Arsenal has released a statement amidst criticism for not having any players of colour in their women’s first-team squad.
A 27-player women’s team photo went viral earlier this month as it did not include any players from non-white backgrounds.
The image sparked a range of reactions, with some questioning the noticeable lack of diversity between the men’s and women’s playing staff at Arsenal.
Others pointed out the squad’s failure to reflect the demographics of north London.
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Unimpressed Arsenal fans took to X -formerly known as Twitter to criticize the lack of diversity and inclusion of coloured players in their latest squad.
One user wrote,”No professional team, men’s or women’s s, should be able to have a team the comprises of all white players in 2023.’
Another wrote, “We don’t have a single black woman player. That’s frightening.”
Arsenal have now broken their silence on the squad photo.
In a statement published in the Athletic, the club said, “We acknowledge our current women’s first-team squad does not reflect the diversity that exists across the club and the communities we represent. It’s a priority for the club to continue to drive greater diversity and inclusion and create a sense of belonging for everyone connected to the club.”
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The topic of diversity in women’s football in England gained more prominence last year when discussing the Lionesses squad that won Euro 2022.
Wright, a former Arsenal striker, labeled it a ‘systemic issue,’ while former England international Eniola Aluko stressed the need for recruitment changes to address the lack of diversity.
