In this episode I reflect on Rosa’s departure, why I think her move was probably the right one for both player and club and why I believe some of the criticism aimed at Renée Slegers has been unfair.

The main focus, though, is Isa Damm.

Rather than simply repeating Arsenal’s announcement, I explore why developing goalkeepers is completely different to developing outfield players, why I think Arsenal have signed Isa for the footballer she could become rather than the goalkeeper she is today and what this transfer tells us about the long-term thinking behind Arsenal’s recruitment this summer.

I also talk about the disappointing reaction from some supporters on social media and why I believe Arsenal Women should continue to be the welcoming

community that has attracted so many people to the club.

Finally, I reflect on what Ona Batlle, Lisa Baum, Caitlin Foord and now Isa Damm have collectively taught me about Arsenal Women’s transfer strategy and the direction this football club is heading.

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

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Some sections of the fanbase have expressed disappointment that Rosa has been allowed to leave but the club elected to give Caitlin Foord a two year contract extension.

But instead of comparing Rosa Kafaji with Caitlin Foord, perhaps we should be asking why successive Arsenal managers and Australia managers continue to trust Foord in some of the biggest matches.

In this episode I explore why supporters and coaches often judge footballers in completely different ways, what managers are really looking for beyond goals and assists and why Caitlin Foord remains such an important part of Renée Slegers’ Arsenal.

I want to get you thinking about how we watch football and how we are often too quick to judge players on the obvious.

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I found myself asking a different question.

Why did Arsenal Women decide that a 19-year-old was the right player to invest in when the club is trying to win the WSL and Champions League this coming season?

In this episode of the Arsenal Women: Trailblazers Podcast, I explore what Lisa Baum’s signing tells us about Arsenal’s recruitment strategy, why elite clubs buy players before they desperately need them, how Renée Slegers is building for both today and tomorrow, and why supporters should resist judging young players too quickly.

This isn’t just a profile of Arsenal’s newest signing, it’s a conversation with you about how the very best football clubs think.

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the obvious comparison. Katie McCabe leaves Arsenal after more than a decade, Ona Batlle arrives from Barcelona, both are elite full-backs and both can play on the left side.

But I don’t think that’s the actual conversation we should be having. It’s just the easy one.

In this episode of Trailblazers: The Arsenal Women Podcast, I look beyond the easy headline and ask whether Arsenal are actually changing the profile of this team under Renée Slegers rather than simply replacing one player with another.

We talk about what Katie McCabe gave Arsenal over more than ten unforgettable years, why that connection with supporters cannot simply be replaced by a new signing, and what Ona Batlle brings instead through technical security, tactical flexibility, Champions League experience and the ability to help Arsenal control matches in a different way.

Also, instead of asking whether one player is better than the other, this episode explores what the differences between them tells us about the next version and the evolution of Arsenal Women.

The real story isn’t that Arsenal have replaced Katie McCabe - it’s that they’re trying to become something new.

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

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But this episode is not just a “great, we’ve signed someone from Barcelona” reaction, because everyone can do that bit. The more interesting question is what Batlle’s arrival actually tells us about the Arsenal Women side Renée Slegers is trying to build.

In this episode of Trailblazers: The Arsenal Women Podcast, I look at why Ona Batlle feels like more than just another summer signing. We talk about control, technical security, full-back flexibility, WSL experience, Champions League know-how and why Arsenal’s recruitment this summer feels like it’s aimed at closing those tiny margins between being very good and becoming properly ruthless.

This is about more than depth. It’s about what Arsenal are trying to become.

If Batlle brings even a slice of that Barcelona sharpness, big-game calm and possession intelligence into this squad, then this could be one of those signings we look back on later and realise was not just about who came in.

It was about where Arsenal Women were going.

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roberto reacts to Arsenal Women’s latest midfield signing as Swiss international Geraldine Reuteler joins permanently from Eintracht Frankfurt, and then turns to the WSL bombshell of the day as London City Lionesses finally confirm the signing of Alexia Putellas from Barcelona.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

•Why Arsenal have gone back in for Reuteler and what kind of midfielder they’re adding to the squad.

