The Kicks

The News

Arsenal and England star Chloe Kelly is left out of the England Squad. Manager Serena Wiegman indicates lack of performance, while Kelly's management insists she's injured. In a further twist, Arsenal boss says there is an injury or 'something they can't see'. Hmmmm

Ella Toone also doesn't make the squad. 

Aston Villa has sacked manager Natalia Arroyo after a slow start to the WSL. The team, despite taking a point out of their opening match against Chelsea from an own goal, and scraping a last-gasp equaliser from a corner against Brighton, have looked toothless up front.

There is UWCL game action on Wednesday 30th September and Thursday 1st October - coverage by Disney+ - complete, no doubt, with dogs, recipes and surprise! ad breaks.

Wednesday
Paris FC v Arsenal - 5.45pm
Lyon v Chelsea  - 8pm

Thursday
Man City v Real Madrid - 8pm.

The Articles

The Caitlin Foord Conundrum - click here for full article.

It seems that Arsenal fans have turned on their once much-beloved Aussie forward. Each appearance she makes is followed by loud grumblings on X calling for her to be X-communicated from the club, and it's hard to argue with those who have statistics on their side.

Foord only scored two goals in the 25/26 WSL season, and in perhaps a more damning statistic, she didn't register a single assist. Not one in over twelve starts for the club and over 1200 minutes played. This summer, despite the low output, Arsenal rewarded her with a two-year contract and the number nine shirt. Beth Mead was on her way to Manchester City, so it's understandable if they were wary of letting two experienced wingers go in a single transfer window.  And Foord did have her moments for Arsenal last year. She was the hero in the Champions Cup, scoring the late winner that saved their blushes in a competition they should have won easily. To Foord's credit, she is always more than willing to track back and help out defensively. For Australia, she's still a nailed-on starter.

Her relationship with a lot of Arsenal fans, however, seems to have soured beyond repair, and not just among the terminally online. The groans and mumbles have spread to the terraces, to the private Whatsapp groups. The criticism is loud and brutal, and interestingly, often described as 'hate'. Such a strong word, often misused these days to describe an opinion or criticism we dislike. Shouldn't female football fans be able to express their unhappiness with a player just as viciously as they would in the men's game? Everyone in the Gunner's line-up has been named and shamed for below par performances this season; from Russo to Mariona, to Battle and Little, without it being labelled 'hate'.

Read more by clicking this link

The Predictions 

Week 5

Manchester City v Arsenal - 2-2. Both teams will be leggy after and UWCL - slugfest.

Brighton V Charlton - 3-0. Seagulls too technical in midfield.

Man Utd v Liverpool - 1-2. Two teams performing well, will cancel each other for large sections of the game, out but Liverpool will come out on top. 

Tottenham v LCL - 1-3.  Feel like LCL are on the rise and clicking as a team. Tottenham's will this tricky despite their great start to the season.

Aston Villa v Crystal Palace. 0-1. Aston Villa in the trenches.

Everton v Birmingham City. 1-2 Birmingham are such a well coached team

West Ham v Chelsea 1-3. Has the potential to be tighter. West Ham has a great French duo up top. Might surprise us.