By Eleanor Crooks
Arsenal manager Vic Akers is full of confidence for the coming season after tempting former England captain Angela Banks out of retirement.
The striker called time on her highly successful career last summer but has returned to the Highbury side as they compete for honours at home and in Europe.
Akers said: "I nearly got her back at Christmas last year when I was trying to get another forward. I signed Julie Fleeting but I was thinking about Angela at that point.
"At the end of the season I spoke to her again and she said she missed the game. She's come back now and hopefully she'll enjoy herself again. She's a talented individual who shouldn't have been lost to the game, but we've got her out again."
The manager admitted Banks, who was a prolific goalscorer for Arsenal and England before calling it a day, is having to work hard to get back in shape for the season.
He added: "She's not at her best in terms of fitness, she's obviously a few weeks behind everybody and is finding it hard. She won't make the start of the season but she should be ready within a couple of weeks."
After last season's league and cup double, Akers is in no mood to rest on previous successes.
Arsenal are competing in the UEFA Cup and are aiming to go all the way after reaching the semi-final two seasons ago.
"Our aim is the same as every year, to win as many major trophies as we can and to progress as far as possible in Europe," he said. "Obviously we'd love to get to the final, but the priority is always to win the national league.
"I think we won the league last season in good style. The quality of the girls we've got at the club came through and to win it at the death was important for us as a club and good for women's football as well.
"I think competing in Europe does make it harder. You start dropping behind in games played and psychologically it becomes a little bit more difficult.
But we did a similar thing last year and came through to win."
Arsenal kicked off pre-season in emphatic fashion, following up a 7-0 win over Enfield by beating AFC Wimbledon 11-1, and Akers is delighted with his players.
"I couldn't ask any more of the girls, they have been fantastic in training.
Let's hope we have a better start than last season rather than a late finish."
England defender Mary Phillip has joined the club, but Jo Potter, Ellen Maggs and Alex Scott have all left Highbury, and Akers is still looking to strengthen his squad.
"I'm quite confident with my squad going into the new season, but it is not the end of my signings," he said. "We have a strong group of players, but all the options are never closed to me and I'm keeping every door open."
