Arsenal Women ended their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 win over West Ham at Meadow Park, with Frida Maanum scoring a brace from the bench.

Midfield options

Arsenal legend Ian Wright was quick to retweet a compilation video of Kyra Cooney-Cross’ display against West Ham, and rightly so. The 23-year-old has come under scrutiny for the defensive side of her midfield game, but delivered a mature performance at Meadow Park.

Cooney-Cross’ awareness in and out of possession was particularly impressive, dropping in to support the defence- sometimes even between the left-back and left centre-back, and sticking tight to Steph Catley when her compatriot was on the ball, creating two-v-one situations to allow Arsenal to play out through West Ham’s press.

Victoria Pelova enjoyed another evening in the number ten role, and assisted Frida Maanum’s second goal with a beautifully-weighted ball in behind after spinning away from her marker. 

Frida ?Shot for @GoonerFanzine pic.twitter.com/BD6OTvMzBA

— Suzy (@Boodlepim) August 27, 2025

The rested Mariona Caldentey, captain Kim Little and Maanum may well be the starters against London City Lionesses next Saturday, but the likes of Cooney-Cross and Pelova have certainly staked a claim.

West Ham preparation

West Ham have only beaten Arsenal once, and indeed Steph Catley’s handball was outside of the penalty area, but Rehanne Skinner’s side have caused the Gunners problems in recent years, most recently a 4-3 comeback win at Meadow Park in which the Irons were 2-0 and then 3-1 up.

The two sides will meet again two weeks tomorrow (Friday, September 12) in the second round of league fixtures at Dagenham & Redbridge’s Victoria Road ground, which likely meant neither was prepared to give too much away in their final friendly. 

Arsenal will have to be wary of West Ham’s set-piece threat, which put the home side under pressure on Wednesday night, but will be pleased to have returned to winning ways following a 4-3 defeat to rivals Tottenham in their penultimate friendly outing.

The Gooner understands Renée Slegers’ side will play an intra-squad friendly this weekend, ahead of next week’s WSL opener against London City at Emirates Stadium.

Academy stars continue to shine

I interviewed versatile full-back Sophie Harwood last summer after the highly-rated England youth international swapped Southampton for North London, and her proud family were delighted to point out that Harwood is indeed a childhood Arsenal fan. 

A year later, the teenager has made two substitute appearances at Meadow Park, and has quickly caught the eye at right-back, a position Arsenal possess a slight lack of natural depth at. Harwood suffered with injuries last season but can now look forward to a good run with the Under-21s, who beat Brighton 1-0 in their opening league game yesterday. The production line keeps rolling.