With the emphasis placed by the Houston Dash on securing high impact international players this season and the late autumn European scouting trip planned by head coach Randy Waldrum, Orange in the Oven will be scouting teams in England and Germany over the next several months to identify players who may be ideal targets for the Dash. More from Dash Analysis Houston Dash have a busy day; Klingenberg gone

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We know from previous interviews that the Dash have placed a priority on forwards, attacking midfielders and adding a center back. For their two available international slots, however, we assume they will go striker or attacking midfielder and emphasize those positions. We look at players without regards for salary and availability. This is a wish list of sorts. We start by looking at the FA WSL in England even though the season ended this past weekend.

In the first installment of this series, we looked at Chelsea L.F.C. This week we look at Arsenal L.F.C., the most successful women’s club in English soccer history with a cabinet full of silverware, including winning two of the first four FA WSL titles. Those titles were powered in part by goal scoring from Kim Little, who moved to Seattle Reign from Arsenal this year and had an immediate impact, winning the Golden Boot and the league MVP award.

In the most recently concluded season, Arsenal finished in 4th place, five points back of winners Liverpool. Arsenal is a club in a bit of transition with a number of talented young players coming up. They are still trying to replace Little and have to start thinking about replacing an aging Kelly Smith, which is of course where any discussion of Arsenal players has to start, regardless of age.

Kelly Smith

Often called one of the best players in the world in the past, England’s all-time leading goal scorer turns 36 later this month. She is coming off of a season in which she continued to score goals, with 15 in 18 appearances this season, but often came off the bench as a super sub – particularly while she was caretaker manager of the team.

Would the Dash consider bringing in a player like Smith who is at the back end of her career but who has scored plenty of goals and could teach the youngsters a thing or two? There is certainly a precedent for such a move in NWSL, with the Washington Spirit having brought in 35-year old Kerstin Garefrekes this past season.

Smith has plenty of history in the United States, having gone to school at Seton Hall and played in W-League, WUSA and WPS. While she may be in the twilight of her career, she is still a pure finisher who can impact a game as evidenced by her 2nd half hat trick to bring Arsenal back from a deficit to beat Bristol Academy in the video below. Moreover, her leadership skills are reflected by the fact that the club trusted her to act as manager for a period of time.

Jordan Nobbs

Midfielder Jordan Nobbs is an intelligent player capable of finding space in opposing defenses to exploit with her runs and killer passes. She combines this with strong long range shooting and set piece capabilities.

At 21 years old, Nobbs is already forcing herself into the national team picture, having garnered 11 CAPs and scored 3 goals. This past season for Arsenal, she scored 5 goals in 13 appearances – after missing time during the first part of the season due to injury – underlining her goal scoring ability out of the midfield.

Nobbs would be an interesting addition to the Dash midfield, which was somewhat lacking in play making and goal scoring capability last season. Her long range shooting would open things up a bit more for the front line and her set piece skills would help in an area where the Dash under performed last season.

The first video below features some of Nobbs’ long range shooting ability as well as her pace. The second, her skill at finding space and being in the right place at the right time to score goals.

Danielle Carter

Carter is young (21) but already an exciting player, somewhat reminiscent in style of Chelsea’s Aluko Eniola highlighted last week. This was Carter’s 4th season with Arsenal; one in which she began to take over as the team’s primary forward. She is quick, powerful and skillful on the ball. She was Arsenal’s second leading scorer this season with 8 goals in 23 appearances and is starting to gain national team attention, having been called up but not yet having played.

Her age makes her perhaps not ideal for what the Dash are looking for – adding experience – but her talent is undeniable and her upside could make the Dash very dangerous up top for years to come. The video below showcases her power, finishing skills and her ability to dribble through a crowd, set up teammates and draw fouls (as well as Ji So-Yun from last week’s look at Chelsea). Carter is also highlighted in the video’s above.

Honorable Mention: Rachel Yankey, Alex Scott, Shinobu Ohno

One for the Future: Leah Williamson

The 17-year old already has looked impressive for Arsenal this season. She can be spotted throughout the video’s above, scoring a goal in the match against Chelsea. On tape, her performances stand out. She looks to have great vision and pitch awareness for a player of her age. Her wonder goal above speaks for itself. She is not a target for the Dash at the moment but definitely a player to watch as she develops over the next 4-5 years.