We recently brought together our Arsenal Advisory Board (AAB) and Women’s Matchday Forum once again at Sobha Realty Training Centre.
For a second season, we brought together supporter representatives for a discussion around our progress towards winning major trophies and championing women’s football.
Our CEO, Richard Garlick, Director of Women’s Football, Clare Wheatley and members of our Executive team led discussions with a group of our supporters representing Arsenal Women’s Supporters’ Club, Arsenal Supporters’ Trust, Arsenal Independent Supporters’ Association, domestic & international supporters’ clubs, GayGooners and Jewish Gooners.
To start the evening, supporters met with Head Coach, Renée Slegers, who thanked the group for their unwavering support and recognised the special community we are building around the women’s team.
A year of historic success
Richard reflected on our team’s success since our last joint meeting in April 2025, including our UEFA Women’s Champions League triumph and more recently winning the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup. There has been continued strong investment in the playing squad since the summer, as well as building for the future by agreeing a new long-term contract with Renée Slegers.
Competing for more honours
Richard and Clare spoke about our ambition to keep winning major trophies and continuing to grow the game, as we challenge in three competitions domestically and in Europe. The group recognised our strong run in the Women’s Super League (WSL) – unbeaten since October – and positive prospects in the Women’s FA Cup and Women’s Champions League.
Richard also recognised the vital role our supporters play, particularly in growing our community at Emirates Stadium and shaping the future of Arsenal Women. He highlighted our supporters’ commitment, energy and important contributions to Block by Block, our ongoing consultation with our supporters where we shape aspects of the matchday experience.
Investing for long-term success
Clare updated on the ongoing investment and work behind the scenes to drive sustained progress, including player scouting, recruitment and analytics. Highlighting the recent appointment of Jodie Taylor as Technical Director, Clare emphasised our commitment to nurturing a high-performing environment where our players and coaching staff have the right tools to compete at the highest level.
Championing the wider game
In a wide-ranging conversation about the growth of the women’s game, the group covered fixture scheduling and kick-off times, financial sustainability, and matchday attendance. Our supporters shared their views on the challenges and opportunities for the women’s game and the matchday experience.
We thank our supporters across different groups who share insights which help shape the game together and support the team so passionately.
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