Defender’s switch from
Arsenal has hit a nerve but lack of historical enmity means it is not controversial in the slightest
When the defender Emma Mitchell’s loan move from Arsenal to
Tottenham was announced last Friday, it divided opinion. For some, it was a reverse Sol Campbell: men’s, women’s or youth football, it was crossing a line that should never be crossed.
Except players switching between rival or derby teams is anything but rare in women’s football. This summer Jen Beattie swapped the league runners-up
Manchester City for a second spell at the champions Arsenal. Tottenham signed the winger Gemma Davison, who has played for
Liverpool and
Chelsea and began her career at Arsenal. Alex Greenwood played for Everton and Liverpool, then
Manchester United (along with six other Liverpool players who moved there), before joining Lyon.