Jill Roord’s back-to-back hat-tricks in Arsenal’s opening two Barclays WSL games this season have earned her the league’s Player of the Month award.Arsenal have started the 2020-21 season like a house on fire, first dispatching Reading 6-1 on the opening day before demolishing West Ham 9-1 away from home in gameweek two. Central midfielder and Netherlands international Roord played a starring role in both fixtures, netting consecutive hat-tricks."Two hat-tricks in the two opening games of the season is unprecedented,” said the voting panel, who unanimously chose Roord as September’s winner. “[the hat-tricks] set Jill up as the clear winner of this month's BFAWSL Player of the Month."A knee injury sustained while on international duty has since sidelined Roord for the past few weeks. Having won the European Championships back in 2017, Roord is no stranger to hectic club and country fixture lists, and has never been one to shirk responsibility when called upon.The Gunners finished third last season, as the coronavirus cut the WSL campaign short, ending the campaign just three points behind champions Chelsea. It’ll be a tough ask again to overthrow the Blues this time around, who broke the women’s transfer record earlier this year when signing Denmark captain Pernille Harder for a reported €300,000.It’s been a huge summer in general for the WSL, with a plethora of USWNT stars hopping across the pond to sign for various clubs, including Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle at Manchester City, Christen Press and Tobin Heath at Manchester United, and Alex Morgan at Spurs.However, Arsenal’s early-season form will no doubt breath new optimism into their fans. With three league wins in as many games, Arsenal currently sit top of the table, and look to be serious title contenders once more.
That’s thanks in no small part to Roord, whose performances have been influential beyond her obvious goal contribution. The former Bayern Munich star’s link up play with Kim Little in midfield, and her clear connection with compatriot Vivianne Miedema going forward, have both been a joy to watch in the season’s early stages.
There are still plenty of games to be played, but Roord will be hoping her six goals in two games and subsequent Player of the Month award are positive signs of things to come for her and her teammates.