•The key numbers and traits that make her such an exciting fit for Reneé Slegers’ midfield.

•First thoughts on Alexia’s move to LCL, what it means for the WSL, and why it might not be as simple as “sign the best player, become the best team”.

•How Roberto sees Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and LCL shaping up for 2026–27, and why he believes Arsenal are quietly building something serious.

There’s also a personal update at the top of the show, a bit of tattoo chat, and an open invitation if you want to come on the pod and dive deeper into what Alexia, Mapi León and Arsenal’s own transfer business could mean for the league.

Connect with Arsenal Women: Trailblazers:

•Instagram: @arsenalwomentrailblazers

•Website: www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

•BlueSky: @ArsenalWomenTB

•X: @ArsenalWomenTB

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Demian reflects on his journey as an Arsenal Women supporter, how players like Daniëlle van de Donk and Vivianne Miedema drew him deeper into the women’s game, and why Arsenal Women became such an important part of his football life.

The conversation also explores the Jonas Eidevall era, the treatment of senior players including Viv, the changing atmosphere around the club, and the impact Renée Slegers has had in reshaping belief around Arsenal Women.

Roberto and Demian also discuss online toxicity, fan culture, the protection of the women’s game from the worst habits of men’s football, Arsenal’s Champions League triumph over Barcelona, how close the club came to the WSL title, and what recent transfer moves could mean for the future.

You can support Demian’s Venezuela earthquake fundraising efforts and find all of his links here: linktr.ee/demianarriaga

Read Demian’s blog here: thatarsenalwomenblog.com

Follow Arsenal Women: Trailblazers on Instagram: @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find Arsenal Women: Trailblazers on BlueSky: ArsenalWomenTB

Visit the website: arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Chapter markers

00:00 – Intro and housekeeping

00:01 – Introducing Demian Arriaga

00:04 – Venezuela, community and fundraiser

00:08 – Shared Arsenal origin stories

00:13 – Jonas era, Viv and player treatment

00:24 – Online toxicity and fan media culture

00:30 – Protecting the women’s game from men’s football behaviour

00:35 – Renée Slegers, season turnaround and Champions League win

00:45 – How close Arsenal were to the WSL title

00:55 – Transfers, Beth Mead and strengthening rivals

01:05 – Fan media, blogging and Demian’s current work

01:10 – How to follow Demian and where to find the pod

01:18 – Outro and thank you

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Arsenal Women: Trailblazers I dive into:

•Selina’s journey from Kiel and youth football in Germany to Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen, Turbine Potsdam, Köln and Hoffenheim

•Her ridiculous goalscoring record at Hoffenheim, including back‑to‑back 16‑goal league seasons and the highest goal contributions in the Bundesliga

•Why Arsenal, why now - and what she herself says about joining the club, North London Forever and walking out at The Emirates for the first time

If you want to understand exactly what kind of forward we’ve signed, and why this move matters for our title and Champions League ambitions, this one’s for you.

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s breaking‑news episode, recorded right after the club dropped THAT reveal video, I talk through:

•My live reaction to the announcement and why this is the best reveal video Arsenal have ever done

•Georgia’s first day at Sobha Realty Training Centre and her new number 4 shirt

•Key quotes from her first interview as a Gunner and what they tell us about her mentality

•Why this move is such a statement for Arsenal Women’s midfield and winning mentality

•A quick nod to Jenna Nighswonger’s future and four young Gunners heading to England U20 camp

•A little thank you and tribute to Demian Arriaga, host of “That Arsenal Women Podcast”

It’s a short, straight‑from-the-heart reaction episode to one of the biggest signings we’ve made in years.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Arsenal Women: Trailblazers in your podcast app, leave a quick rating or review, and share it with another Arsenal fan who’s buzzing about Georgia Stanway. It really helps more Gooners find the show.

Come and carry on the Stanway chat with me over on Instagram at @arsenalwomentrailblazers - let me know your first‑choice midfield three with Georgia in red and white.

