Holding Defender (Gilly Flaherty)

Mark Hodsman interviews Arsenal defender Gilly Flaherty, a league and cup double winner and part of England’s victorious Under-19 European Championship squad, with the Gunners closing on another title and an FA Cup final against Everton to come. Flaherty answers questions about the players Arsenal have lost to the WPS, Katie Chapman among them, insisting the replacements have stepped up and that the team’s spirit is proving itself week in, week out. She describes a Champions League quarter-final against a professional Duisburg side as another level, is proud Arsenal competed rather than got hammered, and notes she marked Inka Grings, arguably the world’s best striker. Flaherty says her form has improved with a settled run under Laura Harvey, having switched between full back for England and centre back for Arsenal, and looks ahead to the Under-19 Euros and Under-20 World Cup.