“We want to win the league this year - that’s what we want,” Arsenal captain Kim Little (MBE) gets straight to the point when we speak to her at Arsenal’s training camp at adidas HQ, Germany before the start of this year’s domestic season. “We have so many great things to look forward to going into the new season - new signings and important players who have extended with us.”
“I’ve had a long career here and been at the club a long time,” says Kim, an Arsenal veteran with 250 appearances for the Gunners under her belt. “We’ve been incredibly successful on the pitch and now we have made so much progress [off the pitch]. I’ve seen so many areas of growth.”
If any club understands the power of football on and off the pitch, it’s Arsenal, who have been constantly at the forefront of the women’s game and if any player gets Arsenal, it’s Kim: “It always makes me so proud to be at this club.”
Widely considered to be one of the greatest players to ever wear the Arsenal shirt, we wanted to know what she thought of Arsenal and adidas leading the charge once again for the women’s game. The club have added to their existing range with British designer Stella McCartney to create a bespoke away shirt for the women’s team – a first-of-its-kind in the Women’s Super League. “Having the first bespoke away kit in WSL history, for me shows this club wants to lead the way and be innovative.”
“It will have a bigger impact than just us,” says Little, “I love being part of that innovative spirit at this club.” Arsenal is often hailed for their cutting-edge partnerships with creatives. - but we wonder if this kit’s one for the community, looking towards equity across the game for players and supporters alike.
The new kit has elite performance packed into its design, with victory also on Kim’s mind. “The main thing to do at this level is to shift from winning the majority of the time to always winning,” she tells us when asked about her ambitions for the team this season. “It was obviously a bit of a disappointment missing out on the Champions League final last year and not making it this year, so I suppose we’ve taken a bit of time to reflect on that.
”What we need to do is focus on what we need to give us that extra edge,” Little explains. “Maybe it’s being more clinical and being more ruthless - so the focus will be finding that extra percent.” Forever looking forward, we can’t wait to see what progress is yet to come for the relentless No.10 in the forthcoming WSL season.
Team:
CEO: Joe Brine
Creative Direction + Photography: Jonathan Tomlinson
Photo Assistant: Alex Galloway
Graphic Design: Beqa Iobidze
Video: Milo Van Giap
Stylists: Georgia Petrou + Georgia Chapman
Hair: Charles Stanley
MUA: Laisum Fung