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this short update I walk through:

•Who’s switching numbers and where they’re moving to

•How fans are already feeling about one change in particular

•My own take on what the new numbers say about roles and status in the squad

•The significance of it being 30 June – contract expiry day – and why from tomorrow we can hopefully start seeing transfer movement for Arsenal Women

It’s a quick check‑in from me between the bigger episodes: a bit of shirt‑number chat, a bit of fan reaction, and a nod to the fact that the real transfer conversations should start kicking off from 1 July.

Don't forget to connect on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

You can find all about the number changes and shirt exchanges here https://www.arsenal.com/news/four-players-opt-change-squad-numbers-2627

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I break down what Selina Cerci and Lisa Baum could bring to Arsenal Women, and how they plug straight into what we already have with Caitlin Foord, Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius, Chloe Kelly and Olivia Smith.

We chat through:

•Why Cerci looks like a proper “old‑school nine” with modern work‑rate

•What makes Baum such a ridiculous talent at just 19

•How Foord ties the whole thing together with her experience and aggression

•The different combinations: Cerci with Russo, Cerci with Foord, Baum with Kelly, Baum with Smith

•How all of this could change life for Russo in that slightly deeper role

It’s football‑fan talk about our potential new‑look front line - no chalkboards, no jargon, just what these players actually feel like and why oppositions should be really worried if (no, when) these deals get done.

Please join us over on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers and make sure you're following for chances to win a Club ticket to an Arsenal Women WSL Home Game at the Emirates Stadium this coming season.

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Then it’s time for our first proper Trailblazers mailbag. I answer a question from @classic_womens_football on what Arsenal actually need to improve to close the gap on Manchester City, and why for me the real issue isn’t the attack but those fine defensive margins in games that swing on one or two moments.

I also answer two brilliant questions from @badgercyclist. First, why the women’s game is such a powerful gateway into football for new fans, especially women, families and the LGBTQ+ community, and why I still think Arsenal Women at the Emirates is one of the best and safest football experiences you can have.

And then we get into London City Lionesses. How dangerous are they really, what does their squad build say about Michelle Kang’s strategy, and are they starting to feel like the women’s version of the old Real Madrid Galácticos project?

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, leave a rating and review if your app allows it, and share it with other Arsenal Women fans.

You can also come and find me on Instagram at @arsenalwomentrailblazers and send in your questions for the next mailbag.

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First up, the WSL and WSL2 have agreed that from next season clubs will be allowed to sell alcohol in the stands, in sight of the pitch, after two seasons of trials across the top two tiers and around 190 fixtures. I explain what has actually changed, why it is optional rather than mandatory, and why this will split opinion between fans who want a more relaxed matchday experience and those who are worried about importing the worst bits of the men’s game atmosphere into the women’s game. I also share how it sits with my own experience of the women’s game being more respectful and family friendly, and ask you whether you would like to see alcohol allowed in the bowl at Arsenal Women home games.

Then I switch to Arsenal news. Canada Soccer and Arsenal have confirmed that Olivia Smith has withdrawn from the Canada squad for the SheBelieves Cup after suffering a concussion, and she will stay in North London to recover under Arsenal’s medical team. I give a quick round up of what has been reported and then use it as a chance to look back at her first season in red and white. I talk about the pressure of arriving with the “first £1m women’s player” tag, her dream WSL debut where she scored and led the game for shots, touches in the box and dribbles, and why her direct ball carrying, shot volume and productivity have already justified the hype. I explain how she offers something different to our other forwards and why I think she is going to be a huge player for Arsenal over the next few years once she is fully recovered.

I finish by asking for your thoughts on both topics. Are you for or against alcohol in the stands at Arsenal Women games, and how impressed have you been with Olivia Smith’s debut season?

Please connect on Instagram by following Arsenal Women: Trailblazers : https://instagram.com/arsenalwomentrailblazers

DM for your chance to win a Club ticket to one of Arsenal Women's home games this coming season!

