Football fans fume over Arsenal Women's 'all white' squad after picture sparks controversy
Arsenal are hoping to win the Women's Super League for the fourth time this season
Arsenal
Football fans have fumed at a picture of Arsenal's Women's team that doesn't seem to contain a single player of colour.
The Gunners took to X on Friday to share their squad snap for the 2023/24 season, with the Women's Super League commencing earlier this month.
In the Premier League, 33 per cent of players are from black, asian and other minority backgrounds.
In the WSL, however, a study from the BBC last year estimated the figure was nearer the 10-15 per cent mark instead.
The Arsenal.
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) October 13, 2023
Our 2023/24 squad. pic.twitter.com/PCUHZdFGEh
And some football fans have fumed on X over the photo that shows manager Jonas Eidevall with his squad.
"We don't have a single black woman player. That's frightening," one user said.
Another fan fumed: "Nah I'm back lol. You mean to tell me Arsenal's stakeholders and the execs see this and think this okay?
"The head coaches think this is okay? The PLAYERS look at each other and think this is okay? ALL WHITE?
"Please @ArsenalWFC @Arsenal there needs to be an emergency meeting and change."
A third fan raged: "Lovely picture and that but god it's so concerning that one of the biggest clubs in the world doesn't have a single poc in the squad."
Another supporter vented their fury by saying: "No professional team, mens or womens, should be able to have a team the comprises of all white players in 2023."
"Also we are getting cooked for our lack of diversity and rightly so," stated a fifth.
"But really, how a club of Arsenal's magnitude doesn't have a single poc is quite shocking. Arsenal must do better," opined another user on the platform.
And a seventh said: "Honestly so difficult to root for a team of ONLY white players. Zero representation."
Arsenal have played Liverpool and Manchester United in the WSL so far.
And they've picked up just one point from their opening two league fixtures.
They lost 1-0 to Liverpool in their opening match, with Miri Taylor netting the only goal of the game.
Arsenal then proceeded to draw 2-2 with Manchester United, with Cloe Lacasse scoring a dramatic late equaliser.
When the WSL was first created, Arsenal were the dominant force.
The north London giants finished ahead of Birmingham in both 2011 and 2012.
Since then, however, they've struggled to dominate.
Their last title triumph came back in 2019 when they finished ahead of rivals Manchester City and Chelsea.
Chelsea have since made the competition their own, winning the last four titles on the trot.
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Arsenal have endured a slow start to the new Women's Super League season
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Arsenal are next in action against Aston Villa on Sunday (2pm).