Could Katie McCabe’s expected departure mark the start of a new era at Arsenal?
England and Arsenal legend Ian Wright has spoken out about why he feels Katie McCabe’s anticipated departure from Arsenal this summer could mark the beginning of a squad rebuild.
Speaking on the Crossways Podcast with Steph Houghton, Wright highlighted that McCabe, one of Arsenal’s all-time greats, is in the final year of her contract and unlikely to be offered more than a one-year extension.
And various news outlets have reported that she won’t be offered an extension at all, and Wrighty agrees. When asked what he thinks the chances are that McCabe will stay at Arsenal, he said he felt the odds were “very low”.
Katie McCabe is one of several stars set to leave Arsenal
With no less than 10 key players – including Beth Mead, Leah Williamson, Stina Blackstenius, and Champions Cup final goalscorer Caitlin Foord – also out of contract at the end of this season, Ian Wright sees McCabe’s exit as part of a broader strategy to refresh the squad.
And, while he accepts that McCabe and her teammates’ departures would be upsetting for the fanbase, he feels overall it’s a positive move and demonstrates the club’s desire to inject fresh energy into the squad.
Is it time for fresh blood?
Ian Wright was nothing but complimentary about Katie McCabe’s contributions over her ten-year career at Arsenal, highlighting her consistent performances week in, week out, both in the WSL and in Europe.
However, he said that with such a core part of Arsenal’s squad set to leave at the end of the season, it could make way for the club to sign major talent such as Barcelona’s Ona Batlle and Bayern Munich’s Georgia Stanway.
