Kelly Smith: 'Arsenal can win the WSL – this side is similar to our quadruple winners' | OneFootball

Kelly Smith: 'Arsenal can win the WSL – this side is similar to our quadruple winners' | OneFootball

Icon: GiveMeSport

GiveMeSport

·14 October 2021

Kelly Smith: 'Arsenal can win the WSL – this side is similar to our quadruple winners'

Article image:Kelly Smith: 'Arsenal can win the WSL – this side is similar to our quadruple winners'

Arsenal have an incredibly rich history and are statistically the most successful English women's football club ever.

The Gunners boast a total of 50 major domestic trophies, including holding the record for the most top division titles (15), FA Cups (14), League Cups (5), Premier League Cups (10), and Community Shields (5).


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They also won the Champions League back in 2007 and are still the only English club in history to do so.

The historic 2006/07 season for Arsenal is one club legend Kelly Smith will remember for the rest of her life – when her side won an unprecedented quadruple.

Speaking to GiveMeSport Women, the former midfielder admitted she believes it was a feat that will never be recreated in women's football.

However, she has drawn similarities between the history-making Arsenal squad and the Jonas Eidevall team of today.

Article image:Kelly Smith: 'Arsenal can win the WSL – this side is similar to our quadruple winners'

"They've got a good bunch now – a lot of experience mixed with youth. There's a whole new energy about the team since the new manager has come in, it's given them a real lift and they seem to be enjoying it and playing well – similar to how it was in 2007.

"There are similarities and there are certainly many game winners [in the team] too. Beth Mead is in exceptional form, you've got the best striker in the world in Vivianne Miedema, they just signed Mana Iwabuchi who is flying."

Article image:Kelly Smith: 'Arsenal can win the WSL – this side is similar to our quadruple winners'

These players are world class and similar to what we had in my era.

Smith then went on to say the Champions League is perhaps the most sought after title in football. Last season, Chelsea came agonisingly close to becoming just the second ever English side to win it, but they lost 4-0 to Barcelona in the final.

Despite labelling the challenge as "difficult", Smith believes it would be "really special" if her former side went on to win their second European title and has full faith in the current squad.

Article image:Kelly Smith: 'Arsenal can win the WSL – this side is similar to our quadruple winners'

The Gunners currently lead the WSL table on 15 points, having won all five of their matches so far.

Arsenal are the only team to still boast a 100 percent win record this season and have found the back of the net 19 times, averaging 3.8 goals per game.

The title race has already established itself to be a thrilling one and Smith believes there could be a changing of the guard at the end of this season, with Arsenal "absolutely" possessing the tools to become champions.

Article image:Kelly Smith: 'Arsenal can win the WSL – this side is similar to our quadruple winners'

"I think they've got one of the strongest if not the strongest squad in the league, along with Chelsea.

"Beating Chelsea gave them a massive amount of confidence and I just think they've got this mentality within them that they hate losing. The ultimate goal is to win the league, and they're going about it in the right way.

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