Gunner Girls back on Euro glory trail
Published: 28th April, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT
STRIKER Rachel Yankey is backing Arsenal Ladies to conquer Europe again next season after qualifying for the Women’s Champions League on Sunday.
The former Hampstead schoolgirl believes the club can emulate the super squad that lifted the prestigious trophy in 2007 with a 1-0 victory over Swedish side Umea IK.
This season Laura Harvey’s side saw their European dream crushed by French giants Olympique Lyonnais when they lost 5-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
But the Gunners quickly put the setback behind them as they qualified for next season’s tournament on Sunday with a stunning 5-0 win at Barnet in the FA Cup.
Yankey, 31, is confident the new generation can follow in the footsteps of Vic Akers’s historic quadruple-winning side.
“The players and quality we had in the team that won it in 2007 was probably better than the quality we have now,” the forward told Arsenal.com.
“But there is no reason why we can’t step up to that level again. We can be very proud of what we have done in this year’s Champions League. We are a semi-professional team and we only train twice a week. The amount of time player can touch the ball is limited and I think that showed against Olympique Lyonnais.
“The way they passed the ball around – and their knowledge of where each other were – was far superior to us. That is something that has to get better. Even though we are in a semi-professional league it is obvious and evident that they train more often than us, both with each other and on the ball.”
The new Women’s Super League, which kicked off earlier this month, is expected to enhance the quality of the women’s game in England, though it will remain semi-professional.
Yankey has seen first-hand the advantages of training in a fully professional capacity during her spell at Fulham and admits it makes a huge difference.
“Training every day improves your movement, knowledge of where everyone is and your fitness. It just makes it so much easier. We need that quality of training more together as team I think.”
Yankey was on target against Barnet as Arsenal cruised into the final of the FA Cup with a resounding 5-0 victory. Ellen White stole the show with a stunning ha-trick, while goals from Kim Little and Yankey completed the rout.
The Gunners will now play Bristol Academy at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena in the final on Saturday May 21.
Arsenal will be confident they can lift the trophy after beating Bristol 1-0 in their first-ever home game in the inaugural Women’s Super League thanks to a long-range effort from Jennifer Beattie.