Arsenal Women have left Daphne van Domselaar out of their squad for the UEFA Women’s Champions League league phase.
The Gunners were among the 18 clubs to submit their player lists before UEFA’s registration deadline, with UEFA confirming Arsenal’s participation and squad registration ahead of the competition beginning next week.
Van Domselaar is the most notable omission.
However, the decision comes while the Netherlands international continues recovering from knee surgery rather than representing a change in Renée Slegers’ long-term goalkeeping plans.
Why Daphne van Domselaar Is Not in Arsenal Champions League Squad
Van Domselaar underwent knee surgery in May and has yet to feature this season.
Slegers said this week that Arsenal hope the goalkeeper could return around October, although she stopped short of providing a firm date.
There was also a registration issue for Arsenal to solve.
According to Arseblog’s breakdown of Arsenal’s Champions League squad, the Gunners effectively had 18 senior overseas players available but could only accommodate 17 alongside UEFA’s homegrown requirements.
With Van Domselaar already unavailable through injury, Arsenal have used the available place elsewhere.
That leaves Misa Rodríguez, Anneke Borbe and Isabella Damm as the senior goalkeepers registered for the league phase.
Academy goalkeeper Amy Liddiard is also included through UEFA’s B-list system.
Arsenal Women Champions League Squad Confirmed
Arsenal’s senior squad for the league phase is:
Goalkeepers: Misa Rodríguez, Anneke Borbe, Isabella Damm
Defenders: Emily Fox, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Élisa De Almeida, Leah Williamson, Steph Catley, Ona Batlle, Taylor Hinds, Katie Reid, Smilla Holmberg
Midfielders: Georgia Stanway, Mariona Caldentey, Kim Little, Frida Maanum, Géraldine Reuteler, Kyra Cooney-Cross
Forwards: Caitlin Foord, Olivia Smith, Chloe Kelly, Lisa Baum, Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius, Selina Cerci
Arsenal can also call upon eligible academy players registered on their B list.
The size of the squad underlines how significantly Arsenal strengthened during the summer, with our analysis of the Arsenal Women rebuild examining the scale of the changes made by Slegers.
The challenge now is turning that depth into results across several competitions.
Misa Set to Lead Arsenal Champions League Goalkeeping Options
Van Domselaar’s absence should leave Misa as Arsenal’s leading option in Europe.
The Spain international arrived during the summer after leaving Real Madrid and has already been given opportunities while Van Domselaar completes her rehabilitation.
Borbe provides another experienced alternative, while Damm offers further depth following her arrival from Brøndby.
Arsenal deliberately strengthened the position during the summer despite Van Domselaar retaining the number one shirt.
That planning now looks particularly useful.
Slegers can begin Arsenal’s European campaign without needing to rush Van Domselaar back from surgery.
Arsenal Begin Champions League Campaign Against HB Køge
Arsenal begin their league-phase campaign at home to HB Køge on Tuesday 22 September.
The full UEFA Women’s Champions League fixture schedule then sends Arsenal to Paris FC before home and away tests against Benfica, Barcelona, Lyon and Inter later in the competition.
European football adds another demand to an already difficult domestic schedule.
Arsenal face Manchester United this weekend before league meetings with Chelsea and Manchester City, while their Champions League campaign begins between those fixtures.
That is exactly why the increased depth across the squad matters.
Supporters can follow the entire campaign through our dedicated Arsenal Women coverage.
Van Domselaar remains part of Arsenal’s plans once she is fit again.
For the Champions League league phase, though, Slegers will begin with Misa, Borbe and Damm as her senior goalkeeping options.
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