Arsenal Women Weekly Round Up: Vic Gets Wood

MEADO’S ON FIRE
Arsenal players are currently on international duty at the moment, as the final international break of the domestic season takes hold. Gunners have been in action for their countries in various spring time tournaments. None have quite taken the headlines quite like Beth Mead, whose spectacular second half strike gave England a 2-1 win over Brazil in Philadelphia.

England were trailing at half-time until Ellen White’s equaliser. Then Mead took aim from an acute angle and smashed the winning goal into the top corner. The Lionesses also took on the USA in Nashville on Saturday evening, Mead was a second half substitute in the 2-2 draw. Leah Williamson was an unused sub after taking a bang to the knee in training, which is not serious.

WOOOOOW @bmeado9! ?? pic.twitter.com/PHIsxSjmda

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) February 27, 2019

‘IT WAS DEFINITELY A SHOT!’ INSISTS MEAD
Precitably, Mead was asked whether her Howitzer shot was a cross or a shot. The Whitby born forward insists the strike was completely intentional, telling FIFA.com, “It was a shot not a cross, just so everyone’s clear!” Mead also went onto talk about her transition from centre forward to a wide forward role, “I was a bit annoyed that I wasn’t playing No9, because I thought that was my best position,” she admitted.

“But now I really enjoy playing on the wing. I can get involved, run at people, bring other people into play. Maybe if I’d done it earlier I could’ve had my chance at England earlier!” You can read the full interview at the link below.

"It was a shot not a cross, just so everyone’s clear!” ?@Lionesses & @ArsenalWFC star @bmeado9 tells us about:

? THAT #SheBelievesCup goal against Brazil
↔️ Her switch to the wing
??????? Making England proud at the #FIFAWWC

?️https://t.co/VIGa9uufZv pic.twitter.com/3MR40hAiby

— FIFA Women's World Cup ?? (@FIFAWWC) March 1, 2019

ELSEWHERE…
Danielle van de Donk played 45 minutes of Netherlands’ 2-0 Algarve Cup defeat to Spain on Thursday, while Vivianne Miedema played for 58 minutes. Dominique Bloodworth lasted a little longer, managing 86 minutes after the three took part in last week’s Conti Cup Final defeat. Katie McCabe and Louise Quinn played the full game as Ireland drew 0-0 with Wales in Marbella on Thursday.

Kim Little played for Scotland in their 1-0 defeat against Canada on Friday, but fared slightly better on Monday afternoon, helping herself to a goal and an assist in Scotland’s 4-1 win over Iceland. Domimique Bloodworth and Vivianne Miedema were second half substitutes as a second string Netherlands side lost 1-0 to Poland in the Algarve Cup on Monday. Danielle van de Donk and Sari van Veenendaal were rested completely.

55' | GOAL Scotland! The ball falls to Kim Little in the box and she makes no mistake in rifling it home into the corner. [3-0] pic.twitter.com/phtfZYBu8i

— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) March 4, 2019

Janni Arnth played 90 minutes for Denmark as they went down 2-1 against Norway on Thursday and also played the full game as the Danes defeated China 1-0 on Monday. Scotland will now face Denmark and Netherlands China in the Algarve Cup before the players fly back to London Colney.

Katie McCabe and Louise Quinn will be involved in Tuesday lunchtime’s friendly between Ireland and Spain in Marbella. England face Japan to determine who wins the She Believes Cup in Tampa on Tuesday evening.

RECOVERY….
While their teammates flew off to join their countries, some of Arsenal’s long-term injuries showed signs of healing in the late winter sun at London Colney. Danielle Carter, Tabea Kemme, Viki Schnaderbeck and Jess Samuelsson all took part in an outdoor session, as did Lisa Evans, who is fit but was spared Scotland’s Algarve Cup campaign as she has only just recovered from a knee problem.

Emma Mitchell pulled out of the Scotland squad with an injury, while Lia Wälti is still recuperating from a knee problem. Kemme, Carter, Samuelsson and Schnaderbeck will all hope to play a part in the title run-in. Viki is yet to make her Arsenal debut, Tabea Kemme has played around 90 seconds as a substitute. Carter has been out since May. Full photos of that training session are available below.

Want to see more training pics? ?

? You’ve come to the right place… https://t.co/d29DYzLPmE

— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) February 27, 2019

Meanwhile, Viki Schnaderbeck has blogged recently on the subject of her come back (the article is in German). “I’ve been training individually and intensively in the field and with the ball for the last few weeks, the comeback feels very close,” she wrote.

MIEDEMA VOTED LONDON WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Gunners striker Vivianne Miedema was voted Women’s player of the year at the London Football Awards, sponsored by the Willow Foundation, on Thursday evening. It is unlikely to be the first individual gong she will win this season. Full story on Arseblog News below.

New: Vivianne Miedema Voted Women’s Player of the Year https://t.co/fW5DBgXUbH #arsenal #afc pic.twitter.com/KivKQN9ufU

— arseblognews (@arseblognews) March 1, 2019

VIC AKERS GETS WOOD
Legendary Arsenal Women manager and co-founder Vic Akers has come out of retirement to join Boreham Wood’s backroom staff for the remainder of the season. Wood haven’t won since Boxing Day and risk being dragged into a relegation scrap at the bottom of the National League. Akers, who is no stranger to the environs of Meadow Park, will join manager Luke Garrard’s backroom staff until May.

Best of luck with @BOREHAM_WOODFC, Vic ?#WeAreTheArsenal pic.twitter.com/TVgUy5kk95

— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) February 28, 2019

Akers managed Arsenal Women (neé Ladies) for 25 years and also served as Honorary President, as well as being Arsenal’s Kit Manager. He retired last May and you can read our piece on Vic from last summer, with input from his first line manager Alan Sefton and his long-term captain Faye White, here https://arseblog.com/2018/07/vic-tory-through-harmony-akers/.

COMING UP
We will have a full match preview for next week’s WSL home game against Bristol City, as well as exclusive player reaction on the site after the match. March’s feature interview will go up in around a fortnight’s time. We will try to put it out as part of the March Arsenal Women Arsecast, but that will depend on the quality of the audio.