Arsenal Women began their Continental Cup campaign in style on Sunday with a 5-0 win over London City Lionesses. Art de Roché spoke to the returning Lia Walti post-match exclusively for Arseblog News.
On finally getting back on the pitch…
It was amazing. I’ve worked hard over the last nine months and it still feels a bit unreal to be back now but I really enjoyed it.
On how others having similar injuries at the same time helped…
Unfortunately, we had a lot of girls that had knee injuries but in this case it helped me a lot. I talked to them about both good and bad experiences. When you see someone recover well like Jordan (Nobbs) has, that also pushes you even more to get back.
On whether playing after the injury feels different to before it happened…
I would say when I’m on the pitch it doesn’t really feel different. You just need to get used to the movements again which can feel different because you haven’t done them for so long. When I think about the pain, there’s no difference on the pitch but there are off it. After the game you feel a bit more stiff but on the pitch I’m pain-free.
When @LiaWaelti's trying to record a video…
But it's interrupted by The Boss ? pic.twitter.com/fsbrw09ew7
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) September 22, 2019
On if she expected to get through 45 minutes…
We planned that I would start because it would be better to get involved straight after the warm-up. The plan was 45 minutes so that worked out well, at half-time I said ‘I can’t do more’ but I think it was a good start.
On whether she could feature against Fiorentina midweek…
In the end that’s Joe’s decision. It’s a more competitive game so he needs to go with the best team available. I may get a few minutes but I won’t start.
Start as you mean to go on, right? ?#ContiCup ? pic.twitter.com/itdNsfW4GU
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) September 22, 2019
COYG!!!
A thoroughly enjoyable 100 mile round trip to Dartford today. Although the scoreline was deserved (and probably expected) I thought Mil…oops….LCL made a real game of it and PPM made a couple of really good saves. Congratulations Lia on your comeback and Mitch & Mel on good first appearances. In fact, scoring today & her belter against MankC in her last appearance makes Mitch our deadliest striker on goals to minutes played…..watch out Viv & Meado!!!
Cracking hatrick by the way Meado.
Wish I was that close! It’s more like 280 miles for me these days and the nearest motorway is a two hour drive before I reach it!
Annoyingly Dartford was my home town for 26 years!
Cracking result although City had chances in the second half. Some lovely interplay and composure on the ball made the difference, DvD was a joy to watch and the press was really effective in the first half. City went for it at the start of the second half but that proved their undoing.
Great to see Lia back on the pitch
Indeed! Whilst Jordan gets all the plaudits for being the World class player she is the contribution Lia made to the WSL title last year cannot be underestimated.
Also good to see Emma back and that although everyone focuses on the Dutch trio, Meado has found her shooting boots already this season. If Jordan, Kim and Katie can bang a few in as well topping the league could be attainable once again.
Oh! I forgot Jen’s headers. Never know she might get into double figures too!