FIFA Women’s World Cup stars of the FAWSL – Arsenal’s internationals

As the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup draws ever closer, we take a look at the host of international stars from the FA Women’s Super League who have been chosen to represent their respective nations in France.

We start this feature by looking at those players who play their club football with league champions Arsenal.

This summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup will see first major tournament call-ups for Leah Williamson and Beth Mead. Both players will be hoping for similar success to that experienced in the SheBelieves cup in March. The duo have 18 senior England caps between them, with Mead scoring five goals and most recently netting in the ‘Road
to France’ friendly fixture against Spain in Swindon.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s first choice goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin will be hoping for her first competitive appearance between the sticks for France following her recent outing in the 3-1 friendly victory over Japan. Peyraud-Magnin has spent much of her career in the shadow of her former Lyon teammate Sarah Bouhaddi but will be hoping for some minutes on the pitch back home in France.

One Gunner expected to light up the tournament this summer is Vivianne Miedema. The lethal goalscorer boasts an impressive 37 goals in 44 appearances for her club, a record which has helped to push Arsenal to their first league title in more than six years. After capturing fans’ attention during The Netherlands’ trophy winning UEFA Women’s European Championship campaign in 2017, in which she scored twice in the final, she will be looking to add to her tally of 57 international goals.

Midfielder Danielle van de Donk is also in the Dutch squad alongside departing Arsenal stars Sari van Veenendaal and Dominique Bloodworth.

After missing out on the 2017 UEFA Women’s European Championship due to injury, midfield regular Kim Little will link-up with the Scotland squad for their first-ever appearance in a FIFA Women’s World Cup. She will be joined by her Arsenal teammate Lisa Evans. The versatile winger, who has 76 international caps to her name, is due a goal after last scoring in her nation’s 3-2 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying victory in Poland last summer.

Arsenal’s 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Representatives

England – Leah Williamson, Beth Mead

France – Pauline Peyraud-Magnin

Netherlands – Sari van Veenendaal, Dominique Bloodworth, Danielle van de Donk, Vivianne Miedema

Scotland – Kim Little, Lisa Evans

 

By Marnie Kelly (@mk_marnie)