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I begin with some wider European and WSL news. Former Gunner and Real Madrid star Caroline Weir has joined Lyon on a three year deal, adding even more firepower to a midfield we might see again in the Champions League. I talk about why Lyon wanted her, why she loved the project and why I hope she is on the bench if we draw them next season. I then move to the WSL where Spurs have signed Scotland forward Kirsty Hanson from Aston Villa after a twelve goal season in the league, with only Khadija Shaw and Alessia Russo scoring more. I explain why that is a big blow for Villa and why it matters to Arsenal that our neighbours are building a much more dangerous front line.

The main focus of the episode is Georgia Stanway. I spend time on why I am so excited about her potential move, what she would bring to Arsenal and how she could change the entire personality of our midfield. I look at her journey from a teenage breakout at Manchester City, to a Champions League level starter at Bayern Munich, to a key part of England’s Euro winning team. I break down her game as an all action eight who loves duels and pressing, can carry the ball, switch play and smash in long range shots, and I talk through different ways she could be used alongside Kyra Cooney Cross, Kim Little, Mariona and any other midfield arrivals. There is also chat about our ongoing issues with set piece defending and second balls and why someone with Stanway’s intensity and mentality could help close that gap.

I finish by asking you to pick your ideal midfield around Georgia if she does sign and to tell me in which games, if any, you would actually leave her out. Get in touch on Instagram at @arsenalwomentrailblazers, and if you want to join me at the Emirates for a home game next season in club level, drop me a message so I can add you to the list.

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First up, I talk about Laia Codina’s move to West Ham. She stays in London on a three year deal after leaving Arsenal and I am genuinely happy for her. We look at why the Hammers project suits her, how her strengths in a low block might be a better fit there, and I go through her medals from Barcelona, Spain and Arsenal including the World Cup and that first ever Women’s Champions Cup. I also read some of her first words as a West Ham player and send her my best for this next chapter in East London.

I then zoom out to the wider WSL with the news that Mary Earps is back in England, signing for London City Lionesses after two years at PSG. I talk about why she is such a legend of the women’s game, the age profile of LCL’s “Galacticos” project under Michelle Kang and what it might mean for the league if they add players like Mapi León and maybe even Alexia Putellas in future.

Finally, we end on some really good Arsenal news. Alessia Russo has been voted Arsenal Women Fans’ Player of the Season after her best ever campaign for goals, with 24 in 40 games in all competitions. I go through the numbers, including her hat trick in the 5–2 derby win over Spurs and her record of scoring or assisting in six consecutive WSL away games, and I make the case for why she is already world class and will only get better with the right support around her. I also look ahead to how a midfield featuring names like Mariona, Kyra, Kim Little, plus potential arrivals like Georgia Stanway, Géraldine Reuteler, Selina Ciraci and Lisa Baum could unlock an even scarier version of Alessia next season.

If you have ideas for future player profiles or want to come to a game with me at the Emirates in club level, get in touch. This is your podcast and I want to build it with you.

Links:

Arsenal Women Trailblazers on Instagram: https://instagram.com/arsenalwomentrailblazers

Arsenal Women news section: https://www.arsenal.com/news

West Ham’s announcement of Laia Codina https://www.whufc.com/en/news/west-ham-united-sign-world-cup-winner-laia-codina

London City Lionesses announcement of Mary Earps https://www.londoncitylionesses.com/post/mary-earps-joins-london-city-lionesses

Camden New Journal piece by Steve Barnett on Alessia Russo’s Fans’ Player of the Season award https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/gunners-striker-russo-is-fans-player-of-the-year

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Then we get to the good stuff. There is some lovely news with Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang all picking up MBEs in the King’s Birthday Honours, plus an update on academy product Leila Harbert heading off to work with Jonas Eidevall again at San Diego Wave.

After that I dive into what you really want to talk about: Arsenal Women transfer news. I profile four players we are heavily linked with this summer and ask whether they are floor raisers or proper ceiling raisers for this squad.

