Given that Kim Little is 32 years old, and 17 months on from international retirement, you could be forgiven for thinking her career is easing to its end.
Technically, it probably is reaching its latter stages. However, a masterful controlling performance in Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat of Chelsea in the Continental Cup final demonstrated her continuing quality and how big a hole she will leave at the club when she goes.
Emma Hayes said Little “ran the show” against her Chelsea side, and she wasn’t wrong. Little was the conductor of an aggressive and passionate Arsenal orchestra. “When you thought she couldn’t get better, she puts on that performance,” said her manager, Jonas Eidevall. “I told Kim straight after the game: ‘I wasn’t sure if it was possible [but] this is the best you’ve been since I’ve been the coach.’ She was phenomenal in the game, how she connects the team, the duels, the work rate, the decision-making on the ball.
She played close to a perfect match.” SW Leicester couldn’t compete with Manchester United’s quality as Alessia Russo bagged a hat-trick in a 5-1 win that extended United’s WSL lead to three points.