ era—and perhaps the greatest single season in British club football history—was the historic 2006/07 campaign. That squad achieved the quadruple (League, two Domestic Cups, and the European title), becoming the first English team to win the European crown. Their statistical dominance was mind-boggling: an overall campaign record of P44 W42 D2 L0, including winning all 22 league games, scoring 119 goals and conceding just 10.
The 2007 UEFA Women’s Cup (now the Champions League) triumph against two-time champions Umeå IK remains a defining narrative of resilience. After Alex Scott’s spectacular long-range goal secured a crucial 1-0 first-leg lead in Sweden, the second leg at Borehamwood was a battle of attrition. Akers’ team, featuring stars like Faye White, Jayne Ludlow, and Katie Chapman, had to withstand relentless pressure from the Swedish side. The defining moment of sheer luck came when a Umeå shot crashed off the post, struck goalkeeper Emma Byrne on the back of the head, and miraculously deflected wide. For Akers, this was the sign: “That was the point where I said, ‘We’ve won this—they’re not going to score.'”
Bridging the eras: Continuity in the boardroom and talent development
The club’s stability relies heavily on figures who span these eras, ensuring the founding culture endures through professionalism:
- Clare Wheatley – The administrative backbone: A former Arsenal player under Vic Akers, Clare Wheatley is the current Director of Women’s Football. She succeeded Akers as General Manager and has been the crucial administrative figure overseeing the club’s transition to full professionalism, spearheading the expansion into the Emirates, and ensuring the development pathway remains strong. She is a living embodiment of the club’s continuity at the highest level of operation.
- Kelly Smith’s enduring influence: A true legend and a star of the 2007 team, Kelly Smith continues to contribute as an assistant coach under Renée Slegers, focusing specifically on developing the attacking unit.
- Vivianne Miedema – The modern goal machine: The Dutch international redefined the centre-forward role in the WSL, becoming the club’s all-time leading WSL goal scorer. Miedema’s supreme technique and creative goal scoring provided the firepower that kept Arsenal at the WSL summit during a period of intense financial rivalry.
The modern project: Slegers’ tactical clarity and psychological resilience
The current chapter is defined by the leadership of Head Coach Renée Slegers, a former Arsenal academy player. Slegers employs a coaching philosophy focused on calmness, clarity, and empowering individuals with “collective ownership.” This focus on psychological resilience allowed the team to recover from setbacks, like trailing in European knockout games, by staying “calm” to problem-solve rather than become emotional.
Slegers’ clear tactical structure is built around her key players:
- The orchestrator Kim Little: The captain remains the midfield’s quiet, intelligent heartbeat. Little operates as a deep-lying playmaker (the “Number 6”), where her positional awareness, technical precision, and experience are vital to initiating the high press and ensuring tactical balance both in and out of possession.
- The full-back dynamics: The team utilises an asymmetrical attack. The high-octane running of US international Emily Fox at right-back is crucial; Fox is often instructed to push high and wide, creating space and providing defensive cover in transition, highlighting how individual player strengths are mapped directly onto the team’s tactical needs.
- The Lionesses factor: The core presence of English stars (Mead, Williamson, Russo, and Kelly) further fuels the team’s visibility, success, and high-performance culture, creating a virtuous cycle of sporting and commercial growth. Meanwhile, the club nurtures the next generation of talent, such as Michelle Agyemang (nominated for the Kopa Trophy), ensuring the development pipeline remains robust.
A sustainable future: Commercial growth and the Emirates home
The team’s sporting success has catalysed an unprecedented commercial shift under Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE). This investment has driven rapid growth; Arsenal has consistently broken WSL attendance records, with North London Derby crowds exceeding 60,000.
This sustained demand led to the monumental decision: Arsenal Women will play all WSL home fixtures at the Emirates Stadium starting the 2025/26 season, making it the primary home of the team for the first time. This move not only provides the women’s team with the best possible professional environment but also firmly positions the club at the forefront of the commercialisation and cultural acceptance of women’s football.
As captain Leah Williamson noted, the atmosphere created by these crowds is a tangible advantage: “Every time we come here this is a professional environment, the pitch is incredible, the fans, you take so much from that atmosphere.” The massive crowds signal that fans have found an environment where they feel they belong, fulfilling the emotional purpose of a football club.
Conclusion: A legacy in motion
The story of Arsenal Women is unique in world football. It is a narrative where pioneering spirit and unwavering professionalism—set by Vic Akers in an amateur landscape—have yielded two distinct eras of European glory, 18 years apart. The club’s continuity, maintained by leaders like Clare Wheatley and the coaching legacy of Kelly Smith, has successfully navigated the shift from Meadow Park to the 60,000-seat Emirates Stadium.
Today, the team embodies a modern fusion of global talent and homegrown discipline, guided by a focus on psychological resilience and collective effort. The past legends created the history; the current squad, fuelled by a devoted fan base and significant investment, is not just chasing records, but defining the future of what a successful, sustainable, and socially impact women’s football club can be. The enduring dynasty of Arsenal Women is a legacy in constant, exhilarating motion.