Arsenal captain Kim Little on the Champions League winning side’s ambitions for the season ahead

Breaking records seems to be par for the course for Arsenal women. This summer they became the first club to break the £1 million transfer barrier when they signed Liverpool’s Olivia Smith, and they’ve broken Women’s Super League (WSL) attendance records time and time again; eight of the top nine most-attended WSL games of all time involved Arsenal. But the record they broke back in May this year has to have been the most special – when they became the first English women’s team to win the Champions League not once, but twice.

It was a special moment for Kim Little, the team’s captain, who has racked up 175 goals in her 378 appearances as a midfielder. “When you’ve been at the club for a long time, as many of us have at Arsenal, it creates bonds and friendships that are really special,” she says. “That doesn’t always happen in a workplace or club environment, so to have that adds to the experience of playing here. And to share moments like the Champions League final – not only with teammates but with friends – meant a lot to us. It made it even more special.” 

While the fans are still basking in the glory of that victory, the team has been getting back to work over the last couple of weeks to ensure they put their best foot forward in the league. Success isn’t an invitation for complacency, and the team is keen to start the new WSL season off on the right foot. Their first game of the season at the Emirates (against newly promoted women-only club London City Lionesses) may have ended 4-1 to Arsenal, but the team is hungry for consistency as they look ahead.

“It’s easy to focus on that Champions League win, but playing at the highest level requires consistency,” says Little. “We’re aware that we can reach an incredibly high level against some of the best opponents in Europe – we showed that in the Champions League. But to win domestically, you need to have that high level on a really, really consistent basis. I think we have the capacity to do that, and that’s the challenge for us this year. So, we’re putting in the work to keep that level on a daily basis, and hopefully that’ll show within our games.”

Little, who has almost 200 appearances in the WSL, knows all too well how competitive domestic football in England has become. She’s played in the league since its very start in 2011 (taking a break between 2014-2017 to play in America and Australia) and has taken home numerous trophies with Arsenal during that time.  

Being in the league for so long means she’s seen support for the women’s game grow and evolve – and being at Arsenal means being at the forefront of that growth. This season, the team will play all its home games at the Emirates; a new banner has been added to the stadium with both the men’s and women’s trophies throughout the years displayed for all to see. With a record 15,000+ season tickets sold, it’s guaranteed to be a lively atmosphere for both the team and their fans. For Little, this is “another great step” in the club’s journey.

“It’s now the women’s team’s home as well as the men’s team’s home,” she says. “It’s incredible to see the support. We’ve had amazing support at our stadium in Borehamwood for a number of years, but playing in a bigger stadium allows that to grow. And having those 15,000 season tickets sold shows the love for and support for women’s football – it just adds yet another reason why I love playing this game. It’s really special.” 

Images: Getty