With a heavy heart, I would like to share that on Tuesday night, my beloved mum passed away peacefully in her sleep after courageously battling cancer for the past few years.
Thank you all so much for your kind support during this difficult time. I appreciate it, sincerely. 🤍
And that's it. Vivianne Miedema has 177 direct goal involvements in 173 appearances in an Arsenal shirt, scoring 126 goals and providing 51 assists.
She is 12th on the club's all-time goal scorers list (across both men's and women's teams). ❤️
Leah Williamson will make history today by becoming the first England women's footballer to address UN.
The Arsenal player joins world leaders in New York for the UN's SDGs to challenge gender stereotypes and level the playing field for girls around the world. (
@Reuters
)
🎙️ Blackstenius post-match: "I'm really really happy about the win. It was a long/tough game but we got a win in the end and now we can celebrate with the fans. We said we wanted to do this for Frida, to get this win for her because she couldn't be with us at that point." [BBC]
Arsenal Women will wear the third kit for the first time against Bristol City this weekend.
If Caitlin Foord plays a part in this fixture, it will be her 100th appearance for the club, becoming the 10th player in the current squad to achieve that milestone.
Arsenal Women will debut this away kit against Manchester United on October 6. It will mark the first time the women’s team have worn a separate kit to the men.
🗣️ Russo: "I always say that Lotte [Wubben-Moy] is my big sister. She's got a very wise head on her shoulders and someone that I probably wouldn't have got through college without. She's amazing. Someone that I can't wait to be with every day and create more memories with."
🗣️ Lotte Wubben-Moy to : "We heard the fans so loud today and we did it for them. Particularly going towards a clock end that we went towards and they’re the ones that got the last word today so it feels very special.
Coming off the back of the
🗣️ McCabe on Miedema: "I don’t have the word for her, she’s just an incredible, incredible player. The way she trained every day and what she can do, her football IQ, it’s just a natural talent that she has and what she has gifted the club in terms of the goals she scored, it’s
🎙️ Beth Mead: "It's been obviously a long, tough injury but the fans here today were incredible. I got a bit emotional running on the pitch but amazing to be back. That's what I'm here to do, help the team as best I can. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season." [BBC]
🎙️ Beth Mead post-match: "What a day. What a day to be an Arsenal fan. What a day to be an Arsenal player. Does it get better than that? Scoring in front of 59,000 people, against Chelsea. It was pretty incredible. We know we needed to win this game today." [BBC]
Stina Blackstenius becomes the second @/ArsenalWFC player to win both Player of the Month & Goal of the Month awards ( first introduced a Player of the Month award for the women's team in September 2022).
She's joining Katie McCabe (October 2023).
🗣️ McCabe: "Unfortunately our captain and vice-captain have suffered long-term injuries. I’d rather them be on the pitch and them wearing the armband but for now it’s a privilege to lead a club like Arsenal out. I’m going to give all I can in the role."
Eidevall when asked where Miedema's best starting position will be: "Miedema can play both as a 9 and as a 10. Alessia [Russo] can do the same, so when we see them play together, what will bring their best qualities out of each other? We will have to see."
Miedema says
@ArsenalWFC
could move into Emirates Stadium permanently in the future.
🗣️ "As a club we’re doing it well. We need to push for that, I think we deserve it. We always say the men’s stadium, but it’s the club’s stadium."
⤵️
🎙️ Ilestedt post-match: "I think she blows against us throughout the whole match. There are situations where it's not even close to a foul and she blows the whistle left and right. I won't blame the referee, but working against the wind in a match like this is frustrating." (SVT)
🎙️ Kim Little on Miedema: "As a footballer, I think she's a natural goalscorer and is a real technician of the game, which makes it incredibly fun to play with. And as a person, she's passionate, she's bold. She always stands up for what she believes in and those are incredible
Katie McCabe on the regular big crowds at the Emirates Stadium:
"What Arsenal have done, that’s not just overnight, that has been in the works for a long, long time. The club have put so much work in terms of setting foundations and marketing it so well." (cont.)
🗣️ Fara Williams: "We've got two English teams in the semi-finals of the Champions League. This fixture did not need to be played tonight. To have to travel away to Manchester before going away to Wolfsburg, it's disappointing for the Arsenal players."
#MUNARS
[BBC]
🗣️ Cooney-Cross: "I went to Arsenal because I wanted a challenge. I felt like for so many years I've had it easy for so long. I want to make the next big step. That's what Arsenal provides me. I just need to stay patient. They did plan for me for the future." (cont.)
🗣️ Pelova: "Arsenal were my favourite English club to watch. I always wanted to join the Arsenal women’s team because they are so technical. I could have joined another club in the summer but I waited six months so I could join Arsenal."
🗣️ Mead: "I'm almost there. I'm eight-and-a-half months into a nine-month rehab. It's been a long one. It's been tough, but fingers crossed I should be ready for the start of the season & ready to go. That's the plan, so fingers crossed it goes to plan."
Arsenal's Alessia Russo at the Glamour Women of The Year Awards 2023 yesterday.
She received the Sport Icons Award on behalf of the Lionesses at the event in honour of their run to the World Cup final.
Leah Williamson has been impossible to replace at Arsenal, says Jonas Eidevall. [BBC]
"That's really hard when you're trying to replace a player like that because there is not a direct replacement on the market. There might be a copy of Leah Williamson that's not as good."
