A fully-fit Jordan Nobbs insists Arsenal’s early-season bumps are firmly in the past as they look to continue their upwards trajectory against Notts County.
Nobbs, 21, suffered a back injury while on England duty in March and was forced to sit and watch as Arsenal lost all three of their opening FA Women’s Super League 1 clashes.
Arsenal v Notts County
The FA WSL 1
2pm, Sunday 27 July 2014
Meadow Park, Boreham Wood FC
Live on BT Sport
By Chris Bailey
But their form has certainly not suffered in the knock-out tournaments – winning The FA Women’s Cup and marching into the last four of the FA WSL Continental Cup – while their league results have started to follow suit.
Their latest victory against Everton has seen them climb to seventh and Nobbs, who has now shaken off her injury, is adamant Arsenal will not let their momentum slip.
"It was my second full 90 minutes since coming back against Everton, it’s been a long wait but they have slowly introduced me back and given me minutes," said the midfielder.
"I’m feeling a lot more confident, my sharpness is up and fitness is up – it’s great to be back. We won The FA Cup and are still in the Continental Cup, so though we’ve had ups and downs it’s not been a bad season at all.
"The game [against Everton] was a big one for where we were in the table, we had to be patient but to be honest I think we could have scored more.
"And I think the past few weeks have highlighted that when we come together in tough times we really go out and perform. Notts County are doing well but we’ll go in with that same mentality."
The Lady Pies approach the game reeling from two consecutive FA WSL1 defeats, but will leapfrog Arsenal in the table should they clinch victory.
And following a narrow defeat to Birmingham City, boss Rick Passmoor is ready for another tough scrap against an Arsenal side he knows are approaching their best.
"Arsenal have been the benchmark in women’s football over the last 25 years – every club has to be aspired to be like them on and off the pitch," he said.
"And I think that success has been a detriment to them because many of their players are internationals, and they were on duty at the start of the season.
"But if you look at the team sheet they have a great ethos and philosophy about them and they will be around in the mix at the end of the season."