•Ona Batlle as a potential starting left back to replace Katie McCabe

•Selina Circi as a right sided forward and goal threat in the Beth Mead zone

•Geraldine Reuteler as a ridiculously versatile midfielder who can pretty much play anywhere

•Lisa Baum as a 19 year old left footer who loves cutting in from the right and shooting from range

This is me doing the digging so you don't have to. Come tell me what you think about these four on Instagram at @arsenalwomentrailblazers and let's get into it.

Key Arsenal Women fixture dates : https://www.arsenal.com/news/key-dates-arsenal-women-202627

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He also unboxes the new home shirt (Steph Catley 7), explains how to renew or buy a WSL season ticket at Emirates, and makes a heartfelt invitation for listeners to join him in Club Level next season.

⚽ In this episode:

00:00 – Why this is a mid‑week episode & promise on breaking transfer news  

02:21 – Learning from episode 2 and letting personality back into the pod  

03:57 – New 2026/27 home shirt unboxing (Steph Catley 7, badges, delivery chaos)  

06:17 – Why Steph Catley is Roberto’s choice this season  

06:50 – Arsenal Women season ticket renewals, prices and six‑game bundle  

08:43 – How to move seats, Club Level Block 42 and “Roberto’s Angels”  

11:03 – Why the Emirates is such a good family matchday for Arsenal Women  

13:18 – WSL summer and winter transfer window dates for 26/27  

14:40 – Leah Williamson’s latest injury setback and Ibiza rehab break  

17:10 – Why Arsenal must manage Leah carefully and how much she’s missed  

17:58 – Katie McCabe to Chelsea: reaction, emotions and a call to stop abuse  

20:05 – Criticism vs condemnation and why Arsenal must look in the mirror  

21:30 – Caitlin Foord signs new Arsenal deal: what it means and why it matters  

23:40 – Caitlin’s quotes on trophies, home away from home and the fans

26:04 – Arsenal’s huge attendances and why they attract top players  

28:21 – Thoughts on potential big signings and online hate towards Foord  

29:40 – Beth Mead to Man City: why it hurts less, Viv, and wishing her well  

33:04 – Victoria Pelova set to join Spurs: context and farewell  

35:26 – Manu Zinsberger to Borussia Dortmund: legacy, tears and gratitude  

37:47 – Invitation to join Roberto in Club Level at Emirates next season  

39:10 – How to get in touch and what might be coming in episode 4

💬 Get involved

Follow on Instagram: @arsenalwomentrailblazers

DM Roberto if you’d like to:  

• share your thoughts on McCabe, Mead, Foord, Pelova or Manu  
• be a future guest  
• join him in Club Level for a WSL game this season

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the first proper episode of Arsenal Women: Trailblazers, and Roberto does not ease you in gently. This is a full-length season debrief covering everything: Renee Slegers’s first complete season in charge, the squad depth problems that injuries brutally exposed, a transfer window that is already producing results and a few open wounds, the tactical picture and where it needs to evolve, standout performers, the moments that defined the campaign - and what a realistic ambition looks like going into next season.

Roberto calls it as he sees it. No spin. No hedging. No corporate podcast clichés. Just an honest account of a season that had real highs, a few painful lows, and a summer that feels absolutely pivotal.

Man City won the WSL with 55 points. Arsenal finished second on 51. Chelsea were third on 49. The gap at the top is small. The window to close it is open. But it will not stay open by itself.

In this episode:

• Season in one breath
• Renee Slegers: her first full season, the Arteta parallel, why patience is earned not assumed
• Squad depth: what the injuries to Reid, Kelly and Williamson actually revealed
• Transfer window: McCabe to Chelsea, Mead to City, and the incoming names to know
• Tactical identity: the high press, the set piece problem, and the counter-transition risk
• Standout players: Russo’s 24 goals, McCabe’s farewell season, Fox, Wubben-Moy and Olivia Smith
• Defining moments: London City, West Ham, and what Lyon showed us
• Looking ahead: the WSL title, the Champions League, and why Arsenal should be the most attractive club in the world for players right now

Takeaways:

•Renee Slegers is the right person for this job. She inherited chaos, won a Champions League, and spent last season learning at pace. The Arteta comparisons are legitimate — back her, give her time, do not panic.

