Chelsea coup threatens Arsenal
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Article summary
Chelsea LFC have launched a challenge to Arsenal LFC's dominant status in England by signing Lianne Sanderson and Anita Asante while Mary Phillip has also left the Gunners.
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Chelsea strengthen
Striker Sanderson, 20, the versatile 23-year-old Asante and Phillip, 31, are all likely squad members for England if they qualify for UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™. They helped Arsenal LFC win a grand slam of UEFA Women's Cup, FA Women's Premier League, FA Women's Cup and League Cup in 2006/07, successfully defending the league and FA Cup last season. Chelsea, who already boast England trio Eniola Aluko, Casey Stoney and Siobhan Chamberlain as well as experienced American midfielder Lorrie Fair, finished fifth in 2007/08, 30 points behind Arsenal. They have a new manager in departing Arsenal reserve team coach Steve Jones.
Arsenal blow
Arsenal manager Vic Akers, whose team enter the UEFA Women's Cup in October's second qualifying round against the side which beat them in last season's quarter-finals, Olympique Lyonnais, and two clubs to be decided, admitted the loss of academy products Sanderson and Asante was a blow. "They are two top-class players," he told Arsenal's official website. "Lianne picked up the top goalscorer award last year, in a season that she possibly feels was not her best playing season. In terms of scoring, though, she was phenomenal. She was going onwards and upwards and will hopefully be a big player for England in the future. Anita is obviously a big blow for us, she was outstanding last year again and is always consistent in her performance."