🎙️ Leah Williamson: "We kept everything exactly the same despite going 1-0 down and that was the difference. We knew what we wanted to do and one goal doesn’t change that. It meant a lot more to us. Arsenal should be winning trophies and that started again today." [BBC]
🎙️ Russo on scoring her first league goal for Arsenal: "Absolutely buzzing! First goal but also the win here in front of our fans. We were resilient. We all knew as a team moments and chances would come and we had to take them. We dug deep and got there in the end." [BBC]
✍️ Miedema: "I strongly believe that men and women can become equal. I'm not talking about salary, that's so cliché. It's about the opportunities that girls and women should be given. Not just in the sports world, but in society as a whole. (cont.)
📸 Arsenal/David Price
🎙️ Russo post-match: "I don’t think Sundays get much better than that. We started positively, we were ready and the crowd got behind us. We had a tough start, every game is a must-win for us, and we knew we had to be on our A-game against Chelsea."
#ARSCHE
🗣️ Pelove: "I always wanted to go to Arsenal. Whenever we went to London on holiday, we would always visit the stadium. I think it's really cool that Daan, Anouk Hoogendijk, Vivianne, Jill Roord, and Sari van Veenendaal have played there. I wanted to be on that list." (cont.)
🗣️ Kyra Cooney-Cross: "Arsenal just felt right as soon as I heard about the interest. I’m really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at Emirates Stadium in front of a big crowd for our first game there this season."
🎙️ Lacasse post-match: "Arsenal's massive, we're leading the charge in this. It's not just today, we want to carry this going forward into the future and I think this is what the future holds for women's football." (BBC)
Frida Maanum opens up about on-field collapse and overcoming fear with psychologist’s help:
Maanum: "I didn’t check my phone for the first few days. I understood there would be a lot of attention around it. Especially since it happened in such a way in a
🇳🇴 Frida Maanum is three games away from reaching her 100th Arsenal appearance, which will place her as the 11th player in the current squad to reach this milestone for the club.
🗣️ Russo on her move to Arsenal: "What they’re doing and what they’re building here is really exciting. As soon as you step through the door you can feel how valuable the women’s team is here. It feels like a really positive and inspiring place to be."
Kim Little is two games away from reaching 300 appearances for Arsenal, with the milestone set to be achieved after the international break.
Among the current squad, no player has made more appearances for the club than her.
🎙️ Miedema on her next club: "I wish I could [tell], but I can't. I'm only 27, and I think the Champions League is the only thing missing, so I'm definitely not going to make a step down. And I'm really excited for whatever comes next." [DAZN]
🗣️ Lacasse: "My Twitter has been exploding about the song. It's incredible. Thanks to the fans! I've felt at home here since I arrived and having that chant is just incredible. I'm happy to be here and I'm happy to have that chant stuck in my head 🎶."
🎙️ Russo post-match: "I love playing here. The fans, the whole atmosphere is incredible and us as players can feel them from the first minute to the last. We needed them today at points and they always come through and it’s great to play here." [BBC]
🎙️ McCabe on her goal: "It's something we've been working on. Our set-piece coach had been wanting us to try it for a while. We weren't winning the first contact when it was going in direct, so we just thought we'd change it up. I was happy to see it hit the back of the net."
🎙️ Russo post-match: "It means everything to win and celebrate with the fans. This season has been pretty high and pretty low but we had the chance to win some sort of trophy this year and that's what we did today. We know that winning trophies is part of this club's DNA." [BBC]
🗣️ Kühl: "I didn't have specific idols growing up. My family weren't the biggest football fans so it was so rare that games were on the TV at home. I just enjoyed playing the sport. Kim would be my idol if I had to say one now. She's the kind of player I hope to be like one day."
🗣️ Leah WIlliamson on Rafaelle: "Rafa is a warrior. As an athlete, she's head and shoulders above the rest. I’m in awe of her most days, to be honest. The new territory being on a different team tomorrow." [UEFA]
#Finalissima
🗣️ Gio on joining Arsenal: "I was so surprised that they wanted me and I'm obvs so grateful. Once they called me I didn't even think about it. I knew it was going to be a great opportunity. Working with the best players is going to make me better. I know I'll learn a lot."
Mana Iwabuchi at her retirement press conference in Tokyo today (📸: Kyodo News)
"I was truly happy being able to play the game I love while receiving support from so many people. Football is what made me who I am. I want to thank everyone who has helped me until now." (cont.)
🗣️ Edu: "Jen has had a beautiful career with Arsenal. She has helped to bring titles to our club and as a person, she is a great example of strength. We wish her success and happiness in the USA and she is welcome here in her home at any time."
🔜 Lia Wälti, with 149 appearances, is set to reach her 150th game for the club this week. Steph Catley is also just three games away from her 100th Arsenal appearance.
🗣️ Jonas Eidevall on Leah Williamson: "It’s rare but Leah is someone who can walk into a room and create an energy and a sense of belief. I don’t think it is a coincidence that England won trophies when Leah was captain."
⤵️
🗣️ Katie McCabe on being nominated for Ballon d’Or:
"You don’t achieve those sort of things or receive those personal accolades without the support and the team around you, that’s with Ireland and with Arsenal. The teams I play in, I’m very lucky to play with the players I do."
🎙️ McCabe post-match: "It was a really special moment for Viv. She's worked so hard over the last few months. To have them both [Beth Mead] back within a week of each other is so special for the team. I’m sure we'll see their combination coming up in the next few weeks." [Sky]