•The squad depth issue is structural, not accidental. Two or three injuries and the options ran out. That has to change this summer. Laia Codina and Victoria Pelova deserved more than they got.

•Losing Katie McCabe and Beth Mead to Chelsea and Man City respectively, both on frees, is a recruitment failure, plain and simple. The club’s contract renewal process was too slow and it cost them two world-class players who went directly to title rivals.

•The incoming business looks promising. Ona Batlle (Spain international, free from Barcelona), Géraldine Reuteler (Swiss Player of the Year 2024, free from Frankfurt) and Selina Cerci (26, Germany international, striker) represent genuine upgrades if confirmed. Georgia Stanway links would address the midfield steel problem directly.

•Alessia Russo scored 24 goals in all competitions, 13 in the WSL. If you only watch the ball, you miss half of what she does. The Champions League goal against Chelsea was one of the finishes of the season anywhere in European football.

•The Lyon semi-final was a reality check, not a disaster. Arsenal were technically excellent and tactically coherent. They were physically outmuscled. That is a solvable problem and the transfer window is the place to solve it.

•The WSL title is the target. Chelsea are rebuilding. Man City have so far added only Beth Mead (aged 31) to a title-winning squad. Arsenal, if they get this window right, should go into next season as favourites.

Subscribe to Trailblazers for twice-weekly episodes — match reaction, transfer news, player profiles and more. New episodes every week throughout the summer and into the season.

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a fan-first podcast hosted by Roberto Revilla, a bespoke tailor from London and double WSL season ticket holder who has spent years watching the women’s game grow into something extraordinary. This short intro episode is exactly what it says on the tin: Roberto introducing himself, explaining what this show is, and telling you why he believes the timing matters.

This is not a news outlet. It is not PR-managed. It is not trying to be authoritative in the way a broadcaster might be. It is what happens when someone who has sat in those stands, watched every game they could get to, and has genuine opinions built up over years of following the club finally decides to say them out loud.

Roberto already co-hosts Tailoring Talk Magazine, a podcast about lifestyle and tech - but this is something entirely separate. This is his football passion project, and Arsenal Women have given him plenty of material to work with. He believes, without much hesitation, that Arsenal Women are the biggest club in women’s football in terms of fanbase and global attendance.

In this episode, Roberto sets out what you can expect from Trailblazers: twice-weekly episodes covering match reaction, transfer analysis, player profiles, off-pitch culture and the fan experience. The show is launching deliberately as the summer transfer window opens, so from episode one you are getting immediate, relevant content - not a slow build. No filler.

The tone, Roberto says, is simple: like talking to a knowledgeable mate in the pub who actually watched the game.

What’s covered in this episode:

•Who Roberto is and why he’s qualified to host this show

•Why Arsenal Women, and why now

•The difference between this show and everything else out there

•What Trailblazers will cover and how often it comes out

•His belief that Arsenal Women are the biggest club in world women’s football

•Why a fan-first perspective matters more than ever

•A personal note on what the women’s game means to him

A word on the name: Arsenal Women have been breaking ground and setting standards in English women’s football for decades. Trailblazers felt right. Not as a piece of branding - as a description.

Pull up a seat. This is going to be good.

Subscribe now so you don’t miss Episode 1, dropping very soon - a full season review with transfer window analysis, player grades and honest takes on what needs to change.

Arsenal Women: Trailblazers is a regular fan podcast dedicated to Arsenal Women. Join host Roberto Revilla every week for news, match previews and reports, tactical talking points and the stories that make Arsenal Women true trailblazers.

Connect with the show on Instagram @arsenalwomentrailblazers

Find us on BlueSky Social @arsenalwomentb

Our new website can be found at www.arsenalwomentrailblazers.com

Intro/Outro Music thanks to raspberrymusic from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.