Ex-Arsenal star Rachel Yankey impressed by Gunners' start
Tuesday 4 October 2016 13:55, UK
Rachel Yankey wants to see the "ruthlessness" of Arsenal and believes the 1-0 win over Burnley has ignited change for the Premier League club.
Arsenal had swept aside Chelsea and Basel in their previous two matches but were forced to dig deep at Turf Moor with a 93rd-minute Laurent Koscielny winner for a fifth straight Premier League success.
England international Yankey underlined its significance.
"I've been very impressed with Arsenal. The opening day wasn't the best," Yankey said. "The Chelsea game was definitely the best 45 minutes I've seen for a long time.
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"They were absolutely amazing, but in the second half of that game I felt like they set back and relaxed and knew they had the win. You really want to see the ruthlessness of Arsenal.
"You need to win the games against Burnley, those games that they struggle in.The last second to get that win I think that's made a change for Arsenal, so hopefully a positive one and one they can push on from there."
Former Arsenal Ladies manager Vic Akers founded the the club's women's side in 1987, originally heading up the community department before taking over as kit manager shortly after Wenger joined.
Yankey revealed the men's team football philosophy was also impressed on the women's squad.
"I think it was really important for Arsenal Ladies to make sure we were understanding the Arsenal way and play the Arsenal way."
"Things that Arsene Wenger did in training and Vic would obviously be around those training sessions and he would take pieces of that and make sure we were playing in the same way.
"We had the same rules as the male players. We still had the same standards when we were in and around the club and even outside he expected a higher standard of the players. Those things were filtered down from Vic.
Yankey joined Arsenal, the most successful English club in women's football, as a teenager in 1996 the same time Wenger, who is celebrating 20 years at the club, took charge.
"Obviously, with Arsene Wenger, any time there was joint team photos he always spoke to the players and he spoke very highly of women's football and said to come and watch training sessions.
"To know the boss of the club is there and is watching and actually wants to know about women's football and cares and wants to see an improvement makes you train a little bit harder."
