The photo, which was shared on Arsenal’s social media earlier this month, featured 27 players as well as head coach Jonas Eidevall.

Fans chastised the club for not fielding any black or ethnic minority players.

“We acknowledge our current women’s first-team squad does not reflect the diversity that exists across the club and the communities we represent,” the club said in a statement.

“Across all our teams, including our men’s and women’s academies, we’re proud of our players from diverse backgrounds who have contributed to our history, success and culture.”

Diversity in women’s football: ‘We don’t want anyone to feel like it’s not their game.’
A review of women’s football earlier this year, conducted by former Lioness Karen Carney, recognized the need for increased diversity on and off the field.

In the report, ex-Brighton defender Fern Whelan stated that the lack of diversity in the women’s game needs to be “urgently addressed.”

England’s Euro 2022-winning squad had three mixed-race players – Jess Carter, Nikita Parris, and Demi Stokes – but none made the essentially unchanged starting lineup.